Benefits of Prenatal Yoga

Yoga poses (asanas) are special physical poses intended to enhance muscular flexibility. Yoga asanas even help control and regulate breathing while opening up the energy channels. In this way, they help harmonize body functioning, breathing and mind control.

While picking and choosing Yoga poses the woman should make special effort is to consider her anatomical, physiological and endocrinal systems changes as well as the restrictions pregnancy imposes on her physical activities.

• Asanas help boost the flexibility as well as confidence of the pregnant woman.
• They contribute a great deal to making spine strong and flexible, while ensuring proper posture and establishing balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic system.
• Regular Yoga asana practice helps enhance blood circulation while toning up back muscles as well as the muscles of the abdomen and pelvis

Yoga breathing exercises (pranayama) are disciplined yogic breathing practices. In pranayama your breathing process is consciously regulated. However, it is important to learn them only under expert guidance.

• Pranayama bestows tranquility, relaxation and a feeling of happiness.
• Yoga breathing exercises are known to tune up the nervous system and enhance emotional stability. They also helps get rid of anxiety, fears and phobias.

Meditation is another excellent tool for pregnant women. When she is no longer distracted by external stimuli and when her mind is totally controlled she remains effortlessly one-pointed. To develop such a one pointedness of mind focus she should start by focusing attention on objects such as her own breath, a table-top or a candle-flame flame or any object that can easily be focused upon. She can also chant a mantra. If her attention gets diverted she should not be discouraged. Rather, she should gently take her mind. back to her chosen object.

• Through meditation the pregnant woman will come to experience inner silence and peace.
• Regular practice of meditation will induce in the pregnant woman a good sense of rejuvenation and relaxation.
• Through the regular practice of meditation, her pulse rate, BP and oxygen requirements fall considerably.