Often when we think of yoga, our minds envision a person sitting in a pretzel like yoga pose wearing white or black. Yoga is so much more than this image.
Yoga has been used for centuries to help center a person and relieve stress. In many countries yoga for pregnancy is considered the only option. Prenatal yoga can be a great way to stay flexible, relieve stress and prepare for birth.
By using, stretching and cultivating the muscles for birth, you inherently make birth easier. The muscles are prepared by the yoga to do their job efficiently in labor. Not to mention the glorious relaxation techniques that you can bring to your birth after the months of practicing.
Prenatal exercises, like yoga can also alleviate the discomforts caused by pregnancy. There are poses for sciatic pain, round ligament pain, and yes, even morning sickness. Many women begin yoga for a life long activity during pregnancy, finding that returning to yoga is much simpler postpartum than many other fitness activities. They also feel during the postpartum stage that yoga gives them a place to reconnect back to themselves after giving so much of themselves in birth and now to their new little one.
As with any exercise program, and especially exercise and pregnancy; it is best to consult your practitioner before beginning. However, with the exception of not lying directly on your back or stomach after the fourth month, and avoiding what doesn’t feel right to you, there is very little yoga that would be a problem during pregnancy.
I recommend finding a prenatal yoga teacher or a well trained yoga teacher that you feel comfortable with.
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