Exercise routines when you are pregnant are designed to help you relax and stay fit. Prenatal yoga is a way to combine the mind-body exercises with an effective workout program. If you can't make it to a yoga class at a fitness club or yoga studio, you can use a DVD designed specifically for pregnancy. The best yoga DVD for pregnancy, according to NetSweat, is "Prenatal Yoga" with Shiva Rea, which combines a variety of yoga exercises and modifies the workouts as you progress through each trimester.
Exercises
The "Prenatal Yoga" DVD consists of 70 minutes of exercises split into different components. Rea starts the prenatal yoga workout with 30 minutes of meditation stretches and flexibility poses, using blocks and chairs for support. There are 16 minutes of floor-based poses, including the lunge, bridge, child's and plank. The final four-minute segment involves relaxation. All the exercises are designed to improve energy and stamina during pregnancy while strengthening the back and pelvic muscles.
Benefits
The exercises and poses in the "Prenatal Yoga" DVD are designed specifically to make you feel comfortable and relaxed while increasing energy, stamina, strength, flexibility and balance. The gentle stretches can reduce fatigue, stress, tension and tightness to improve circulation. The physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual benefits of yoga can help during pregnancy.
Modifications
The "Prenatal Yoga" DVD features modifications of exercises, poses and workouts through each trimester. Rea leads the general workout but two pregnant women also are in the background, showing modifications based on your current fitness level. By changing the exercises during each trimester, you can perform the workout throughout your pregnancy while staying safe. Consult your doctor about any form of exercise during pregnancy.
Breathing
Breathing is an essential component of yoga, as it coordinates movements and spatial awareness. The "Prenatal Yoga" DVD uses gentle voice-over instructions for breathing patterns and poses. By exhaling and inhaling properly, according to the exercise, the fetus benefits from the additional blood circulation while your body keeps moving throughout the poses.
Member Comments