Hot Yoga During Pregnancy: Safety & Alternatives

Question
I am currently 5wks pregnant. I've been taking a hot yoga class and I really enjoy it. Is it safe to continue taking this class throughout the pregnancy or should I just take the regular yoga class or one designed specifically for pregnancy?

Answer
An increase of maternal core temperature (especially fever) has been shown to cause birth defects. For this reason, pregnant women are advised to never use a hot tub or sauna.

However, pregnant women also have greater cooling capacity through an increase in vasodilation and sweating. Normal exercise routines raise maternal core temperature only very little and has never been shown to have harmful effects.

But, maternal core temperature during "hot" yoga has not been studied, so we do not know what, if any, effects this style workout might incur. Therefore, I advise pregnant women not to engage in "hot" yoga. Switch now to a "regular" yoga class until your belly becomes cumbersome, then switch again to a special prenatal class which you can do up until delivery.

Avoid all poses that stretch joints and ligaments, such as all lotus variations, as the hormones of pregnancy increase ligament laxity leaving your joints vulnerable to injury.

For more information regarding yoga and stretching during pregnancy go to: http://befitmom.com/flexibility.html