Expert Q&A


	By Kelly Camden Certified Doula

What precautions should be taken when doing prenatal yoga?

As always, safety is first and foremost. Here are some tips:

Women who want to begin yoga during pregnancy should check with their care provider first.
Do not do any poses that constrict the abdomen and on no account become fatigued or breathless, according to Silva Mehta and Mira Shyam, authors of Yoga the Iyengar Way (Knopf, 1999).
Stay within your comfort zone. "There should be no discomfort or strain," Mehta says. Yoga is meant to help you feel wonderful. If you experience any discomfort, come out of the pose and speak with the instructor about adjustments.
If you have any injuries, or simply aches and pains, sharing that information with your instructor will help them to show you to practice yoga safely.
Many yoga poses can be adjusted for pregnancy, but some, such as the stronger "inversions," are not recommended for beginners. These include headstands or handstands. Downward facing dog is a gentle inversion that may be done well into pregnancy.