Hello!
I am curious about other moms to be experiences with exercise, energy and stamina during pregnancy. I am approaching the sixth month mark in my first pregnancy and I am looking for different things to do to keep my body mobile and healthy for the next few months. I am trying to gage what I should be expecting in the coming third trimester. I am trying to keep a realistic expectation with my ability to continue working and exercising. I am a professional massage therapist and registered yoga teacher. My pregnancy has been normal so far and I have been able to maintain a massage practice of up to five appointments a day and a teaching schedule for yoga at 4 classes a week, in addition to my personal practice.
My personal yoga practice has become increasingly more gentle obviously, but I still trying to practice daily. I am only five feet tall so my belly can only grow out. I have already started to feel that uncomfortable rib stretching sensation. With these physical changes the folding that comes with yoga is not nearly as available to me. Also, if you practice prenatal yoga what are your favorite poses? Perhaps I overlooked a few. There are so many. Since my massage work is so physical I feel that I need to do something to give my body more release, any ideas? I know that there are lots of sources for this kind of info but I would love to hear from you lovely ladies about your own bodies and experiences. Whether you are pregnant now or have been in the past I would love your input.
I’m a yoga teacher as well I don’t teach any classes at the moment (most of my yoga classes were too hard core for my pregnant body), but I do yoga for one - one and a half hours everyday (either by myself or in a class). I also go for a run/joy/walk every morning (late morning sometimes as I’m lazy) and I swim four times a week. The swimming is very nice, it’s the gentlest exercise and it’s very comfortable for your back. I’m also a massage addict, so I have a few of those every week. Before I got pregnant i had basically the same routine, except more yoga and dancing instead if the swimming.
5 feet, that’s tiny! I’m 5’4 so I’ve got a little more room than you. I’ve only started feeling the rib pain these last few days. [name]Hope[/name] you find something that works!
Thanks [name]Ottilie[/name]!
I have considered swimming but haven’t tried it yet. I will look into it, we do have several pools in the area. I too am a massage addict, the best part of my job right now has to be the supportive co-workers who are happy to massage me. I specialize in gentle and restorative yoga at the moment, I will start teaching more active classes after the baby arrives and I feel more like myself again.
Swimming is a great idea. I walked daily and did a lot of exercises with my exercise ball. I was severely anemic during my pregnancy so my energy was pretty low. I do think staying as active as I did helped me a lot with my labor and recovery. Sounds like yoga will be really helpful to you, I wish I knew some poses to recommend. [name]Just[/name] be sure to listen to your body and slow down or stop if you need to do that.
I’m only 4 so no bump to get in m way yet lol. Right now I’m doing Zumba twice a week for an hour just as I was before pregnancy, it really hasn’t changed much and I plan on going up until I just can’t. I’m a pre-school teacher so I do lots of “squats” and up and down movements and lifting children. I also have the room at the top of two stair cases with everything else in the building on the other side so I do lots of walking, quick walking (got to stay away of all those little feet) and climbing stair. On the weeks I try to get out and not really walk for exercise per say but go and walk around our mall for at least 2 hours (I don’t ever buy anything but with it still being so cold here not to many outdoor activities to go do) Ready for [name]Summer[/name] to get out and have more fun
I had no energy during the first trimester and my workout routine suffered as a result. I’m a former dancer so I found myself getting out my little portable barre and doing warm ups just to move a little without falling over tired. I walk around my neighborhood and beach park, but the snow/ice has put a damper on that recently.
The book “Yoga for Pregnancy, Birth, and Beyond” has been really good for me the last several weeks. Sections are broken down by stages of pregnancy and also by symptoms, I’ve found it very informative and easy to follow so far.
I don’t teach any classes at the moment (most of my yoga classes were too hard core for my pregnant body), but I do yoga for one - one and a half hours everyday (either by myself or in a class). I also go for a run/joy/walk every morning (late morning sometimes as I’m lazy) and I swim four times a week. The swimming is very nice, it’s the gentlest exercise and it’s very comfortable for your back. I’m also a massage addict, so I have a few of those every week. Before I got pregnant i had basically the same routine, except more yoga and dancing instead if the swimming.
