Hot yoga is a type of yoga that is receiving a lot of attention because of the great benefits it brings to the body and physique. However, for pregnant women, hot yoga practice needs to be carefully considered because this type of practice may have certain risks.
Whether pregnant women should practice hot yoga is a controversial issue. Some experts say that hot yoga should not be practiced during pregnancy because this activity can increase the mother’s body temperature, which is not good for the baby.
Some others assert that this activity does not affect pregnancy much if pregnant women have practiced hot yoga for a long time. So what is the correct answer? Let’s join LEEP. APP continue to see the sharing below to understand more.
Hot yoga – “Hot trend” of modern youth
Hot yoga is a type of yoga that is receiving a lot of attention from the community. The characteristic of this type of yoga is performing yoga poses in a room with a heating temperature of up to 41°C and 40% humidity.
Practicing yoga in a hot environment will be very good for muscle relaxation. In addition, it also works to increase endurance, improve flexibility of the body and help with weight loss. A hot yoga session can last up to 90 minutes depending on your skills.
In general, practicing hot yoga will be more risky than practicing traditional types of yoga. This type of yoga can lead to stroke or burnout if practiced improperly or with too much effort. People over the age of 50 who have heart disease or are taking prescription medications should consult their doctor before starting hot yoga.
Should pregnant women practice hot yoga?
Although controversial, most experts believe that pregnant women should avoid hot yoga. This is because during pregnancy, tendons and muscles will “loose” to prepare space for the baby to grow. This means that if you do hot yoga, your muscles may expand more than usual.
Pregnancy also makes your blood pressure unstable. Practicing hot yoga during this time will make the situation worse, you will be easily dizzy and faint. In addition, elevated maternal body temperature also increases the risk of the fetus having birth defects such as spina bifida, flat brain syndrome …
Instead of practicing hot yoga, pregnant women should choose other types of yoga that are gentler
Possible risks when practicing hot yoga during pregnancy
Pregnant women who practice hot yoga are at risk of facing some of the following problems:
- Practicing hot yoga makes pregnant women easily dizzy. In addition, standing in a high-temperature environment for a while, pregnant women may also feel uncomfortable because their body temperature is already higher than normal.
- The biggest reason pregnant women should avoid hot yoga is that this type of yoga makes the pregnant woman’s body “too hot”. This condition can negatively affect the development of the organs and brain of the fetus.
- Practicing hot yoga during pregnancy can lead to dehydration.
How to practice hot yoga safely for pregnant women
Did you practice hot yoga for a while before getting pregnant? Do you still want to keep exercising during pregnancy? If so, you need to follow some safety guidelines:
- Before you start exercising, tell your instructor about your health status. Some hot yoga poses are not suitable for pregnant women because these poses can impede blood flow to the uterus or put pressure on the abdomen.
- Drink plenty of water during exercise to avoid dehydration
- If you have never practiced hot yoga or have been out of practice for a long time, it is best to avoid practicing during pregnancy. Instead, you can practice gentle yoga movements.
- Don’t try too hard. Remember you are pregnant and your baby’s safety is paramount. Therefore, if you feel uncomfortable, stop immediately.
- You should avoid practicing hot yoga if you are having some health problems. If you have a healthy pregnancy, you can talk to your doctor about exercise.
Practicing hot yoga can help improve hormonal issues and a number of other health problems. However, if you have never practiced this type of yoga before becoming pregnant, it is best to choose other yoga classes that are gentler to ensure your baby’s safety.
If you have a stable pregnancy and are used to doing hot yoga here, you can still give it a try. However, just to be sure, you should still invite a private yoga teacher to guide you in the right poses. Download now LEEP. Download the APP to your device and choose the most suitable yogi for yourself.
Reference source
Practising Hot Yoga during Pregnancy – Is It Safe? https://parenting.firstcry.com/articles/practicing-hot-yoga-during-pregnancy-is-it-safe/ Accessed date: 3/3/2020
John Alen was born in 1971 and is a doctor in the healthcare and psychology fields with many years of experience. He is currently working at easyhealthylive.com, a leading health and psychology blog. Having studied at Y1 National Medical University named after IM Sechenov, John Alen is using his knowledge and experience to help improve the physical and mental health of people in the United States.
