Anyone practice Bikram or Hot Yoga when pregnant or TTC?

[SweetPickles]

I have practiced Bikram Yoga regularly for several years. It have improved my physical and mental health, and I love it. I took a six week break from it this summer and I missed it so much.

One woman at my current studio has conceived and given birth to three children while going to hot yoga regularly, even up to just before giving birth. Two of my teachers have done likewise with one child each.

Personally, I'd like to try and continue my practice when pregnant, albeit with modifications and the go ahead from my doctor.

I know that practicing in a heated room during pregnancy is a controversial subject. I'd really like to hear stories and tips from other yoginis who have either continued or stopped their practice of hot yoga during TTC and/or pregnancy. No judgments either way.

 

[tigerlilly]

The idea of doing yoga in a hot room whilst pg freaks me out a bit esp in the early tri! What was it thats you missed? the feeling, social, grounding. Why did you take a break if you don't mind me asking. I've just started my yoga journey and plan to continue my practice when i get my bfp. What other styles have you tried? Gotta love the yoga!

 

[SweetPickles]

Thanks for responding!
I took a break because I thought I'd focus on jogging and biking, more outdoor activities, once summer came around.
I missed how grounded I felt and how in tune I felt with my body. I have done other forms of yoga, but they don't give me all the benefits that Bikram does.
I've tried flow yoga (also in a heated room, not quite as hot as Bikram), and other styles of hatha yoga.
What type of yoga do you like to do?

 

[DancinEmr]

I did Bikram Yoga regularly and I used to see many pregnant ladies in my classes. I have recently stopped because I have been ttc for 5 months with no success. I figured that I should quit for a few months and see what happens. If a few months go by and still no baby, I will probably go back

 

[angieloo]

I am practicing with TTC. I've heard from several class members that took class while pregnant that it was much easier to give birth. One of them has two children and did yoga and running (jogging with preg) with the first, but not the second. She says she wish had continued during the secondary one since it was a much harder labor and recovery

 

[SweetPickles]

One thing I'm already trying to do already is not push myself to exhaustion. I do all the poses only as fully as I can keep my breathing steady - before I used to push myself as far as I could in almost every pose. (funny thing is, I think I'm doing the poses better now that I'm trying to be careful!)

 

[tigerlilly]

Thanks for responding!
I took a break because I thought I'd focus on jogging and biking, more outdoor activities, once summer came around.
I missed how grounded I felt and how in tune I felt with my body. I have done other forms of yoga, but they don't give me all the benefits that Bikram does.
I've tried flow yoga (also in a heated room, not quite as hot as Bikram), and other styles of hatha yoga.
What type of yoga do you like to do?

I go to a class and he use's hatha. I've onely missed a couple of classes and i can really tell i haven't been both physically and mentally.
I love the feeling of being grounded and no matter how tired i always feel better. I can't do a lot of the postures (gained a lot of weight) but it does teach me patience and underdsting and i'm starting to get back in touch with my body and it's needs i'm also find that i'm not eating as much meat!!!!

I used to do Triathlons sprint distance and then changed jos and moved to Fitness and i used to teach a lots of spin classes, i have now left but my body is wrecked from injury and physio did'nt achevie a great deal so i'm rebuilding from the inside out.

I'm building up my home DVD collection and really like Tara Lee i'm also thinking about fertility yoga as well as i have really tight hips.

 

[ann89]

I was just wondering what is hot yoga?

 

[SweetPickles]

It's a series of 26 postures done in a hot room (95-105 F) for 90 minutes. Well, technically, that's Bikram - there are other forms of yoga that are done in heated rooms as well, but when people say hot yoga I think they usually mean Bikram.

 

[SweetPickles]

I go to a class and he use's hatha. I've onely missed a couple of classes and i can really tell i haven't been both physically and mentally.
I love the feeling of being grounded and no matter how tired i always feel better. I can't do a lot of the postures (gained a lot of weight) but it does teach me patience and underdsting and i'm starting to get back in touch with my body and it's needs i'm also find that i'm not eating as much meat!!!!

I used to do Triathlons sprint distance and then changed jos and moved to Fitness and i used to teach a lots of spin classes, i have now left but my body is wrecked from injury and physio did'nt achevie a great deal so i'm rebuilding from the inside out.

I'm building up my home DVD collection and really like Tara Lee i'm also thinking about fertility yoga as well as i have really tight hips.

Wow! I'd love to do a tri some day...I have done a couple of marathons (finished, not raced in them!) You're amazing!

Sorry you've been struggling with injuries, though. The benefits you are getting sound similar to the benefits I get from Bikram, or at least the benefits that are most important to me. I may have to check out Tara Lee.

I just got back from a sweaty Bikram class...they should really tell new students that the hardest thing about Bikram is keeping up with all of the stinky laundry, lol. But I definitely feel good.

 

[tigerlilly]

I go to a class and he use's hatha. I've onely missed a couple of classes and i can really tell i haven't been both physically and mentally.
I love the feeling of being grounded and no matter how tired i always feel better. I can't do a lot of the postures (gained a lot of weight) but it does teach me patience and underdsting and i'm starting to get back in touch with my body and it's needs i'm also find that i'm not eating as much meat!!!!

I used to do Triathlons sprint distance and then changed jos and moved to Fitness and i used to teach a lots of spin classes, i have now left but my body is wrecked from injury and physio did'nt achevie a great deal so i'm rebuilding from the inside out.

I'm building up my home DVD collection and really like Tara Lee i'm also thinking about fertility yoga as well as i have really tight hips.

Wow! I'd love to do a tri some day...I have done a couple of marathons (finished, not raced in them!) You're amazing!

Sorry you've been struggling with injuries, though. The benefits you are getting sound similar to the benefits I get from Bikram, or at least the benefits that are most important to me. I may have to check out Tara Lee.

I just got back from a sweaty Bikram class...they should really tell new students that the hardest thing about Bikram is keeping up with all of the stinky laundry, lol. But I definitely feel good.

I forgot to say that TL covers pregnancy Bump, Birth and Beyond [3 DVD boxset] with Tara Lee includes Pregnancy Health Yoga, Post Natal Yoga and Yoga for You and Your Baby start as i mean to go!

I haven't done tri in a while i always struggled with the mental aspect of running. Now i don't run anymore i miss it!

 

[SweetPickles]

Tigerlilly, one really good hip opening pose is the Eagle pose - you may already know it - it's in the Bikram sequence but I know it's in other forms of yoga, too. Bikram claims it is the best pose for fertility...that did cross my mind in class today...

So I did do class today - I think I'm 1 dpo, though FF hasn't confirmed yet. This would be my first class in the tww. I did all of the poses, but I went slowly and only went as far as I could go and keep my breathing steady. It was one of the most peaceful and quieting classes I've ever done.

 

[mrsrof]

I had heard you weren't supposed to do Bikram/hot yoga when you're pregnant? Same reason you're not supposed to take really hot baths...the baby can't regulate its own temperature, so you're not supposed to get too hot I think... Yoga not in a hot room is fine!

From another baby site:

" Steer clear of Bikram or "hot" yoga — working out in an overheated room overheating could endanger the health of a growing fetus, according to studies."

 

[SweetPickles]

I've read that as well. I've also read that it is okay as long as you 1) aren't new to the practice and 2) don't push yourself too much and do the modifications (some poses are not appropriate for pregnant women, heated or otherwise).

One argument that is made in favor of continuing hot yoga is that the body can sweat and cool off (unlike a hot tub or a sauna), so your core temperature rises very little. But - I am not a doctor and I am aware that there are differing opinions on this, so I don't want to shut anyone's voice down.

My plan is to continue my practice (but only with a doctor's blessing and with modifications) after I'm pregnant. I feel like the benefits to me and my fetus would be worth trying to make it work.

I might try to monitor my temperature during class, but I haven't done that yet - I'd be really interested if anyone has and how it went.