The Benefits of Yoga for Pregnant Women

Yoga originated in ancient India, and it has become a very popular way of increasing flexibility, decreasing stress, and building strength, even for pregnant women. Yoga for pregnant women is an excellent way to address not only your body's physical need for exercise, but also the emotional and mental stress of pregnancy, as well. 

Prenatal yoga classes are very popular, and if you incorporate yoga with a cardiovascular exercise, like walking, it provides a perfect means of staying in shape during and after the pregnancy months. This gentle art can keep you limber and flexible. It also tones your muscles. Improvement in balance and circulation is another benefit of yoga, and there is little or no impact on your joints.

With yoga, you will learn how to breathe deeply and relax. Indeed, one of the first things you learn in a yoga class is how to breathe deeply and fully. The breathing technique is called ujjayi, and you take air in slowly through your nose, making sure to fill your lungs. When you release the breath, you will want to make sure you exhale until your stomach compresses. This relaxation technique is something that helps many women through the ups and downs of pregnancy, as well as the stress of labor, delivery, and even motherhood.  

Learning to relax is a key component in yoga, and it is something that can serve you very well during labor. When you're in pain, or when you are afraid, your body generates adrenaline. This will decrease the production of the hormone oxytocin, which is something you need to make the labor progress. Consequently, an art such as yoga helps to prepare you for labor and childbirth by training you to remain calm when you are anxious, frightened, or in pain.

Of course, everyone knows that a woman goes through a great many physical, mental and emotional changes during pregnancy. Yoga for pregnant woman can provide an ideal way to deal with all these changes. Prenatal yoga can help relieve the mental stress of pregnancy, and it also allows your body to remain fit and limber. It can even aid with such complaints as fatigue, mood swings, excess weight gain, swelling and cramping.

Many women wonder if exercises during pregnancy are safe and that is a valid concern. Yoga, however, is quite adaptable to a prenatal workout, so exercise and pregnancy really do go together. Exercises during pregnancy are generally very safe, but you do need to take some precautions. Just as with any workout program, it is best to consult your physician before starting. Every woman is unique, and only your physician can help you know if an exercise program is right for you. Once you have the go ahead, then look for a yoga for pregnant women class. They are extremely popular right now, and these classes will provide you with a trained instructor to guide you through the learning process and help you set up a safe, effective exercise program.

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