I mentioned in my Days 1 through 3 recap that I had to start this 21 Day Yoga Challenge at Tranquilspace this month a day behind, but as of today, I am caught up to today. I have taken 4 7 am yoga classes this week, as well as pre-natal yoga.
Yes, pre-natal yoga – and no, I am not pregnant. Last time I did the 21 day challenge, towards the end of it a fellow participant mentioned she had done pre-natal yoga when she got too sore for vinyasa yoga and I remember thinking “this is brilliant” – of course, I had this image that pre-natal yoga is purely restorative yoga. The conversation occurred to me on Wednesday as I was trying to think how to fit in a second yoga class today to get me up to 5 classes in 5 days. Pre-natal yoga tonight was at the perfect time.
A couple of days ago I saw that my friend Lisa was subbing tonight’s pre-natal class and I emailed her, asking if it was ok for me to come to pre-natal yoga. She kindly said it was fine (and that there might be other 21-day challenge yogis) and told me that dolphin pose and wall squats would be involved, but that the flow would be gentler.
I went tonight, feeling all manners of trepidation and slight guilty (“what if a nice pregnant woman cannot take the class because it is full and I have a spot?”) but the class was not full and the flow was, indeed, gentler. It was also a good balance for me as the class involved much less pressure on wrists and shoulders (my forearms were really feeling sore) but also provided a nice deep stretch. I had thought the wall squats would be terribly painful, but it was only the third one that really, really, really got to me. I wonder how my legs will feel tomorrow.
Overall, it was a lovely experience, even though I did feel like an interloper. I may go back again before the 21 days are up.
Disclaimer: obviously I am not a yoga teacher or in any way qualified to give advice on whether to do yoga or not. The above are just my impressions and experiences, not a form of advice of any kind.
General Disclosures & Disclaimers
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i seriously love the fact that you went to prenatal yoga!! what an awesome way to honor your body while still staying committed! ♥
thank you Melita
Thank you for sharing your yoga challenge process. It is so wonderful to follow your progress and know that there are work arounds to the challenge. I am looking forward to doing once once I am healed enough.
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