We cannot overemphasize the delicate condition that most women experience during pregnancy. In fact, as a pregnant woman, you are encouraged to seek prenatal and postnatal care to make this difficult stage in your life more bearable. Health care providers encourage you to perform regular exercises that are suitable to your condition. These exercises are expected to make you better fit during the entire nine- month period and lessen difficult moments during your labor and childbirth.
Have you ever thought about practicing yoga during pregnancy? Did you know that nowadays, more and more pregnant women resort to yoga to prepare them for the painful moment of childbirth, and even the challenging world of motherhood?
Being pregnant will of course not allow you just to perform the regular routines that require strenuous postures which may pose complications to your delicate condition. You shall not be allowed to do back bending; balancing poses on one leg, camel, handstands and headstands as well as upward bow, to ensure the safety of both you and your baby.
Breathing techniques used during yoga exercises provide oxygen to your whole body. This gives benefit to the fetus because of the pumping in of the charged blood. In addition, the breathing exercises result to the soothing of muscle tension and muscle cramps which are always normally experienced during pregnancy.
In terms of physical fitness, the mild yogic exercises allowed for pregnant women like you will help maintain your muscle tone. These muscle tones are particularly for the back and the pelvis, the body parts that take on the most pressure during the nine-month period of pregnancy and one year thereafter.
On the other hand, yogic sleep calms the mind and body and to some extent prevents the trauma during childbirth. Stretching and gentle toning exercises modified specifically for you can really work wonderfully to prepare your body not only for delivering your baby but for caring as well. Prenatal and postnatal depressions are common problems of would-be mothers like you. But practicing yoga exercises calms and relaxes the mind and allows your worries and fears to vanish. The peace within you descends to your child and this makes childbirth bearable.
Generally speaking, the great benefits you can acquire with the practice of yoga during pregnancy cannot be outweighed by the risks other people may think about. To avoid any risk and enjoy the full benefits of a peaceful and enjoyable journey to motherhood, you have the responsibility of checking it out first with your doctor if you are in the right condition to practice yoga.
Because different people have different strengths and weaknesses, what is usually good to one may not be good for you. You have to carefully check with your yoga teacher which exercises are allowed during each stage of pregnancy. You should also be able to share with him if you have certain conditions that may prevent you from doing certain positions or exercises. But most of all, you should be very conscious about the effects of each activity to you as you go along to ensure that you and your baby are protected from harm.