As a Pregnancy Health Coach, I love finding ways to promote a healthy and radiant pregnancy for my clients. Movement is a key component of a healthy lifestyle, and this is especially true during pregnancy.
The general rule that OB-Gyn’s often go by is to do moderate physical exercise throughout the pregnancy but avoid starting a new practice. This means lots of women are reluctant to picking up yoga during pregnancy, if they’ve never tried before.
While I normally respect physician opinions, I think there’s one big exception to their rule: Yoga.
“I do think every single pregnant woman should practice yoga, as it’s probably the best form of exercise to promote a healthy pregnancy for both mom and baby”
If you practice yoga during pregnancy, you can expect the following benefits:
- Control weight gain
- Improve sleep
- Reduce stress and anxiety
- Increase the strength, flexibility and endurance of muscles needed for childbirth
- Decrease lower back pain, nausea, headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms, headaches and shortness of breath
- Reduce risk of preterm labor
- Lower risk of intrauterine growth restriction (condition that slows the baby’s growth) with lower risk of having an underweight baby
- Build labor and motherhood skills like focus, patience and stamina
- Start building a connection with your baby
If you haven’t practiced before, make sure you take it easy: find a gentle prenatal yoga class and tell the teacher that you’re new to yoga. Just listen to your body, back off if you feel any pain and avoid compressing your baby’s space. For postures to avoid, read my article “Yoga Postures To Avoid During Pregnancy”.
Want to establish your prenatal yoga practice at home? Visit our prenatal classes at The Yoga Collective studio! If you prefer to build your own practice, read my article “Yoga Practices And Postures For Pregnancy”.
Want more? Click here to download my top tips for a healthy and radiant pregnancy. Find me at @soniaribascoach for more insights on pregnancy and mom health.
Yours in motherhood,
Sonia Ribas
