Thoughts on pre-natal exercise classes needed pls

[nylonmeals]

Wondered if anyone could share any tips on pre-natal exercise classes?

Maybe these are a waste of money and I should just go to "regular" exercise classes and tell them that I am pregnant?

Would welcome any thoughts. I am quite early on in pregnancy, 13 weeks, but it is the first one so am a bit clueless.

Thanks!

[Ko]

hi there. congratulations! pre-natal classes also usually have a large focus on the pelvic floor muscles - important for pregnant women i'm told! cost is a factor though, so you could always just go to a couple and do the exercises shown at home, in addition to any other exercise/classes you do. there's a recent thread about pre-natal aerobics and other classes seem to go on at various places.

[nylonmeals]

Thank you, I'll try and have a hunt back for that thread!

[snowboarder]

Hi - there's a class called Legs bums and Pregnant Tums at JAGS - you don't have to be a member - very good and I found specific pregnancy classes much better than general ones...

[Billy]

Hi and Congratulations.

I am currently doing legs bums and tums at JAGS gym and its brilliant - about 1/2 hr low impact cardio, 15 mins strength with weights and then 15 mins of pregnancy specific stomach exercises/pelvic floor. It costs ?8 for non members and is on Mondays at 6.30pm.

I did try to continue doing the normal exercise classes that I did pre pregnancy but the problem is that a lot of teachers do not know what alternative exercises to give you especially when they get to the abs section and so you don't get a full work out. Also I found that they were not that keen on you doing their class in case you do hurt yourself.

[ClareC]

I would definitely be interested in any pregnancy excercise classes - is it just the Jags one's or are there others on offer?

[canadianlisa]

I did regular excercise classes up until about 14 weeks but then began to find as Billy says that the teachers were not too keen on having you in the class and would / could not adapt the excercises. There is one class at Dulwich Leisure centre which takes place on a Saturday at 12 called Body Balance and the teacher is happy to have pregnant ladies there and adapt the excercises. I can't remember her name but I believe that she taught the class throughout her own pregnancy.

I am 31 weeks now and am just about managing pregnancy yoga- I do the Sitaram yoga at King's College. I enjoy the yoga and have found it to be both physically good and good for staying calm etc. Swimming and walking are also good.

[Smiler]

If you can't find anywhere, DVDs (e.g. Davina) are pretty good!

[EDL]

I also enjoyed pregnancy yoga, at esph gym, particularly from about 28 weeks when I started to feel a bit like a hippo.

Before that I went to regular yoga classes - it helped that the instructor also taught pre-natal yoga and was comfortable with me being there and could provide modifications to the poses.

There is also an excellent pregnancy yoga DVD - 'Pregnancy Health Yoga' by Tara Lee. It's actually quite challenging!

[linzkg]

I've got the Tara Lee DVD and one other that I'm looking to sell on if you're keen ..

I swam a lot but I also went to yoga classes at Dulwich Health Matters which was fab - made friends, was well prepared when i found myself having to squat for 3 full hours during labour!!! went straight back to my normal weight within weeks .. and it completely relaxed me ;-)

all the best!

[embo71]

pregnancy yoga at kings hospital, sitaram:

http://www.sitaram.org/pregnancy/index.html

you can buy a block of tickets and then book when you feel like going.... i have found it great...

[Lilamurti]

I teach the pregnancy yoga class at JAGS Sports Club on Tuesdays 6-7pm. You don't need to be a member. Need to be 15 weeks or over. Gentle postures, breathing, pelvic floor work, deep relaxation

See www.jagssportsclub.co.uk or call 020 8613 6500.

There's also free fitness open day there on 13 Sept. Preg yoga taster session at 11.20am.

[Piglet78]

Anyone know whether the class on the Kingswood Estate (near Sydenham Hill) for pregnant women is still going on?

Thank you!