Pregnancy yoga is an excellent way of staying fit during pregnancy while also getting plenty of rest. It provides means for women to keep fit and prepare them for the tiring process of labor and delivery. Gently stretching the muscles and coupling them with deep breathing techniques make women feel more in control of their pregnancy. Additionally, pregnancy yoga can help relieve the uncomfortable symptoms of pregnancy, like back pain, neck pain, and morning sickness.
Pregnancy can limit your workout options. Therefore, you need to put extra thought into the physical activities you would like to perform during pregnancy, to ensure the safety of your baby. Prenatal yoga provides a suitable option for staying active while avoiding extra stress on the baby.
What are the benefits of Pregnancy Yoga?
Pregnancy can bring some unwanted and undesirable discomforts in a woman’s life than can make this wonderful experience a bit difficult. Regularly practicing pregnancy yoga can bring many positive changes for you and your baby as it can:
Reduce the risk of premature birth
Improve stamina and strength
Promote deep sleep
Relieve low back pain
Bring mental calmness
Prepare you for childbirth
Improve circulation
Reduce stress and anxiety
Increase muscle strength, flexibility, and endurance that can ultimately help with an easy childbirth
Help alleviate the signs of morning sickness
Improve balance and posture
Lowers the risk of high blood pressure
Apart from the benefits mentioned above, participating in a pregnancy yoga class allows women to meet with other pregnant women. These bonding sessions can help women to share their experiences and find support from each other.
What should I expect from a Pregnancy Yoga Session?
Pregnancy yoga sessions are somewhat similar to regular gentle yoga sessions. However, your instructor will make changes to different postures to make them pregnancy friendly. You expect to practice the following techniques during your session:
○ Breathing Techniques
Practicing focused breathing is a fantastic way of getting control over your breathing. Learning to control your breathing can help you greatly during labor and vaginal delivery.
○ Gentle Stretching
Gentle stretches can put your muscles in an extended position and help release the built-up tension.
○ Poses
Your instructor will teach you specific poses suitable for each trimester. These poses are designed to strengthen the muscles used during labor and delivery.
○ Relaxation Techniques
Relaxation techniques are an integral part of prenatal yoga classes as they enable pregnant women to learn to calm their minds and mentally prepare them for the arduous process of childbirth.
Pregnancy Yoga for Different Trimesters
Each trimester brings different challenges to pregnant women as their bodies keep making changes as the fetus grows. Therefore, pregnancy yoga sessions can be a little bit different for each trimester.
First Trimester
While you can continue with most physical activities in this trimester, you must modify them appropriately. As this is the initial stage of pregnancy, physical changes are minimal. However, morning sickness is the most prominent feature of this trimester. Therefore, you should take a seat if you feel nauseated during the session.
Second Trimester
The second trimester is the best time to start your prenatal yoga classes. During this time, the morning sickness subsides, and your body starts to change shape. You should avoid poses that require you to lie on your belly and involve deep twisting movements.
Third Trimester
During the third trimester, you must make further modifications to avoid over-stressing your big belly. For example, use a gentle pose and a wider stance to keep your balance. In addition, you should avoid any poses that are difficult for you.
Conclusion
Pregnancy yoga can be valuable to keep you fit and active during pregnancy and to help you cope with pregnancy discomforts. However, it is recommended that you practice this yoga under the guidance of an instructor to perform it correctly.
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