Becoming a mother is nature’s gift. It is advisable for a soon-to-be mother to be happy and mentally stress-free so that she can deliver a happy and healthy baby. Pregnancy comes with the body and mind-related challenges for a woman, and it becomes a necessity for the body to adapt to these changes. In the case of pregnancy, many physical activities are discontinued or slowed down so as to prevent miscarriage or any other complications to the mother and the baby.

There are many forms of prenatal exercises that are taught to the soon-to-be-mothers so that they can remain active and physically fit. During the last trimester, the major focus of the training is on easing the process of labor and making delivery smoother.

Yoga is a less strenuous form of exercise, and therefore many doctors advise moms to practice yoga, to remain physically fit and mentally stress-free. Yoga is considered the most comfortable form of physical activity for a pregnant woman; it does not only help the pregnancy phase but also post-pregnancy healing. Some of the benefits that can be enjoyed by pregnant women who practice yoga are:

• The body becomes flexible during yoga, and hence this helps when the woman undergoes labor.
• The ligaments are stretched and elastic; this allows the body to bear the pangs of labor without much strain.
• Yoga helps in preparing the body to undergo labor by increasing the pain bearing capacity of the body.
• Yoga helps in correcting posture, and this helps during and after pregnancy to combat any back problems that are faced by women.
• Yoga after delivery can be started as soon as six weeks post-delivery; this helps in strengthening of the pelvic floor and abdominal muscles.
• Yoga after pregnancy helps in losing the pregnancy weight much faster.

Practicing Yoga for Pregnancy

A pregnant woman is strictly advised to visit a certified yoga instructor and their doctor to decide the yoga regime that has to be followed. Yoga should be performed under supervision, and once the mother has learned the poses, she can do it alone at home. There are a few yoga forms that can be practiced; they are:

• Kundalini yoga: This is a breath-related yoga and helps strengthen the nervous system and glandular system.
• Iyengar Yoga: This form of yoga helps strengthen the muscle and skeletal system and aligns their movements.
• Ashtanga Yoga: This yoga form requires a lot of movement and is highly advised to be practiced under supervision to prevent injury.

Whatever form of yoga gets adopted by the mother, it is recommended that they should not burden their bodies or feel strained. They should always be within their comfort zones. Great care should be taken so that there is no pain or nausea before or after yoga. Yoga should help them strengthen their bodies rather than making it over-worked or overheated. Being yogic can make the pregnant journey a bliss with the right approach and practice.