Antenatal Yoga / The benefits of yoga in pregnancy
The physical benefits of doing yoga in pregnancy are:
- Better circulation of blood and lymph fluids
- Relief from stress and anxiety
- Maintance of strength and suppleness without straining
- Less tension and stiffness in muscles and joints
- Relief from minor ailments e.g. heartburn, constipation or aches
and pains
- Improved energy levels and less tiredness
- Better posture and a spring in your step!
Yoga prepares you for labour and birth by:
- Developing your resources for coping with pain
- Developing ease
in upright positions for labour and birth
- Improving your posture
so that your baby is more likely to settle into an optimal position
for birth
- Quietening the mind preparing you to centre your awareness
in your body during labour
- Encouraging the flow of birth hormones
- Increasing your understanding
of how gravity helps the birth process
- Strengthens your body and
increases flexibility e.g. for squatting
- Awakening your instincts
and intuition thereby increasing trust in your ability to give
birth
- Teaching you how to open and surrender and be strong in
yielding
- Increasing self reliance and giving you confidence (especially
if you are a first time mother.)
