| Discovering you are pregnant, for many women is the | | | | to worry about perfecting specific breathing exercises |
| signal to surrender to the momentous forces at work | | | | - just focusing on deep Yoga breathing will have a |
| in your body. Suddenly, the career, and normal | | | | profound affect on how you feel. |
| day-to-day routines like going to the gym can take a | | | | A good yoga teacher should also encourage better |
| back seat. The nine months of pregnancy also give | | | | ways of sitting, standing and moving during pregnancy |
| you an opportunity to slowly get prepare mentally for | | | | as your centre of gravity is altered. You can expect |
| the massive life change of having a child. | | | | classes to be made up of a mix of traditional yoga |
| To make the most of this time it is important to switch | | | | poses slightly modified to work around a pregnant belly |
| to a gentler lifestyle. Unfortunately due to the reduced | | | | and a variety of possible labour positions. The notion of |
| physical activity that tends to come with pregnancy's | | | | "active birthing' that you hear so much about actually is |
| restricted movement, women can feel inhibited and | | | | very in tune with exploring different Yoga postures. |
| sedentary! In reality it does not have to be this way. | | | | This basically means the mother is encouraged to |
| Keeping the body active is one of the best ways to | | | | move around as much as she likes during her labour |
| stay healthy. Gentle walking is a great low impact | | | | and find positions that instinctively feel right, often |
| exercise, swimming is excellent for soothing and | | | | making the most of gravity by squatting or leaning |
| supporting the body as it expands. All things | | | | forward on hands and knees. This is in direct contrast |
| considered, Yoga is possibly the perfect all round | | | | to the old fashioned delivery wards that would keep |
| activity for pregnant women because it is one of the | | | | women lying on their backs during labour. |
| few purely non-competitive forms of exercise, as well | | | | Although prenatal yoga is a vary gentle activity, as |
| as providing all the excellent benefits which yoga is | | | | with all physical exercise, it is possible to overdo it. It is |
| well known for. | | | | very important to remember not to over stretch during |
| The benefits especially relevant during pregnancy | | | | a posture as joints can be much looser during |
| include proper alignment, relaxation and breathing. Most | | | | pregnancy. This is because a hormone called Relaxin |
| antenatal advisors will talk ad nauseum about the | | | | is produced which helps your pelvis soften and open |
| importance of breathing during labour. It sounds obvious | | | | slightly during childbirth. Taking it easy is a simple rule to |
| and somewhat patronising, yet during the intensity of a | | | | accommodate and applies to all areas of life during |
| contraction, your breath can seem like the only thing | | | | pregnancy. Listening the body which is working hard to |
| you can focus on and control. By practicing yoga-style | | | | create a new life is the best thing you can do for |
| breathing in the lead up to labour, you are more likely to | | | | yourself and your unborn child. Excellent practice for |
| remember it when it counts, it can help level you out | | | | the years ahead! |
| when you are excited, scared or tired. You don't have | | | | |