12 Amazing Benefits of Prenatal Yoga

The last two decades have seen an increasing interest in the age-old yogic philosophy and its practices which has managed to create an impact on a global level, especially in the field of fitness and wellness. Yoga as a philosophy has laid down the works for an entire lifestyle that transcends into self-actualization when practiced and studied in depth.

An excerpt from this diverse discourse captures the exercises or asanas that most modern global cultures consider the premise of yoga. These asanas indulge the body’s flexibility and boost endurance to help people attain a healthier lifestyle through better oxygenation of the body. Along with these asanas, there are many breathing exercises and meditation techniques as well that ensure better oxygenation and relax the body and the mind. Within this segment of yoga is a specific section that was designed specifically for pregnancy and is known as Prenatal Yoga.

What is Prenatal Yoga?

Prenatal Yoga is a specific section within the Pranayam and Asanas segment of the Yogic philosophy that is concerned with relaxing and building endurance of the pregnant woman. It focuses on improving body flexibility and relaxes the body during the different trimesters of pregnancy. It also involves many breathing and meditation techniques that help with attaining tranquility during the pregnancy stage. The Asanas are much milder than the usual yogic practices and are designed specifically to prepare the body for childbirth.

The way to move forward is to conduct some self-study on the subject and find a qualified instructor to guide you through the asanas. Always keep in mind that resting and relaxing the body is the most important requirement during pregnancy and that’s why the intensity of the exercises reduces over the span of 3 trimesters. Finding a class that suits your comfort zone will help you reap greater benefits from the class and will help you relax your mind. Prenatal Yoga is a tried and tested practice that has shown to have many benefits and ensures relaxation of the mind and body.

Related Blog: Prenatal Yoga Guide: All You Need to Know

12 Benefits of Prenatal Yoga

When it comes to childbirth, it’s important for a woman to be aware of the changes taking place in her body. A good way to become more comfortable with your body during pregnancy is by introducing prenatal yoga into your lifestyle. Prenatal Yoga has many benefits and is the most pragmatic approach to preparing for childbirth. Since the discipline works around the entire premise of your body and weight, it allows the women to set their own comfort level and practice according to their capabilities.

Here are some of the benefits of prenatal yoga have been comprehensively discussed below:

1. Building stamina and strength – As the baby grows in the womb, it is important for the mother to build her stamina and body strength. The asanas will build endurance and will help the mother relax as the body gets well oxygenated.

2. Relieves tension – Prenatal Yoga can be considered as a low-intensity full-body workout that stretches every muscle and joint of the body and relieves the body of tension. The asanas practiced in this discipline will focus on the lower back, hips, neck, and shoulder regions and prepare the body for childbirth both mentally and physically.

3. Induces better sleep – With better oxygenation of the body and the stretching of muscles and joints, the body tends to move into a relaxation mode which induces deep and healthy sleep.

4. Improves balance – As the fetus keeps growing, the physical load on the mother keeps increasing, along with the increasing release of progesterone and estrogen. The Asanas and meditation help the mother attain a deep sense of body balance and emotional stability.

5. Prepares the body for childbirth – Prenatal Yoga is the best way to prepare the body for childbirth. With increased body flexibility and endurance, it makes the entire process of childbirth easier for the mother. The asanas help open up the pelvic and lower back region which are crucial during childbirth.

6. Increased circulation within the body – The breathing exercises, meditation, and asanas combined together have a deep impact on body circulation. The various exercises help oxygenate the body and improve blood circulation.

7. Breathing during labor – Labor involves many cervical contractions which require the mother to constantly breathe so that the heart rate and blood pressure can be stable as the baby comes out. The various breathing exercises and meditation techniques of prenatal yoga prepare the mother for labor.

8. Increases the connection with the baby – Prenatal Yoga incorporates many spiritual innuendos which can be accessed through the asanas, breathing techniques, and meditation. A better understanding of the body invokes a better pre-birth relation with the baby growing inside. The more relaxed the mother, the more relaxed is the baby.

9. The Prenatal Yoga classes can be a great way to get moral support and create a small community for yourself. As prenatal yoga classes only involve pregnant women, the class can become a great place to find a sisterhood for moral support.

10. Helps with maintaining body weight – Maintaining suitable body weight is crucial during the pregnancy period and hence prenatal yoga asanas are a great way to do this. The asanas build body strength and flexibility and keep a check on the weight as the baby grows within the womb.

11. Relaxes the nervous system – This is one of the greatest boons of practicing yoga. Even within the milder prenatal yoga the asanas and meditation coupled with the breathing techniques help relax the nervous system and promote good health and peace.

Post-Pregnancy Benefits

12. Ensures a faster recovery – One of the greatest benefits of prenatal yoga is its ability to build body endurance and help the body recover faster in the post-pregnancy phase.

[……]

Read more

6 Incredible Ways Prenatal Yoga Boosts Mum and Baby’s Health

Pregnancy can be a wild ride for mothers-to-be. It is exciting, yet sometimes challenging. All the physical alterations and emotional ups and downs can be a lot to handle. Fortunately, there is a way to make pregnancy smoother with postnatal yoga in Singapore. This gentle form of exercise does wonders for both mums and their little ones, so keep reading if you’d like to find out why many mums-to-be are trying it out!

1. Reduces stress and anxiety

Motherhood is often a stressful time, but practising prenatal yoga can help expecting mums feel calmer and more relaxed. By concentrating on their body and breathing, pregnant women can reduce their tension levels and achieve a better sense of overall well-being. Moreover, prenatal yoga has been proven to lower cortisol levels (associated with stress) and enhance serotonin levels (allowing contentment). Thus, if you’re expecting right now and experiencing anxiety, we recommend giving prenatal yoga a shot!

2. Improves sleep quality

Sleep deprivation is quite common during pregnancy, but it doesn’t have to be this way! By using relaxation techniques and reducing stress with prenatal yoga, expectant mothers can get more restful nights of sleep. Additionally, certain poses may aid in relieving discomforts linked to pregnancy, like backache or restless leg syndrome, which are factors in preventing a good night’s sleep.

3. Increases flexibility and strength

One of the great things about prenatal yoga is that it strengthens muscles while increasing flexibility at the same time! Expecting mothers who practice stretching exercises or gentle movements will be able to free up tension in their muscles while gaining strength — particularly in the pelvic floor area, which prepares them for labour.

4. Prepares mum for labour

The process of giving birth can be overwhelming if you are not adequately prepared for it. With prenatal yoga, expectant mothers will become capable of dealing with pain more comfortably during labour through specific poses to build strength, flexibility, and stamina.

5. Promotes bonding with baby

Prenatal yoga also helps promote bonding between mums-to-be and their unborn babies. With gentle moves and breathing techniques practised together, a stronger connection is formed between mother and child before they meet face-to-face! Furthermore, the relaxation techniques used within this form of yoga provide an atmosphere that promotes peacefulness for both mother and baby.

6. Reduces the risk of gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes is something that worries many expecting mums. However, it doesn’t have to stay that way! Prenatal yoga helps maintain healthy weight gain while improving insulin sensitivity — two conditions which lower the risk of gestational diabetes developing in pregnant mothers. It also reduces the probability of further complications, such as pre-eclampsia, occurring in them or their baby.

Conclusion

Prenatal yoga proves beneficial on multiple levels throughout pregnancy. It can help reduce fear and anxiety while also preparing mothers for labour and fostering bonding between mothers and their babies before they arrive in the world.

[……]

Read more

Manage the Physical Challenges of Pregnancy with Prenatal Yoga

Many primary care doctor in Sugar Land, Texas prescribe this form of exercise to pregnant patients. This is because a woman’s body and mental outlook are transformed during pregnancy.

Pregnancy can:

Change a woman’s posture.

During pregnancy, a woman’s body undergoes a natural shift in gravity as she gains weight, which causes a curvature of the spine.

Tighten her hip sockets.

This is to support the additional weight they are carrying.

Anxiety about pregnancy and giving birth.

Women tend to worry about their child’s well-being and their upcoming labor experience.

Performing yoga poses can help ease the discomfort and pain that a lot of women may experience as their pregnancy progresses. It can also help mitigate the stress they feel and improve their mental state.

Other benefits according to the American Pregnancy Association are:

Improved sleep

Reduced stress

Increased strength, flexibility, and endurance

Decreased lower back pain

Reduced risk of preterm labor

Acquiring medical services in Texas that can guide you through your pregnancy journey is important, especially for first-time mothers.

Get a certified and reliable Family and Internal Medicine Doctor in Sugar Land by contacting us here. Sugar Land Physicians would be happy to help you out!

[……]

Read more

Pregnant? Prenatal yoga could be the best way to stay active

If you’ve got a bun in the oven, you may be looking for a new way to exercise during pregnancy. Here’s why prenatal yoga could be the answer.

Whether you’re expecting your first baby or your fourth, pregnancy marks the start of a new phase of life – including how you move your body.

And when it comes to staying active, prenatal yoga offers an array of benefits, for both mum and bub.

What exactly is prenatal yoga?

Prenatal yoga is a light form of yoga designed specifically for pregnancy.

Prenatal yoga teacher and Yogababy founder Suzanne Swan says it offers a gentle and safe way to move your body while pregnant.

“Some of the postures used in regular yoga classes – such as deep twists and backbends – as well as some of the more vigorous practices such as hot yoga, aren’t recommended during pregnancy,” Suzanne says.

A prenatal yoga class offers safe modifications of what would normally be offered in a regular yoga class, she explains.

Classes focus on gentle stretching, strengthening and breathing exercises designed to help women adapt to the bodily changes that come with growing a baby, both physically and mentally, Suzanne says.

They often involve elements of meditation too, she says, helping women to tune in to the mind-body connection, which can help relieve stress and maintain a sense of calm throughout pregnancy.

Benefits of prenatal yoga

Prenatal yoga is an antidote to many uncomfortable pregnancy moments.

“It can help women stay fit during pregnancy, which can help alleviate common discomforts associated with growing a baby, such as lower back pain, hip pain, swollen feet, and headaches,” Suzanne says.

But it also helps build a bond with your baby.

“Prenatal yoga provides an opportunity for mums to slow down and connect with their baby, and to learn the focusing skills that will support them in the birth,” Suzanne says.

According to Western Sydney University Professor of Midwifery Hannah Dahlen, research into the benefits of prenatal yoga suggests a regular practice can help reduce anxiety, depression and stress.

“There are [also] increased rates of normal vaginal birth and tolerance of labour pain,” Prof Dahlen says.

Does prenatal yoga help with labour?

According to Prof Dahlen, because yoga is a mind-body-spirit practice that combines physical postures with relaxation and breathing, there are likely to be benefits that flow over into labour.

“There appears to be a slight shortening of the length of labour and reduction in the need for pain relief,” Prof Dahlen says.

“Breathing, being active during labour and learning how to relax are good for increasing oxygen flow to the baby, reducing women’s sense of pain,” she explains.

“It’s also good for getting the baby into an ideal position for birth.”

When to start prenatal yoga

Suzanne says women can safely start practising prenatal yoga from around 14 weeks.

“This is when we know the baby is usually settled; prior to that, there’s a sensitive period where miscarriage is higher,” Suzanne explains.

“Attending a regular weekly class is recommended, but women can do a mild form of practice each day if they like.”

Professor Dahlen says studies show women need to make prenatal yoga a regular practice to reap the rewards.

“But we also need more studies into prenatal yoga, as they have not all been high quality,” she says.

[……]

Read more

Bump & Flow Prenatal Yoga

Are you cooking up a cute new addition and looking for a safe, accessible and budget-friendly way to keep active during pregnancy, to help prepare you for an active birth and get you set up for quicker postnatal healing? Well then you’ve come to the right place.

The Bump & Flow Online Studio is home to over 15hrs of specialist prenatal yoga videos that are suitable for everyone that has been cleared for movement.

Never done yoga before? This is a GREAT place to start? All these videos are suitable for beginners as well as more practised yoga lovers and you can practice them all through your pregnancy, right up until the day your sweet babe arrives!

“These prenatal yoga classes are SO much more than just “yoga poses that have been adjusted for pregnant and bodies.” They are designed to support you body, mind and heart throughout your pregnancy, to prepare you for physically and mentally for birth and put you in the best place possible for post natal healing.” – Kat x

[……]

Read more