Prenatal yoga
During pregnancy,
your body goes through many changes, which creates mental and physical stress.
One way to maintain a healthy mind and body is prenatal yoga as it focuses on
postures for pregnant women to increase strength and flexibility. It also helps
pregnant women develop proper breathing and relaxation techniques for an easier
and more comfortable delivery.
What are the benefits of prenatal yoga?
There are many
benefits as it is a form of exercise that also speaks to your well being during
pregnancy.
- Improved sleep
- Reduced stress
- Increased strength, flexibility, and endurance
- Decreased lower back pain
- Decreased nausea
- Decreased carpal tunnel syndrome
- Decreased headaches
- Reduced risk of preterm labor
- Lowered risk of intrauterine growth restriction (a condition that slows the baby’s growth)
In addition to these
benefits, studies have shown that there is an association between prenatal yoga
and a reduction in hypertension-related complications, as well as improved
fetal outcomes.
Prenatal yoga and pregnancy support
While you're
pregnant, it's important to build a strong support system. Often this support
system will include family and friends.
It may be helpful to
expand your support system to include other pregnant women. By attending the
course, you have the opportunity to meet other pregnant women with whom you can
share your concerns.
More importantly,
getting to know other pregnant women gives you the opportunity to talk to the
pregnant woman.
Join pregnancy yoga classes
There are many
important factors to consider when choosing prenatal yoga classes. The safest
way is to take a course designed for pregnant women. It is important that you
work with certified prenatal yoga instructors, as they know which poses to
avoid and which ones to focus on.
What do you want to know
- Remember to limit your yoga sessions to about 30 minutes and never push yourself. Yoga is a way to relax, so it makes no sense to force yourself, which is not safe and not good for the expectant mother.
- While yoga has many benefits, it is important to remember that not all yoga is safe for pregnant women.
- Yoga such as bikram and other yoga practices that require a warm environment are not safe for the mother-to-be. Doing these hot forms of yoga can cause hyperthermia.
- Any positions in which you lie on your back or require a strong stretching of the abdomen are also not recommended for pregnant women.
- In addition, women at risk of preterm labor are advised not to practice prenatal yoga. Before embarking on prenatal yoga, it is important to consult with your doctor.