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Prenatal Yoga

Fitness, Happiness, Health, Yoga

Prenatal Yoga

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Congratulations! You are pregnant!

As much as pregnancy seems to be exciting, it is a time full of challenges and new experiences for the mom-­to-­be.

Pregnancy produces a very powerful change in a woman’s body, psyche, and life. And as they say, good beginnings make a positive difference in the world, Prenatal yoga is the best thing that you can do for yourself and your growing baby.

Contents

Benefits of Prenatal Yoga

Prenatal yoga offers an irreplaceable way for women to explore their deepest selves­, their minds, bodies, and nature itself! It encourages stretching, focused breathing, and good sleep for the expecting mother. Some of the other most important benefits of practicing yoga during pregnancy include:

1. Developing strength and stamina:

While the baby grows inside you, you need more energy to be able to carry its weight. As your foetus grows, your lower back becomes curved due to the increase in the size of your belly, your hips become tighter due to the baby’s weight, your breasts’ size increases and your upper back, neck, and shoulders feel stressed. Prenatal yoga aims to strengthen your lower back, hips, chest, upper back, neck, arms, and shoulders.

2. Learning to fine-tune your physical and mental balance

Throughout pregnancy, your sense of balance changes and certain muscles of your body have to work harder. In the prenatal yoga class, the trainer helps you to focus on breathing through each yoga pose, thus to fine-tuning your balance, both physically and emotionally.

3. Learning to adjust to your body changes

It is very important to love your body before and after childbirth, especially because you know that your shape and weight is going to keep changing! Doing yoga during such times will help you adjust to your body’s changing needs and you will learn how to accommodate them.

4. Remaining calmer and at peace with yourself

Through deep breathing exercises, the trainer will help you calm down and relax. When your body is in a relaxed position, your digestive system will operate at its optimum level and your immune system will function better, helping you stay fit and healthy throughout pregnancy.

5. You get ready for labour

All the practice of deep breathing that your trainer makes you do during the prenatal yoga classes will help you at the time of your labour. It will allow you to be “comfortable with the uncomfortable”. When you inhale, you acknowledge the pain, and when you exhale, release all the discomfort. Remember, a calm mum = a calm baby.

6. You create a bond with your baby

You will learn to focus on what is going on within your body and feel more in touch with your growing baby bump! Listen to your own breathing, thoughts, and emotions, pay close attention to sensations of the baby and find your self­-awareness and inner calm!

7. You develop a sense of sisterhood

You will agree that prenatal yoga helps to build a support group and socialize with a group of women who understand what you are exactly going through and that can be very comforting. Hence, in the process, you build a relation of sisterhood with them which lives up to a lifetime.

8. You get the “me time” you’ve always craved for

Pregnancy allows you to stop and slow down from your busy routine! Through this class, you will learn how to take care not only of yourself but of the baby too. Prenatal yoga will send your body into a relaxed state and give you a peaceful sleep every night.

Sounds great, doesn’t it?

According to studies, the best time you can start your prenatal yoga is after the consent of your gynecologist. Furthermore, please make sure your yoga instructor is certified in prenatal yoga because many of the yoga poses might not be recommended during pregnancy and only they can tell you what you should and should not do.

What a typical Prenatal Class includes

A typical prenatal yoga class would include:

  • Breathing.
  • Gentle stretching.
  • Postures using props like cushions and blankets.
  • Cool down and relaxation.

Are you a modern mum who knows what’s best for her and the baby? Well, then you’re already in for a perfect” pregnancy! Take up a good prenatal yoga class that helps you schedule necessary lifestyle requirements like a healthy diet, safe daily exercise, adequate rest and good hydration into your calendars for several months prior to your delivery! And stress? Not at all! That is definitely not good for your baby, so put an end to it with Yoga!

About Author:

Vidisha Shahani Profile pictureVidisha Shahani is a freelance writer specializing in health and fitness blog posts. She obtained a gold medal in Food Science and Quality Control during her Bachelor’s and completed her Master’s degree in Dietetics and Nutrition.

Vidisha is an expert in Anti-Gravity, New York-based program by Christopher Harrison and has been trained for 5 years in Iyengar Yoga. Additionally, she has also completed an advanced course in Iyengar Yoga at Rishikesh under the supervision of Usha Devi.

During her early years, Vidisha practiced at Nanavati Hospital as a dietician along with disease management in nephropathy, liver cirrhosis, and weight loss management. A few months back she received her certification for prenatal yoga and can confidently train prenatal mothers throughout their pregnancy.

Follow her on LinkedIn to know more about her .

  1. Absolutely amazing. Very interesting point you make about prenatal yoga. Thank You and i love your pictures in this article.