Hi all
16 weeks is the guideline time from the British Wheel of Yoga, but as with many things relating to Pregnancy Yoga there are different opinions (and, confusingly, medical evidence that often backs up both arguements).
The bottom line is actually that there is very little in Yoga that could harm you. Deep twists should be avoided. However as the first trimester, particularly weeks 12-14, is the time when most miscarriages naturally occur, it is often worried that people may come to Yoga and then blame a miscarriage on the "new thing" they have been doing. So it is advised that teachers don't accept students until 16 weks, especially if they are new to Yoga.
Also the first trimester is generally regarded as a time for rest and relaxation, so if you do Yoga it really shouldn't be the same as everyone else in the rest of the class.
It's all about how much the class meets your individual needs,and a general group class doesn't do this as well as a specific pregnancy Yoga class. This is what I mean about the difference between even a good Yoga teacher and one who has had specialist training. Even good Yoga teachers, unless they have a great knowledge about pregnancy from work or study, do not know enough about pregnancy to truly adapt a practice to focus in on the real needs of the mum and baby.
I am not being disrespectful here, just stating what is obvious to me now after doing my training. A general Yoga Teacher is like a doctor who is a general practitioner - as soon as their patients show something out of the ordinary they give over to a specialist.
>>She has been teaching for about 15 years and has 3 children of her own<<
I am not questioning your teacher's ability to teach. I am merely pointing out that your needs are so different from the rest of the class, so it would be in your interests to do a class tailored to those needs.
If you go to your usual Yoga teacher (particularly if it is someone whose approach you are used to and you have a good ongoing practice), you may benefit slightly from the practice and it's unlikely you will do any harm.
If you go to someone who has had specialist training and experience in this area, they will give you a class that is specially designed to open out your body, nurture you, allay your fears, stabilise hormonal imbalances, realign your body, and also the experience of doing the class along with other pregnant women will be a great experience in social bonding.
This is what I am trying to get across - it's a totally different experience. And you, and baby, will benefit much more from the specialist. It's the same for post-natal Yoga too - you can get a bit fitter in a general Yoga class or you can really have your needs addressed in a specific Post-Natal Class. Your teacher may well disagree with this, feel their ego dented - I too might have done this before I saw the real difference in person. I am not saying your teacher is wrong or that she is not good enough, just that the experience of a specialist class will be better for you and baby and THAT is what matters.
Hope this adds clarity, if it's more confusing then please yell and I'll try again
Take care,
Scott