Pregnancy is a time of change. A woman experiences physical and emotional transformation during this phase. Her body shapes changes, her hormones fluctuate and her emotions rage. She needs a stabilizing force to cope and keep up. Practicing yoga during pregnancy can prove to be just that.
Yoga is the traditional Indian practice of self healing. It helps create a balance between the body, mind and spirit and thereby allows for a better, more full-filled quality of life. Yoga incorporates a series of postures,
breathing techniques and meditation. When practiced regularly it has a positive impact on physical, mental and emotional health. When practiced during pregnancy it does all the above and keeps the mother and baby in perfect health.
Exercise and energy – It is advisable to exercise a little throughout the pregnancy. It maintains fitness, checks irritable conditions and keeps energy levels up. This is especially helpful as pregnancy can be draining. A gentle yoga warm up, however, should have you up and about. Pregnancy also brings with it many aches and pains: back aches, swollen feet, and insomnia, among others. Through yoga you can work these niggles away.
Cope with morning sickness – Morning sickness can be brutal. Along with the discomfort, it keeps you feeling sick and nauseous all the time. It also consumes all your energy, leaving you with little time for yourself. By practicing yoga during pregnancy, you control the severity of the symptoms. Through
breathing exercises and meditation, you can keep energy levels up and fight off nausea. You can also keep your spirits high, despite being under the weather. This ensures optimal flow of fresh blood, oxygen and nutrients to all the vital organs in the body, keeping them healthy. It also nourishes the baby and facilitates healthy development.
Maintain body balance – During pregnancy your body changes shape and your weight increases. This impacts body alignment. As the pregnancy progress, alignment shifts and you lose your centre of balance. This results in severe back aches. By practicing yoga for pregnancy, you can correct and maintain body alignment through the nine months. This eases the pregnancy and boosts recovery.
Aids Labor – Yoga during pregnancy teaches you several
deep breathing techniques that help calm you down and fight stress. This helps during labor. Pain and anxiety make you clench; this is but a reflex action. This prolongs labor. Stress and pain also push the adrenalin count in the body, which is known to make labor difficult. Through yoga in pregnancy, you can learn to control stress and reaction to pain, thereby speeding labor. Yoga also strengthens your abdominal and pelvic muscles, enabling you to endure labor and recover faster.
If you are a beginner, opt for gentle pregnancy yoga classes. If you practice yoga, you can continue with your practice, even if you follow a more intensive form of yoga, like Bikram yoga. Be sure to inform your instructor though, or join a dedicated pregnancy Bikram yoga class.
It is important to join a good prenatal yoga class. These classes are designed especially for pregnant parents. The work outs are gentle and can be followed through every stage of the pregnancy.
