Yoga is for everyone – from amateurs to aficionados, and even mummies to-be! Yes, prenatal yoga has its fair share of goodness to prepare expecting mummies, physically and mentally, for a smoother delivery. Here are our top 7 reasons why.
1. Strengthen Stamina
Mummies are really noble creatures. Imagine that strength and power needed to literally carry that additional few kilograms everywhere they go for nine good months (not even mentioning the emotional weight, yet). Learning yoga helps mummies to build up the energy and stamina for this period.
Recommended pose: Sun Salutation
2. Keeping the Balance
As the fetus grows within the womb, it may be challenging to keep a good balance, physically and mentally. Yoga helps expecting mummies to focus on their breathing and balance as they work their way through each pose.
Recommended pose: Tree pose (Vrksasana)
3. Relieves Tension, especially the Lower Back and Hips
As the belly grows each day, stress on the lower back muscles increases to lift the additional baby weight. Prenatal yoga focuses on stretching the muscles and helping to open up tight hips due to the added pressure of the baby’s weight.
Recommended Pose: Goddess pose is an ideal pose to practice in preparation for childbirth.
4. Calms the Soul
Yoga practice involves deep breathing techniques, putting the mind and nervous system periodically in a relaxation mode. With prolonged training, it will aid digestion and promote better sleep time. Furthermore, it also helps to keep the immune system at its optimal state.
5. Connection with Baby
Some people feel that yoga is a slow and boring exercise. It may be true to a certain extent but prenatal yoga practice allows mummies to slow down and focus their attention on what’s going on within their bodies. It also encourages greater connection between mummy and baby.
Recommended Pose: Chest Opener
6. Improve Muscles and Blood Circulation
Expecting mummies should practice yoga to enhance their muscles and blood circulation during pregnancy. By elongating the joints and muscles at regular intervals, any possible swelling (frequently from pregnancy) will be greatly minimized, hence leading to greater flexibility and movement.
Recommended pose: Low Lunge Pose (Anjaneyasana)
7. Reduce Stress, Anxiety and Depression
Practising yoga is a good way to reduce stress and anxiety (which may, on a more serious note, lead to depression) during pregnancy. It not only improves the physical state but also helps to deal with pregnancy-related stress due to hormonal changes.
Recommended pose: Warrior pose (Virabhadrasana)
Lastly, practising prenatal yoga with a group of like-minded mummies can be a very comforting experience. Sisterhood is the best way to help one another go through this laborious period.
Where can you learn Prenatal Yoga? Here are some places to check out:
By Tan Yiying.
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Know of another place to learn Pre-natal yoga? Share with us in the comment box below!
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