I liked Anne's classes at Tranquil Space. (Those wall squats were no fun, but they really paid off during labor.) I would start early--it certainly won't hurt, and you won't be the only non-shower there. A good prenatal class will not move too quickly, and the instructor should really emphasize proper form and alignment.

My exercise during pregnancy was yoga and swimming, and I felt like it kept me in decent shape and helped me prepare for labor, without worrying about stress or injury.

Going to a yoga class will be no different than the first time you went to your kickboxing and step classes.

thanks, PP! I'm signed up for the 14th st Yoga District class next Tuesday (pre/post natal) and I might try tranquil space this weekend and compare the two.

I'm hoping that 1) I don't hate it and 2) it gives me needed gentle strength since I've been such a lazy bones since starting IVF. Going in, I know it's value so even if it's not my favorite, I know it'll be good for me! And maybe I'll learn to like it!

thanks all so much for your recommendations - they've been a big help!

.. meant to say, every class *that I've been to* has started with sharing.

Every prenatal yoga class has started with everyone sharing, before the practice. Usually name, # weeks, any yoga experience if you're new, and maybe something else.

I think it's pretty cool, since you're in a room with other expectant mamas. Sharing that space and energy with them is pretty great, and I started doing it early in pregnancy before I really needed to modify anything.

Definitely recommend it OP!

thanks all for the recommendations!
Just had my NT scan today and the baby was all wiggly and healthy so I don't see there to be a legitimate reason not to start more activity (I was restricted during IVF and while on progesterone/estrogen).
I work until 5, so a 5pm class wouldn't work.
Tranquil Space might worth a try and then I might also try Yoga District and compare.
good to know that Flow is more intense - it would have been my choice since it's so close.

So I just show up early and tell the instructor it's my first class?

I'm normally a step/kickboxing/personal trainer type of person but I think those days are on hold until baby is here. I know some women can do it, but I honestly think it would just exhaust me....so I'm going to stick to walking and yoga/barre and try to find a bathing suit for swimming.

Come to Yoga District! I also was never into yoga before pregnancy and I am so so so glad I started during pregnancy. I started at 5 weeks and have gone weekly since. I'm now 27 weeks. I don't think there is any reason to wait until the 2nd trimester unless your doc/midwife has suggested it. Thursday nights 5-6pm we meet in the Foggy Bottom/Farragut location, then Tuesday evening they have one on 14th street around 6:30?, and I believe one Saturday in Bloomingdale? I love Brittany (the instructor) who teaches Tuesday and Thursday. She is studying to be a doula and loves talking pregnancy. Its a very low key class - we chat sometimes during the class and take a pee break halfway through. There are lots of beginners - people new to yoga and at all stages of pregnancy. Hope to see you sometime!

I've taken classes at Flow, Quiet Mind, and Boundless, and I like Quiet Mind the best. Flow is the most rigorous - I wouldn't recommend the Sunday class to beginners

I plan to try Tranquil Space since it's close to my office, and Willow Street, since I just moved to Silver Spring. I've also heard L'il Omm is good, but I have not been.

If you haven't practiced yoga, definitely start with a class rather than a DVD. A good instructor can make a world of difference in making sure you're doing the poses correctly. If it's something you plan on doing, I agree with 17:25 that starting earlier might be better, before you're really big and uncomfortable. As she said, you'll get a good foundation and that will help with doing it later in pregnancy.

I don't think you'll be completely out of place at all. So many women start yoga when pregnant. Heck, I've been to advanced flow classes and there are newbies there; no one bats an eyelash. With a good instructor, yoga classes offer a welcoming, supportive community for everyone.

I haven't been to Tranquil Space in years (we're in the 'burbs now), but it's a good, venerable yoga studio. I always liked their classes, just don't live close to them any more.

Good luck!

Thrive yoga with Jessica is the best. It's in Rockville

I disagree with PPs. I wouldn't hestitate to start early. I started at 11 weeks with my first, and felt a bit silly because I wasn't showing at all for the entire ten week class (it was at Quiet Minds in Columbia Heights), but later in pregnancy I felt like I had an understanding of the types of poses I needed to do, and a good baseline before my movements got more limited. Alos, I definitely had more support in my abs and lower back, and more flexibilty in my hips later in the pregnancy because I started early. Now, in my second pregnancy, I love the convenience of Yoga DVDs. Amazon reviews will lead you to the good ones. I won't worry about not having done Yoga before, especially if you take a course with an instructor to start. I have practiced for 12 years, but I was definitely an outlier in my yoga class. Several women were taking it for the first time.

I agree with PP. I wouldn't start anything until the 2nd tri. There are also about a million prenatal yoga DVDs out there.

I am a yoga instructor and my personal preference is to start after 16 weeks. You don't have to do Yoga if you haven't before. There are stretching exercises and walking is one of the best forms to exercise in pregnancy. My 2 cents worth.

Tranquil space has wed night and Saturday claasses.

Even though I'm not really a yoga fan, I DO know that there will be tremendous value to doing yoga while pregnant.

I'm looking for recommendations on which studios - Tranquil Space? Flow? (I live so close to Flow, but their only prenatal class is Sundays, the same time as the upcoming pre-natal barre class at B Fit which I'd like to be able to do once in a while). Another spot I'm not thinking of? I live in the city between Logan and Shaw and would rather walk to/from.

Will I be completely out of place as a non-yoga practitioner? And I'm 11 1/2 weeks now- is it too soon to start?

Thanks in advance for any recommendations!