Admin
June 24, 2022

• Your emotions might run high and cause you to feel stressed because of the changes your body goes through during pregnancy. Keeping calm will help give your baby a happy, healthy, and stress-free environment to grow in. 

   

  Light exercises, like yoga, can help you stay active without straining your body. Yoga is a great way to stay fit and healthy while helping you maintain calm mindfulness on days you feel overwhelmed and stressed. 

Prenatal yoga is a healthy practice to adopt when pregnant. It has many benefits, both physically and mentally. Here are yoga benefits to consider to practice the exercise!

 

Provides Relief from Common Pregnancy Complaints

 

While pregnant, you often suffer from common pregnancy discomforts such as lower back pain, headaches, nausea, shortness of breath, and insomnia. Through yoga, you can stretch and tone those muscles and help blood circulate throughout your body healthily. Of course, there is no guarantee that all those symptoms will disappear, but yoga can help reduce them and make pregnancy a lot more comfortable for you and your baby. 

 

Prepares You for Labor and Delivery

 

Practicing yoga in any trimester during your pregnancy can help you relax and stay positive prior to labor. Research has shown that pregnancy yoga can contribute to having less pain during labor as women who practice yoga learn to connect with their bodies, helping them feel more in control when they are giving birth. Meditation and breathing exercises can help reduce pain and anxiety during labor. Working to connect with methods of deep and mindful breathing can help your body loosen and help you get into a place where your body instinctively knows what to do when you are to give birth.

 

Connects You with Your Baby

 

Being pregnant alone can make you feel stressed from the busy work of preparing for your little one’s arrival. Yoga is a gentle and relaxing reminder to our bodies to stay calm, practice mindfulness, and bond with your baby. It is an opportunity to become more aware of what you are feeling and allow you to connect with your baby. You notice that your bond will grow stronger.

 

Calms Your Nervous System

 

It is normal to feel many emotions during your pregnancy, but allowing this to happen can affect you and your baby. If you feel calm, your baby also feels the same way. Yoga helps reduce stress by keeping you connected with your breath and body. It helps you reduce anxiety and stress as you keep yourself present in the moment and stay focused on relaxing your nerves. 

 

Reduces Stress and Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety

 

Yoga’s combination of intentional movement and structured breathing can help reduce the symptoms of depression. Breathing in slow, rhythmic breaths activates the nervous system and blocks cortisol, a stress hormone. 

 

Practicing yoga can be good for you but keep in mind that being pregnant should be a caution alone before you do anything that is physical. 

 

Before you practice yoga, keep in mind of the following safety guidelines:

 

Consult with your doctor

 

Before you join a yoga class or do yoga alone, make sure your doctor allows you to do so. You may experience a high-risk pregnancy and doing physical activities can endanger you and your baby.

 

Set realistic goals

 

For pregnant women, keep your physical goals realistic. It is recommended for pregnant women to at least do 30 minutes of moderate activities. 

 

Pace Yourself

 

Do not push yourself too hard. Pay attention to what your body is feeling. You can start slow and avoid yoga positions that are beyond your level of comfort or experience. 

 

Avoid Certain Yoga Positions

 

When doing yoga poses, do not push yourself to do certain positions that are uncomfortable or unfamiliar to you. Always ask your instructor for guidance if you are unsure whether a pose is safe.

 

Remember, if you are feeling any unusual pain or discomfort, it is best to consult with your doctor!

 

Have a healthy and happy pregnancy, mommies!

 

sources: parents.com, mayoclinic.org, webmd.com, yogaashfield.com, freepik.com