Yoga is one of the safest and most effective exercises you can do while pregnant, it can help you relax, stay strong, and even get ready for childbirth, according to the Mayo Clinic. However, it is important to take precautions to protect both yourself and your growing baby. While many yoga poses are beneficial during pregnancy, there are some you should avoid. Below, we highlight the yoga poses to steer clear of while expecting.Is It Safe To Practice Yoga In Pregnancy?Pregnancy brings a lot of physical changes and discomfort, but that does not mean you have to give up yoga entirely if you already practice it. Many poses are still safe to continue, while others may need to be modified or avoided completely. Benefits Of Yoga During PregnancyPrenatal yoga provides many physical and mental benefits. It improves strength and flexibility, reduces stress and anxiety, eases common pregnancy discomforts like back pain and fatigue, enhances sleep, and prepares both body and mind for labor. Yoga can also help regulate blood pressure, improve circulation, and foster a stronger connection between mother and baby.Yoga Poses To Avoid During PregnancyHere’s a guide to the yoga poses that are best avoided during pregnancy:Abdominal WorkAny pose that puts pressure on your abdomen can create unnecessary compression and affect blood flow. These poses may also increase strain on your body and contribute to conditions like diastasis recti, where the abdominal muscles separate during pregnancy.Some poses to avoid include:Crow PoseBicyclesPlanksCrunchesTwisting & StretchingTwists are not entirely off-limits during pregnancy. With your doctor’s approval, open twists in the third trimester can feel good and may even help relieve tension. Twisting should come from the shoulders rather than the abdomen, keeping the belly open and never compressed.Some poses to avoid include:Moon PoseSpinal TwistBoat PoseTree PoseJumping or Fast FlowingRapid movements or lots of jumping in early pregnancy may cause nausea. Yoga poses that involve quick, high-impact motions should be avoided. Gentle, restorative postures are a safer choice, supporting fetal growth and reducing potential complications.Poses to avoid:Any yoga movement involving rapid or forceful motionLying BackLying flat on your back during pregnancy can cause nausea, back pain, increased blood pressure, and heartburn. Long periods in this position may also compress the vena cava, the vein that carries blood from the lower body to the heart, which can lead to complications.Poses to avoid:Corpse PoseLying Down Body TwistBoat PosePlough PoseHeated YogaSome yoga practices raise your body temperature. During pregnancy, it’s crucial to avoid poses that overheat the body, as this can lead to dehydration and other complications throughout all trimesters.Poses to avoid:Kapalbhati (Breath of Fire Pose)HeadstandWarrior PoseBikram PoseBelly DownPoses that put extra pressure on your abdomen can be risky while your baby is growing. Any yoga that requires lying on or bending the stomach should be avoided.Poses to avoid:Swan PoseCobra PoseSeated Forward BendBow Pose