The Basics Of Pregnancy Yoga

Yoga is great for your mind, body and spirit, and this is especially true during pregnancy. Pregnancy yoga can be very beneficial to you and your baby by providing emotional and physical stress relief. It is no surprise that pregnant women go through many hormonal changes and particularly to a first time mother, it can be very draining and scary. Practicing yoga during pregnancy will help you prepare for the physical changes your body will endure, as well as the emotions you will go through.

There are however a few precautions you need to take into consideration when considering yoga for pregnancy.

• Try to find a class that is specifically targeted for yoga and pregnancy. There are some poses in yoga that a pregnant woman should not do and so finding a class that is geared specifically to pregnancy yoga will minimize the risk of doing something wrong. If you decide to take a regular yoga class, make sure that you let your instructor know that you are pregnant so that they can help you modify your poses.

• Stay away from any hot yoga classes. These are classes where the room is heated to around 95 degrees and while pregnant this can cause you to overheat. This can be harmful to you and the baby. Your body is already going through a lot of changes and so being physical for an extended period of time in this kind of heat could endanger the health of your baby.

• Do not perform any poses that require you to lay on your back if you are past your first trimester. It may reduce blood flow to your uterus which is harmful to the baby.

• Listen to your body. If something does not feel right, do not do it. Your body is pretty smart at letting you know when something is not working out properly.

While you certainly have to be aware of what you can and cannot do with yoga in pregnancy, it certainly has many benefits.

• Breathing techniques are a huge part of yoga and this will benefit you and your baby by increasing the amount of oxygen you take in which is very important during pregnancy.

• Yoga puts you in a peaceful state of mind and helps you curb anxiety and fears which will help with any pre or postnatal depression. You will learn how to focus and stay mentally calm.

• It also has its physical benefits by helping you tone the necessary muscles that are greatly effected by pregnancy, like the back and pelvic area.

You can find yoga classes targeted specifically for pregnant women which will not only get you out of the house, but you will also meet other soon to be mothers and may encounter some new friendships. If you prefer to stay at home, you can find a great at home pregnancy yoga DVD to get you started.