According to the 2006-2010 National Survey of Family Growth, 1 in 8 couples have trouble getting pregnant. As a Fertility Coach, it is my mission to help couples fulfill their dreams of becoming parents. This means I am constantly researching ways to boost fertility.
A study by Fertility and Sterility reports that psychological stress is a significant factor that results in infertility. This is why yoga is a great tool to boost fertility: it helps lower stress levels, promotes blood flow to uterus and avoids energy stagnation. Yoga helps you stay calm, flexible and supple. It promotes a healthy weight, good energy flow and hormone balance. So yes, doing yoga is one of the best things you can do to boost your fertility.
First things first. Before I share my favorite postures to promote fertility, let’s talk about breath: the most important part of the practice. While you’ll receive many benefits from making certain body shapes, breath is KEY to calm your mind and fully integrate the magic vibes of every posture. For this specific sequence and for the purpose of fertility, I encourage you to practice belly breathing. Breathe deeply and slowly, always through your nose. When you inhale, fill up your belly like a balloon… and deflate it slowly when you exhale.
“So, now that we’re clear on the breath, here are my top 7 yoga postures to enhance women’s fertility”
1. Sun Salutations
Energy stagnation is your enemy if you’re trying to conceive. So move, move and move! Sun Salutations are a great way to warm up, get the heart rate up and promote energy flow. They’ll also help you build strength and flexibility.
2. Child’s Pose (Balasana)
This is my favorite gentle hip opening pose. It will help create space in your pelvis area and keep your hips flexible and supple. I recommend the version with widely separated knees and big toes touching, in order to gently open up the pelvis and release tension. Child’s Pose will help you calm down and soothe the brain, making it a therapeutic posture for relieving stress.
3. Pigeon Pose (Kapotasana)
Pigeon pose is known as the “king posture” for hip-openers. It will help you open your hips, release tension, reduce stress and cool down.
4. Seated Forward Fold (Paschimottanasana)
Seated Forward Fold helps stretch the hamstrings, lower back, and hips. This posture helps vitalize the ovaries and uterus, the key organs responsible for conception.
5. Shoulder Stand (Sarvangasana)
[Recommendation: only practice Shoulder Stand if you’ve done it before or if you’re with a yoga teacher. In doubt, skip to the next posture below]. This is an amazing posture to help stimulate the thyroid gland, a dysfunction of which can lead to infertility. It also promotes blood flow from your legs to your vital organs, including your uterus. Finally, it will calm your mind and help you relieve stress.
6. Legs-up-the-Wall Pose (ViparitaKarani)
This is a gentler inversion pose, which will give your blood circulation a gentle boost toward the upper body. Legs-up-the-Wall will help you rebalance your body, refresh your legs and promote healing blood flow in your lower belly. Try to be very still here.
7. Reclining Bound Angle (SuptaBaddhaKonasana)
This is a version of Savasana where you’re also promoting the creation of pelvis, hip and groin space. It also helps relieves stress, along with the discomfort of symptoms associated with medicated fertility cycles, menstrual cramps and bloating.
I really hope these postures will help you stay calm and promote fertility. I wish you the best of luck and, please, stay positive!
Yours in fertility,
Sonia Ribas
@soniaribascoach
