Most women who come to pregnancy yoga haven’t spent years “doing” yoga. In fact, 95% of my clients have never done yoga before. They usually come because a friend told them, “You HAVE to try Sharon,”
Others come because something doesn’t feel right in their body. Back pain. Sciatica. Pelvic discomfort. Sometimes they just feel uncomfortable and don’t quite know why.
And some come because everything seems fine, but they don’t know what to expect next. Pregnancy feels unfamiliar. Things are changing quickly. They want somewhere they can ask questions and talk things through without feeling awkward.
That’s usually where it starts.
Your body is doing something enormous
You are growing a baby in a relatively short space of time. That has an impact on everything.
Your body changes. Your hormones shift. Your energy levels go up and down. Some days feel manageable. Some don’t.
Pregnancy yoga gives you a way to work with all of that.
It helps you move in a way that feels better.
It helps ease the aches that start to build.
It gives you time to understand what’s actually happening in your body.
It gives you space to breathe properly and slow things down.
And sometimes it’s simply an hour where you stop and check in with yourself.
It’s not about how the posture looks.
It’s about how the posture feels for you.
The physical side of things
Most of the women I see are dealing with something physical.
Lower back pain is very common.
Sciatica comes up a lot.
Pelvic girdle pain or SPD is something we manage carefully.
Carpal tunnel appears more than people expect.
And tiredness is huge, whether that’s linked to anaemia, blood pressure, or just general exhaustion.
Pregnancy yoga doesn’t “fix” everything. But it helps you understand what’s going on and gives you ways to ease the pressure.
Every posture can be adapted.
Every movement can be adjusted.
If something doesn’t feel right, we change it. Sometimes it’s a small tweak. Sometimes it’s a completely different approach. That’s normal.
Breathing is more important than people realise
I talk about breathing a lot in class. Not in a complicated way, and not in a “you must get this perfect” way.
But it matters.
Your body needs oxytocin for labour to progress.
Stress increases adrenaline.
When adrenaline rises, it can interrupt contractions. Labour can slow down or become stop start. That can be exhausting.
So, we practise breathing in a way that actually makes sense.
I explain why we’re doing it.
I explain when it might help.
We practise it in a calm setting, so it feels familiar later on.
It’s not about memorising techniques. It’s about understanding your body well enough to use them when you need them.
“I can’t come to yoga – I’m not flexible enough”
I love hearing this statement.
Honestly, give me the “inflexible” people every time. They’re the most interesting. Often, there’s a reason they feel stiff or tight muscular, emotional, historical or simply because they’ve never done anything like this before.
And pregnancy is NOT the time to become a gymnast. In fact, flexibility isn’t the main goal. Stability, comfort, confidence, and ease are the aim.
There are countless little tweaks that we can do.
You can adjust your stance.
You can change how your feet or hips are positioned.
You can use a chair if getting to the floor feels like too much.
Good pregnancy yoga isn’t about performing a perfect Warrior 2 for Instagram.
It’s about finding the version of Warrior 2 that makes your body say, “Ahh… yes. That feels better.”
What people don’t expect
Most people come for the physical side of things.
What they often don’t expect is how much clarity they get.
There’s a lot of noise around pregnancy. Social media. Other people’s stories. Films. Everyone seems to have an opinion.
In class, things tend to settle.
We talk about what’s real.
We talk about what’s common.
We talk about what might be helpful and what might not be.
Women realise they’re not the only one feeling unsure or worried.
They realise it’s okay if pregnancy doesn’t feel amazing all the time.
And they realise they can ask questions. Proper questions. The kind you don’t always ask elsewhere.
What do I love about pregnancy yoga?
I genuinely can’t pick just one moment.
The beginning of class matters. Everyone arrives with something different going on. We talk. We check in. It doesn’t have to be anything big. Sometimes it’s just “I’m tired.”
The middle of class has its own rhythm. Breathing settles. Movement starts to feel more natural. Everyone is doing something slightly different because that’s what their body needs.
And the end is always special.
There’s that quiet stillness during relaxation. Occasionally a bit of gentle snoring. People wake up slowly. Calm. A bit softer than when they arrived.
Those moments stay with me.
So why practise pregnancy yoga?
Because your body is going through a lot and it helps to understand it.
Because moving well can ease discomfort.
Because breathing properly makes a difference.
Because it’s useful to have somewhere you can ask questions and not feel judged.
Because sometimes you just need an hour where everything slows down a bit.
Pregnancy yoga isn’t about getting it right.
It’s about feeling better in your body and a bit more steady in yourself.
If that sounds like something you need, you’re very welcome to come along to a class at E14YogaCoach.
See you on the mat
E14YogaCoach. Let’s Practice Together
