Hot Yoga. Haute Mama. Practicing in the Hot Room While Pregnant

January 1st, 2013, just 4 days before I was to be induced, at the end of my pretty miserable pregnancy, I walked into my newish Bikram yoga studio. I'm calling it "newish", because I had been practicing there regularly since I relocated to Memphis at 32 weeks and anytime I visited the city, prior to that, including three times during my pregnancy. Before my move, I had been practicing in the hot room for 7 years, and up to 5 times a week during my pregnancy, at my first favorite studio, in Decatur, GA. 

Rebecca R., Still Hot Yoga Manager & Instructor

It was at that studio, where I saw my first teacher become pregnant, then practice and teach with amazing poise, health, and grace. Over the years, I witnessed two other instructors, and several students practice safely and beautifully. With an interest in pregnancy health, I asked the owner- who happens to be married to an amazing midwife- about the thermoregulation of mother and child. An increase in a pregnant woman's core body temperature may cause physiological damage to the developing embryo.

It was then, years before my own pregnancy, that I learned that even in the hot room, the core body temperature does not increase during the practice. Years before that, he had allowed a student, who was also a nurse, to leave class periodically in order to check her internal temperature. There was no increase throughout the 90 minute practice. The profuse sweating is thought to assist in lowering the core body temperature.

Before her own pregnancy, the studio manager happened to take a specialized and intimate training with Rajashree Choudhury, Bikram's wife, who modified the 26 postures for pregnancy. There, she learned about precautions and other techniques for expectant mothers. The pregnancy series is thoughtful, helpful, and simply amazing. With guidance, I began peppering in aspects of it at 8 weeks and continued with the full series throughout my entire pregnancy. 

Back to New Year's Day: As I stated, I had practiced in the studio numerous times while pregnant, but had not yet had the pleasure of meeting the owner... until this day, when he told me that I could not attend class, without a specific doctor's note. Since I had signed the studio's liability waiver- which even covers death, there was no legal need to require a special pregnancy waiver. I wouldn't win any case, if anything would have happened to me at that point, during or after class. 

Dejected and disappointed, with tears in my eyes, and a big baby in my belly, I returned home penned this note to the owner. 

I was very much looking forward to spending the first day of the year in Bikram's hot room, just as I have for the past 5 years.  Typically, I also run at least 5 miles on January 1, but being 39 weeks pregnant has made that difficult.  I am a very active woman, whom over the past months has had to relinquish hiking Stone Mountain (in GA), kettle bells, running half-marathons, and even walking long distances because of changes in my body.  Daily, I am so happy that I have been able to maintain a consistent yoga practice, specifically Bikram yoga, which I have practiced regularly for 7 years.  You may be able to imagine my disappointment when I was suddenly rejected from class today because I did not have a doctor's note stating that it were permissible to practice during my pregnancy. This had not been requested on any other day. 

After speaking with my doctor and presenting her with literature and testimonials regarding Bikram yoga during pregnancy, she verbally approved my participation in class- a written note was not necessary at my studio, as several teachers and students had practiced right through their natural and fast deliveries.  I have practiced since my 13th week of pregnancy, with Rajashree's modifications, needed or not.  I have practiced regularly at three different studios, including this one.  With running, walking and even sleeping becoming increasingly difficult, Bikram is one of the only times that my body feels normal and discomfort-free.  I feel better after yoga than I do after a massage, shower, of half-hearted foot rub from my husband.  The left SI joint and right rib that my child has gradually displaced become realigned during class, allowing me to move and breathe better.   

Holding standing bow for even 45 seconds makes up for how crazy I feel while losing my balance in the shower.  Rajashree's floor serious is nothing short of amazing for alleviating back pain and creating more space in my crowded abdomen. I am confident that the controlled breathing will help my physical and emotional pangs of labor. Especially in these last few days of my pregnancy, when I need my husband to help me roll out of bed to get to the bathroom, I feel strong and able in Bikram. I needed that feeling today. I ignored my fatigue and braved the cold to be chauffeured by my husband from Collierville (just in case) to make it  to the last class of the day.  I was completely blindsided and confounded by my denied class admission.  My studio in Atlanta was very supportive of practicing while pregnant, so I am not sure of all of these extra and unnecessary fears and road blocks.   

From a liability perspective, the language in your waiver should be so comprehensive that it includes anything happening in class from stubbing a toe to dying.  A well-written waiver should not have to highlight any specific "condition" including pregnancy, especially after the first trimester- the critical period. Your instructors are knowledgeable and supportive. A regular practitioner should have no issue listening to her body and following the pregnancy modifications, along with her doctor's/ midwife's advice.  Finally, you cannot presume that you care more about my child than I do.  Even after witnessing several women practice while pregnant, when it was my time, I completed AMPLE research to confirm my child's safety before I began practicing.  

I am well aware of the signs and symptoms of labor and would not risk my health or the health of my child for any reason.  In short, there was no good reason to be rejected from class today or on any day during my pregnancy. I recommend reviewing the "risks" and benefits of practicing while pregnant and consider revising your "policy" to reflect Bikram's and Rajashree's research, experience and viewpoints on the topic.  For now, I will turn up my space heater and go for what I know as I continue to move toward a peaceful delivery this weekend. 

The studio owner and I had a few more exchanges, following this note, but he did not change his perspective, and the next time I saw my doctor would be at my induction. There would be no Resolution Practice for me on that day, but in that year. Side note: at a million weeks pregnant, and facing a planned induction, I would have loved to have gone into labor at the studio, or on the way home. On January 6th, I birthed a healthy baby girl, after 23 hours of labor, and 7 minutes of pushing. I began teaching at a new hot yoga studio four months later, where we welcome, educate, and nurture hot mamas-to-be. 

New Year's Day 2013

39 Weeks, 2 Days

We always recommend that a pregnant woman be cleared for ANY exercise, by her provider, once she learns of her pregnancy. We never recommend that a woman begins hot yoga when already pregnant. Long time hot yoga practitioners, with low risk pregnancies, should have no challenges continuing with the practice as before. However, many physicians, fitness instructors, and mothers do tend to avoid moderate to heavy exercise during the critical first trimester, simply because so many things can happen during that time, and no one wants to take the blame for that otherwise natural process. However, there is nothing that happens to the body or the baby, in the hot room, that makes it unsafe. 

The room itself, is no hotter than the summer air in India, and all around the equator, where healthy mothers and healthy babies thrive every day. As with any pregnancy, and as with any regular hot practice, an expectant mother would need to maximize her hydration inside and outside of the class, listen to her body, and take breaks whenever necessary... also, take plenty of pictures. You're going to be om-mazed at what your new body can (still) do. 

This individual experience is not meant to override the advice of any provider, but may help to add some clarity about the physiology of practicing hot yoga while pregnant. 

Do you have an experience of practicing while pregnant?