If you are pregnant or are currently trying to get pregnant, you probably have heard of the trend of doing pregnancy yoga. You might be wondering whether this is something you should be doing and whether it is something genuinely worthwhile.
It is true that so many things on the health and wellness scene are fads rather than anything truly beneficial.
Is pregnancy yoga one of these things?
Does it simply exist to sell books, courses, and extra yoga mats?
No!
Absolutely not!
Doing yoga while you are pregnant is absolutely something beneficial, healthy, and recommended.
Yoga has been around since the dawn of time, being popular in one way or another for centuries. It is a sacred art and a meditative practice that is backed by both science and wellness.
Yoga is so beneficial for pregnant women for a range of reasons, including:
Reduced anxiety and stress
Practising yoga includes controlling your breath and taking some time away from busy, everyday life. The practice, when done consistently, will really help control your stress and anxiety levels throughout pregnancy.
Being pregnant can be a stressful time. There are lots of different things to worry about and you might find yourself feeling uptight and worried a lot of the time.
Doing yoga is a great way to keep your pregnancy as a positive journey rather than a negative one. It will help you stay calm and relaxed throughout the process.
That sounds good to me.
Improved posture
Being pregnant puts a lot of weight and strain on your body in areas you might not be used to having such strain, this can cause pain and discomfort in your back, shoulders, and knees.
Practising yoga can help to improve your posture and allow you to carry your newfound weight a little easier. It can help with any aches or pains you already have, and decrease the likelihood of any new ones emerging simply by improving your posture.
Strengthening of muscles needed for labour
As, unfortunately, we all know, labour is a tough job. It requires a lot of strength from your pelvic and cervical musicals, and it is incredibly painful.
You won’t be able to take this pain away entirely, but you can make the progress a little easier for yourself by practising yoga that targets these muscles in the weeks and months leading up to your due date.
Consult yoga books, take an online class, or attend a real-life yoga class if you would like to hear more about this.
Make sure that you are always checking each position is safe for whichever trimester you are currently in.
Improved flexibility and mobility
It’s important to keep your levels of flexibility and mobility high throughout your pregnancy. It will help with labour, keeping your hormones regular, and keeping your blood flowing.
Staying too sedentary in pregnancy is never a good idea, for you or for bump, and so practising yoga during your pregnancy is a great, low-impact way to keep your flexibility and mobility consistent.
Long story short, there are lots of great benefits and advantages that come from practising yoga during pregnancy. It is most certainly not a health trend or fad with no basis, and it is something that will really help you to keep healthy and happy throughout your time being pregnant.
It is also something fun and relaxing to do too, so how can you lose?
