4 Ways to Benefit From Pre-Natal Yoga

1. Keep in Shape

When you take prenatal yoga, you're making an attempt to stay in shape over the course of your pregnancy. With prenatal yoga, you can perform most poses throughout the duration of your pregnancy. You'll feel more flexible while not putting much strain on your joints. With the daily practice of prenatal yoga poses, you'll start to feel more balanced as well. This is an important benefit since many women feel off balance during the course of their pregnancy. Problems with circulation often affect pregnant woman and prenatal yoga can also help improve this problem. You should also practice a cardiovascular activity throughout your pregnancy along with the prenatal yoga. Many women walk, ride a stationery bike or use a stair climber.

2. Take a Deep Breath

As you practice prenatal yoga at home or in a class, you'll notice the instructor focuses a lot of attention on proper breathing techniques. With prenatal yoga, you take deep breaths that fill your lungs completely with air. You then slowly release the air until your stomach completely compresses. This practice, known as ujjayi breathing, helps relax and calm the person. You can utilize the prenatal yoga breathing techniques during labor to keep you relaxed while you handle the pain of childbirth. During a prenatal yoga pose, you'll take a deep breath in and hold the pose. Once you release the pose, you'll slowly exhale.

3. Build a Support System

Since you meet other expecting women during a prenatal yoga class, you might form friendships and talk about the different emotions you're going through during pregnancy. You can also build a relationship with the instructor, who can help you understand the concept of prenatal yoga and how it helps you cope with pregnancy and labor. You'll also feel better about yourself since exercise produces endorphins. These good feelings encourage you to keep working out during pregnancy.

4. It's so Easy

One of the main benefits of prenatal yoga involves the simplicity of completing the different poses. Even if you're new to yoga, you can benefit from the easier prenatal yoga moves since they help relieve some common pregnancy ailments. During the Cat-Cow pose, you'll get on your hands and knees, then round your back as you breathe. Pregnant women with back discomfort benefit from this pose. Additional poses used during a prenatal yoga class include Warrior, Tree and Downward Facing Dog.

Last updated on: Nov 18, 2009

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