Pregnancy is a celebration of the power and strength of the female body. It’s also a time to practise compassion for your changing body, to support yourself and your growing baby.
One of the best ways to do this is by practising prenatal yoga. Here are our top six ways yoga will make your pregnancy smoother and more enjoyable.
#1 Builds strength and stamina
As your baby grows, you’ll find you need more strength and energy to cope with the changes. Practising yoga is a fantastic way to strengthen your arms, hips, shoulders and back. This will help you carry the weight of your developing baby.
#2 Improves balance
While pregnant, many women experience drastic changes in physical and emotional balance. Physically, you will feel worn out as your baby grows.
And, you’ll feel emotionally drained, thanks to increased estrogen and progesterone. Yoga forces you to focus on your breathing, which helps you achieve physical and emotional balance.
#3 Relieves muscle tension
During pregnancy, increased stress is put on your lower and upper back, chest, hips, neck and shoulders. There are yoga poses specifically designed to relieve this pressure, making it much easier to cope with the changes your body is going through.
#4 Settles the nervous system
Yoga encourages you to practise deep breathing. This causes your nervous system to go into parasympathetic mode – which greatly increases relaxation. When your nervous system is calm, your digestive system operates properly, you will sleep better and your immune system becomes much stronger.
#5 Prepares your body for labour
While holding each yoga pose, you are making a conscious effort to focus on your breathing. This skill can be directly applied during labour, making the experience easier to manage. When you inhale, you feel the tension your body is experiencing. And when you exhale, you let that tension go.
#6 Helps you connect with your baby
Practising yoga for pregnancy helps you to slow down and concentrate wholly on what is going on inside your body. As you align your body and breathe through each pose, you become more connected to what is happening to you and your baby.
Would you like to learn more about how a daily yoga routine can make your pregnancy easier? Contact the Mukti Freedom Yoga team today.
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