Fitness
THE AMAZING BENEFITS OF YOGA
By Jyothi Larson and Ken Howard
Discovering yoga during pregnancy -- as your body changes and new
life grows within you -- can be wonderful. This ancient practice
teaches you how to bring the mind and body into balance, which can help
ground you during this time of change.
Yoga designed
specifically for pregnant women offers a wonderful way to keep your
body in peak shape as you get closer to labor while also serving as a
foundation to begin yoga soon after you give birth. Here are some of
the rewards:
- The stretching and strengthening of your muscles will help to
lessen the aches and pains due to added weight and your shifting center
of gravity.
- The strength building and added flexibility, obtained by
holding various yoga postures, tones muscles, improves posture, and
helps you to maintain a sense of control as your body changes.
- Yoga helps to relieve stress and tension by training your body to relax, which can be very helpful during labor.
- The focus on breathing, an integral part of yoga, is both
energizing and relaxing and can be applied in many different contexts,
from simple stress management to breathing during child birth.
Whether
you have practiced yoga previously or are new to it, now that you're
pregnant, check with your doctor first before starting, just as you
would with any exercise routine. Also make sure your instructor is
certified in prenatal yoga though an accredited yoga institute.
While
the movements of yoga are safe, whenever you exercise or strech there
is always the risk of overdoing it, so it is important to listen to
your body. If a move is too difficult or if there is the slightest bit
of pain in any stretch, stop! A gentle approach over time yields the
best results.
Many women, with their doctor's approval, are
ready to continue their yoga practice soon after giving birth. Yoga can
help with getting your body back to "normal," and also enable you to
better cope with the demands of a new baby.
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About The Author
Jyothi Larson and Ken Howard are regular contributors to Your Baby Today.
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