5 Best Prenatal Yoga DVDs – Full Reviews of the Top Yoga DVDs for Pregnant Women

Backaches, swollen feet, morning sickness, lack of sleep. Sometimes that "pregnancy glow" is nothing more than another hot flash. Pregnancy is a beautiful thing, but it isn't as glamorous as it's made out to be in movies.

However, if you've been searching for relief from your pregnancy side effects, you've surely seen prenatal yoga is exceptionally beneficial to you and your baby.

Depending on your schedule or the current number of children you have, going to a studio may not be feasible. A lot of towns have yoga studios that don't offer prenatal yoga or have instructors knowledgeable in pregnant yoga, so perhaps you're considering stocking up on a couple DVDs to get you through the next nine or so months.

While the best yoga DVD for pregnancy may be subjective, I've put together a list of some of the best prenatal DVD workouts out there. These programs aren't for everyone, so do your own research to see what program will be best suited for your pregnancy!​

Choosing a Prenatal Yoga DVD​

Like any other exercise DVD, you can find a prenatal one to suit any fitness level. Before you go drop a bunch of cash on a DVD, ask yourself a few honest questions.

How in shape are you? Has your doctor given you any exercise limitations? What's your purpose in doing prenatal yoga: for a workout, for relaxation, for stretching? All of these will really narrow down the sheer number of DVDs out there!​

At Home versus a Studio​

Why should you do prenatal yoga at home instead of going to a yoga studio? First, some yoga studios don't have much knowledge in the way of making postures safe for pregnant women, and that can be dangerous if you don't have much yoga experience.

Second, even if the teachers do know how to make the class accessible to you, sometimes a 60 to 90-minute class (especially a heated one) can just be too much for pregnant women, especially if you're farther along in your pregnancy.

DVDs give you the option of super short classes all the way up to a longer (around 60 minutes) practice.​

Work with an Instructor if You Can​

Most yoga DVDs are built to suit a variety of skill levels, but if you've never practiced yoga before, I do recommend seeing an instructor at least once to pinpoint the areas where you could possibly injure yourself and reiterate the poses that shouldn't be done when you're expecting.

This will protect your back, neck, and shoulders at a time when they're already overloaded and overworked.​

My Prenatal Yoga DVD Picks​

Here are some of my favorite DVDs. I'll break down what I liked and what I thought could be better, and give you an idea about what fitness level I think they're appropriate for.

• Prenatal Vinyasa Yoga & Short Forms 
• Prenatal Yoga 
• @ Home with Hilaria Baldwin: Fit Mommy-to-be Prenatal Yoga 
• Yoga Pregnancy: Pre and Post Natal Workouts 
• Crunch Yoga Mama - Prenatal Yoga 

This DVD offers a variety of practices in different lengths so you can tailor your practice to how your body is feeling each day.

There are 15, 30, 45, and 75-minute practices. Included is a 5-minute relaxation technique designed to help you relax during labor and delivery.

The models in the videos are all at varying stages of their pregnancy, so regardless of whether you're 10 weeks pregnant or 39 weeks, safe modifications are demonstrated by each woman so you always know what to do.​

What I Like: This is an upbeat flow. On good days, I prefer a yoga practice that actually feels like I'm working out and not just stretching.​

What I Didn't Like: This is an upbeat flow. Yes, I just said that above, but they don't really give any warning to this unless you read reviews. If you're an inexperienced yogi, this is going to be difficult regardless of how pregnant you are.​

Acceptable Fitness Level: If you had a solid vinyasa practice prior to getting pregnant, this is an excellent DVD. If you're a beginning yogi, these videos will be way too much for you.​

Prenatal Yoga with Shiva Rea

Shiva Rea is one of the most well-known yoga teachers in the world, and she and her husband travel the globe offering yoga workshops and intensives.

This program is well suited to yogis of all levels, and no matter how far along in your pregnancy you are, you can safely do these practices.

Included in your DVD are guided meditation and breathing exercises (perfect for prepping you for contractions), a gentle workout with both seated and standing poses, and a guided relaxation to round out your practice.​

What I Like: This class is very soothing and slow moving, and if you're a new yogi, this is the perfect pace for you to learn about yoga while still reaping the benefits of prenatal yoga.​

What I Didn't Like: Some of her instructions are pretty convoluted, and I thought it was odd that I would find them confusing when I've been practicing for years. If you've been doing yoga for more than a year, you might find this practice more yin-like and less like a workout.​

Acceptable Fitness Level: I think if you've been sedentary for a significant amount of time, then this is a great way to get your muscles stronger and help you gain flexibility with gentle movements.​

Home with Hilaria Baldwin: Fit Mommy-to-Be Prenatal Yoga​

I confess that I tried her DVD because I follow Hilaria on Instagram. She's married to Alec Baldwin and she's charming and witty on social media, plus she looked fantastic after the birth of her second baby.

She recorded three practices with different focuses. The first one is designed to help alleviate your back pain while strengthening your back and core for better posture.

The second practice helps you open your hips and prep your entire body for childbirth. Finally, the last practice is made to help you relax quickly and focus/bond with your baby.​

What I Like: The segments are about 20-minutes long, so they're accessible and easy to do when you're crunched for time.​

What I Didn't Like: Hilaria moves through the poses pretty quickly in some parts, using terms like "sits bones" and "neutral spine".

If you're familiar with yoga, then these won't confuse you, but for newbie yoga students, this can be incredibly confusing.​

Fitness Level: I think this DVD is accessible enough for advanced beginners to intermediate yogis. The poses are modified enough that even if you aren't in the best of shape, you'll still be able to keep up.​

Yoga Pregnancy: Pre and Post Natal Workouts​

This DVD combines two separate workouts: one is for pregnant mothers and the second is for after you have your baby.

Each practice is 30-minutes long and works to make you stronger, more flexible, and more relaxed. Your pregnancy practice strengthens the muscles you need for a healthy pregnancy and delivery.

The post-partum practice is designed for women who want to get back into shape and also help battle tension and fatigue every mother faces with a newborn. It helps you regain core strength and reduce stress.​

What I Like: This is a very gentle practice. If you're looking for something to alleviate aching muscles, I highly recommend this DVD.​

What I Don't Like: If you're easily bored, this DVD is going to get maybe two or three uses before you put it away forever. The sequence is very simple, and since there's only one pregnancy workout, those with shorter attention spans might not appreciate it.​

Fitness Level: Anyone.​

Crunch Yoga Mama​

Yea, it sounds a bit like a yummy chocolate snack, but this is all about getting fit. You'll definitely feel like you're getting a workout without getting overtired.

The practice carefully combines strength, breathing, and stretching to prepare you for the end of your pregnancy and delivering your baby.​

What I Like: I love that the instructor is pregnant, but I also love that her students are in various stages of pregnancy and flexibility.

There are plenty of detailed modifications if your belly has gotten considerably bigger or you just don't have the flexibility to do certain poses.​

What I Don't Like: The instructor talks a lot. The overall length of the class is 45 minutes, but if you fast forward through her talking, it cuts it down to about 30 minutes. I think the talking could be trimmed way down without sacrificing instruction.​

Fitness Levels: Some of the poses move pretty quickly, but I think a beginner will catch up in just one or two viewings.​

If I had to choose the best prenatal yoga DVD off this list, I'd definitely give the gold star to Prenatal Vinyasa Yoga with Jennifer Wolfe.

It has the most workouts of all the DVDs on this list (and most others on the market), and the practice is fast moving and actually feels like a workout instead of just gentle stretching.

When you can't get to a yoga studio for some reason, you need a well-rounded, challenging, and accessible way to practice at home. The poses are broken down by trimester, and you're always told what isn't safe for your stage in pregnancy.

I recommend this pick to all of my pregnant friends because they feel challenged and fulfilled at the end of it.​

What do you think is the best prenatal yoga DVD you've tried? If it isn't on this list, leave your pick in the comments so our readers have more to choose from!​