Should Pregnant Women Do Yoga?

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Pregnancy is probably one of the most joyous yet challenging times in a woman’s life. The minute that you learn that you’re expecting, several emotions assail you. During the course of the pregnancy, your body will undergo changes which are both subtle and obvious so it definitely pays to keep fit during the entire process.

 

Sure, you are bound to give in to hormone-induced cravings every now and then, but it still is a must for you to keep fit. This is especially true if you want to have an easy labor and delivery. Fortunately, you can always rely on exercises which are specifically meant to be performed by pregnant women in order to keep their bodies healthy during and even after the pregnancy.

 

Pregnancy & Yoga

 

An example of an exercise that you can do during pregnancy is yoga. In its country of origin which is India, yoga is said to be one of the six branches of classical philosophy which has a goal of attaining ultimate freedom. Some of the paths of yoga involve mastery of the mind and senses; cultivating one’s energy and a few other paths. Meanwhile, those who are already practicing yoga should be aware of its eight disciplines including:

·         Achieving state of higher consciousness.

·         Concentration

·         Breath control

·         Meditation

·         Universal ethics

·         Self-conduct

·         Postures

·         Withdrawal and control of the senses.

 

For pregnant women, it is concentration, breath control, meditation and postures which will be particularly helpful during the delivery. When performed throughout the course of your pregnancy, yoga will allow your muscles to relax – especially the cervix and birth canal regions. It also eliminates cramps, allows your body to become physically active and improves your strength in such a way that it can bear the stresses and pains associated with pregnancy.

 

Helping Keep You in Shape During & After Pregnancy

It is during your first trimester that you will experience major changes in your body. It’s good to already perform yoga during this time, especially if you have been practicing it all along. During the second trimester, the baby inside you grows a bit faster and yoga will help you learn how to shift your center of gravity. Having all that extra weight in your middle will definitely be a bit difficult to cope with – so the breathing and posture exercises through yoga will teach you how to focus on your legs and abdominal muscles.

As your belly grows bigger, your leg muscles get toned enough to bear the weight especially once it gets heavier during the last few months of your pregnancy.  With all these benefits and more, it’s easy to see exactly how beneficial yoga is for pregnant women. So whether you are planning on having a baby or if you already confirmed that a child is on the way, it’s definitely a great idea to enrol in yoga classes. Not only will it allow you to keep fit during the pregnancy and have an easy delivery, but it’s also a great way for you to shed off the extra weight that you gained after having the baby.