Prenatal yoga offers important benefits for mothers-to-be, both physically and mentally. Physically, practicing this form of exercise can help a mother increase her strength, balance, and flexibility, especially in the hip region. Mentally, yoga encourages its practitioners to find relaxation through breathing techniques. Let's take a look at four specific benefits yoga offers.
Yoga is a centuries-old exercise that focuses on strengthening the mind and body. Using a series of poses linked with breath, yoga helps the body to develop strength, flexibility, and focus. Prenatal yoga uses these same principles while modifying several poses to account for a woman's changing body as well as her needs during childbirth. A certified yoga instructor will lead a class, offering modifications as necessary for an expectant mother's comfort and safety.
Prenatal yoga offers important benefits for mothers-to-be, both physically and mentally. Physically, practicing this form of exercise can help a mother increase her strength, balance, and flexibility, especially in the hip region. Mentally, yoga encourages its practitioners to find relaxation through breathing techniques. Attending a group class also offers women the opportunity to meet other expectant moms who may share similar interests. Let's take a look at four specific benefits yoga offers.
Increased Strength
An important key to any healthy pregnancy is staying in shape-and this can be difficult, especially during the final trimester. However, by its very nature, yoga helps your body build strength by using your body instead of weights or machines. This approach to fitness is both safer and more effective for moms with ever-expanding bellies. Studies support that women who stay active throughout their pregnancies report less physical discomfort as well as shorter labors. However, in order to reap these rewards, you'll need to commit to a regular prenatal workout at least once a week.
Increased Balance
Let's face it: that belly can be a burden. In fact, it can throw off your balance as it continues to grow. You may actually notice a shift in your balance as your baby moves! Several specific poses in yoga are designed to help your body maintain its balance, such as tree pose. Maintaining balance requires a number of muscles to work together, and yoga targets all of these muscles to reduce the stress on your body. It is important, however, to avoid balance poses that may cause you to fall.
Increased Flexibility
Developing increased flexibility is particularly important if you're planning a natural birth. Helping your body open its hips prior to labor makes your baby's journey less difficult. Regular prenatal sessions help to open the hip region, which may decrease the duration of your labor. Poses such as the bound angle pose can gently open the hips and help your body prepare for childbirth.
Increased Focus
Helping your mind become attuned with your body comes with many benefits, including increased relaxation and decreased anxiety. As much as prenatal yoga focuses on physical poses, it equally focuses on breathing techniques. These breathing techniques are also useful during labor, specifically during contractions and pushing. Controlling the breath can reduce muscle tension and thus decrease labor times. Mastering breathing techniques during prenatal yoga classes can only help you during labor!
Many yoga studios offer a free trial class, which is an excellent way to assess how well you like the instructor. Each instructor will be different, so it's a good idea to find the one that fits your needs the best. The physical and mental benefits of prenatal yoga are wonderful; however, don't underestimate the sense of community that you may find when taking a yoga class. Signing up for nine months of classes means that you'll likely meet women who are experiencing the same feelings and challenges that you are: it may be an excellent opportunity to make new friends.
Yoga is a centuries-old exercise that focuses on strengthening the mind and body. Using a series of poses linked with breath, yoga helps the body to develop strength, flexibility, and focus. Prenatal yoga uses these same principles while modifying several poses to account for a woman's changing body as well as her needs during childbirth. A certified yoga instructor will lead a class, offering modifications as necessary for an expectant mother's comfort and safety.
Prenatal yoga offers important benefits for mothers-to-be, both physically and mentally. Physically, practicing this form of exercise can help a mother increase her strength, balance, and flexibility, especially in the hip region. Mentally, yoga encourages its practitioners to find relaxation through breathing techniques. Attending a group class also offers women the opportunity to meet other expectant moms who may share similar interests. Let's take a look at four specific benefits yoga offers.
Increased Strength
An important key to any healthy pregnancy is staying in shape-and this can be difficult, especially during the final trimester. However, by its very nature, yoga helps your body build strength by using your body instead of weights or machines. This approach to fitness is both safer and more effective for moms with ever-expanding bellies. Studies support that women who stay active throughout their pregnancies report less physical discomfort as well as shorter labors. However, in order to reap these rewards, you'll need to commit to a regular prenatal workout at least once a week.
Increased Balance
Let's face it: that belly can be a burden. In fact, it can throw off your balance as it continues to grow. You may actually notice a shift in your balance as your baby moves! Several specific poses in yoga are designed to help your body maintain its balance, such as tree pose. Maintaining balance requires a number of muscles to work together, and yoga targets all of these muscles to reduce the stress on your body. It is important, however, to avoid balance poses that may cause you to fall.
Increased Flexibility
Developing increased flexibility is particularly important if you're planning a natural birth. Helping your body open its hips prior to labor makes your baby's journey less difficult. Regular prenatal sessions help to open the hip region, which may decrease the duration of your labor. Poses such as the bound angle pose can gently open the hips and help your body prepare for childbirth.
Increased Focus
Helping your mind become attuned with your body comes with many benefits, including increased relaxation and decreased anxiety. As much as prenatal yoga focuses on physical poses, it equally focuses on breathing techniques. These breathing techniques are also useful during labor, specifically during contractions and pushing. Controlling the breath can reduce muscle tension and thus decrease labor times. Mastering breathing techniques during prenatal yoga classes can only help you during labor!
Many yoga studios offer a free trial class, which is an excellent way to assess how well you like the instructor. Each instructor will be different, so it's a good idea to find the one that fits your needs the best. The physical and mental benefits of prenatal yoga are wonderful; however, don't underestimate the sense of community that you may find when taking a yoga class. Signing up for nine months of classes means that you'll likely meet women who are experiencing the same feelings and challenges that you are: it may be an excellent opportunity to make new friends.
Nicole S. Wilson is passionate about supporting the needs of pregnant women. She is the owner of Mermaid Maternity®, a maternity swimwear brand designed to help pregnant women feel comfortable and confident in their maternity bathing suits. Her functional and flattering maternity swimsuit line can be found at MermaidMaternity.net.
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