Prego Bikram Yoga

Last spring I had the opportunity to try out a Bikram Yoga class - the one where you're in hot room for 90 minutes doing 26 different yoga poses.  It was pretty intense, but it was one form of exercise where I'd feel so healthy from doing it (rather than doing it for "cardio"...which I got plenty of anyway).

You can't believe how much you can sweat in 90 minutes!  It's really cleansing (although I was completely grossed out by it in the beginning). 

Anyway, I'm starting to feel better (physically) and really wanted to get back into yoga, so I went to my first class last Saturday and loved it.  I told the instructor before-hand that I was pregnant and she gave me instructions on how to modify certain moves.  Essentially, nothing that will cause compression on the diaphragm or heart.  She also suggested I purchase Rajashree's Pregnancy Yoga DVD to see the modifications (and there are a lot of them).

It was pretty funny seeing all those pregnant ladies doing yoga moves.  I'm trying not to be mortified at the thought that within not-too-long, I'll be looking like them (except shorter and wider...ugh!!).

 

For now, I still look like a regular person, with a belly pooch...which I already had anyway, so it really doesn't look any different.  Well, these Dolly Parton type protrusions look different...but unless anyone had actually paid any attention prior, they won't notice that either (shocking...they're freaking everywhere!!).  Things have definitely expanded, however and several of my pants no longer fit comfortably.  I mean, TECHNICALLY I can get them to button, but it causes a terrible muffin top that is just soooooo unattractive.  So those pants are now shelved.  I can still wear my jeans, but I mostly opt to leave the belt off now, and frequently find myself unbuttoning both buttons and hiding the spikey looking corners under my shirt...then put a sweatshirt on my lap.  Sigh.

The only pants that are really comfy right now are my super loose, too big (well, used to be too big) exercise pants.  Anything that is tight around my waist or belly is just no bueno.

So, I'm settling on Bikram Yoga as my exercise of choice during pregnancy.  The studio I attend has had over 50 students go through their pregnancy while practicing there.  They've even had ladies who attended yoga in the morning and give birth in the afternoon.  How cool would that be?  We'll see if I'm still saying that at nine months prego, right?

Anyway, that's the update for now.  I have my first mid-wife appointment in two weeks (when grant season is over).  Looking forward to that!

Bye for now!