Reasons for Yoga
There are many reasons to
take a yoga class, but the main one for most Americans is to find
relaxation and improve health -- not just muscular, but
cardiovascular and mental health as well. Yoga for pregnant women
can make all the difference in the mother's mindset. When combating
fatigue, weight gain, tenderness, swelling, mood swings, cravings,
constipation, leg cramps and headaches, yoga practice can be the
only respite.
Pregnant women practice yoga for physical benefits. For instance,
yoga practice can teach techniques that will be helpful during
labor, such as breathing and relieving tension around the cervix and
birth canal. Additionally, prenatal physicians recommend combining a
light cardiovascular exercise (like walking) with a relaxing,
muscle-toning exercise (like yoga) to maintain your physique, in
spite of the intense cravings and normal weight gain associated with
pregnancy.
Other pregnant women practice yoga for mental benefits. For one, it
can be a great support to meet other women going through the same
thing you are. Also, there is much emphasis on focusing on the
moment and deriving happiness from each and every day, which can be
vital when your hormones are out of whack. Yoga has been known to
stimulate beta-endorphins, which also brings comfort and a sense of
relief.
During the first trimester, standing poses help circulation,
strengthen legs and increase energy. Avoid bikram yoga classes that
heat up the room or any kind of back/belly/inverted positions. In
the second and third trimesters, yoga for your pregnancy will
include more sitting positions and breathing techniques.
Yoga videos can be previewed at YouTube.com -- or you can read user
reviews on Amazon.com as well. There are many options featuring yoga
for pregnant women, so it's all a matter of your personal preference
regarding setting, instructor, technique and comfort. Some focus
more on emotional benefits, whereas others are designed to help
strengthen muscles. You may also want to look into communal yoga
classes at Yoga.com. Either way, this is a special time to bond with
your baby -- don't pass this up!
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