Perceptions of women on the safety of prenatal hot yoga

Prenatal hot yoga is the practice of yoga in a 105 degree Fahrenheit room by expecting mothers. There is currently no clinical research on the safety or efficacy of such an exercise. However, prenatal hot yoga practitioners still exist. This study surveys the hot yoga community of Hampton Roads, Virginia, in which there are more than 2,200 active females, on their perceptions of such a practice. Currently pregnant and not pregnant females are included. In addition to this population, a control group of non-hot yoga practitioners are included in order to compare the beliefs between the two groups. The 26-question survey asks where subjects received their information sources, and how credible each source is perceived. In addition to collecting demographic information on women who do practice prenatal hot yoga, the study also compares how the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of women on prenatal hot yoga differs by age, health status, and experience with yoga or other forms of exercise. By assessing the variability and type of information distributed by hot yoga studios about prenatal yoga, the results of this study may be used by obstetricians and gynecologists for proper education of their patients. By understanding how female yoga practitioners perceive the practice of prenatal hot yoga, public health professionals can construct education plans accordingly.