About Yoga for Expecting Mothers

More than 21 million people in the United States regularly practice yoga, according to a recent study. A growing health trend that’s safe for pregnant women, prenatal yoga incorporates poses designed to increase strength, stability and flexibility. It can also help reduce common pregnancy symptoms such as anxiety, depression, stress, unsound sleep and lower back pain.

Yoga for Expecting Mothers  instructors are trained in prenatal techniques and can help modify your regular workout to better suit your changing body. However, you should always check with your doctor before beginning any new exercise program during pregnancy.

Nurturing Body and Baby: A Guide to the Joys of Prenatal Yoga Practice

During a typical class, you’ll learn how to do gentle stretches and experience yoga poses aimed at developing strength, balance and flexibility. You’ll also practice breathing exercises that can help to reduce shortness of breath during pregnancy and can be used to work through contractions during labor.

You can start taking a prenatal yoga class in your first trimester, though the Mayo Clinic recommends waiting until after 15 weeks to avoid putting too much pressure on your joints. You’ll need a comfortable, supportive maternity sports bra and one of the best yoga mats to get started.

The exercises you do in a prenatal yoga class can improve your posture, which helps to ease lower back pain and supports the baby in utero. You’ll also strengthen and tone muscles in your pelvic floor, hips and abdominal core, preparing you for labor and delivery. Additionally, you’ll meet other expecting mothers and build a support system that can make childbirth and postpartum easier to handle.