You don't have to give up your whole life when you're pregnant, but if you're a fan of bikram yoga, you may need to reconsider your practice. Due to the risk of heat-related illnesses, exercising in an overheated environment may endanger a growing fetus. However, your doctor can help you make the best decision in this situation; women can generally continue many normal activities during the first trimester.
Definition
Bikram yoga, commonly known as "hot yoga," is a series of 26 poses practiced in a very warm, humid room. The temperature is often set around 100 degrees
F or higher. Bikram yoga is designed to sweat out toxins and impurities from your body, and the heat burns additional calories, although the practice itself may not be as strenuous as "power flow" or other types of vinyasa yoga.
Calories
Most yoga is considered low-impact exercise, which means it gets your heart rate up and counts as physical activity but doesn't burn as many calories or put as much strain on your body as higher-impact activities like running or aerobics. However, the increased temperature of bikram yoga causes increased calorie burn, which you may want to avoid during early pregnancy in order to give your developing child the nutrients it needs to thrive.
Temperature
The hot temperature of a bikram yoga class may cause fatigue, dizziness or nausea in anyone, but especially the newly pregnant. If you're already experiencing morning sickness, for example, bikram yoga may make it worse. If you choose to continue a bikram practice during your first trimester, drink plenty of water and take breaks or modify poses when needed.
Alternatives
You don't have to stop practicing yoga while pregnant, but bikram might not be the best option. Even newly pregnant women can take prenatal yoga classes -- you may not have all the physical limitations of women in their second and third trimesters, but you can still get helpful advice and an idea of what to expect later in your pregnancy. A less strenuous class, such as "gentle flow" yoga, is another good option. When attending a class not geared toward pregnant women, always let the instructor know you are pregnant.
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