Yoga During Pregnancy

Yoga during pregnancy promotes mental and physical well-being which is so crucial for the mother and the unborn baby. Yoga is gentle enough for a mother to do throughout her pregnancy, at the same time it gives her all the benefits of an exercise routine. It strengthens her core, muscles, joints and her pelvic passage through which the baby must slip through smoothly. The two basic yoga exercises for a pregnant woman are shown below. However, before you embark on any exercise routine, please consult with your doctor to get a correct assessment of your health as well as his approval on whether you can exercise or not.

Butterfly or the Titali Asana

This yoga posture opens up your hip, stretches your inner thighs, knees and your pelvic passage, thereby releasing all the tension along that area. It is one of the best exercises you can do during your pregnancy as it makes your pelvic area flexible and strong, due to which your childbirth will be smooth and easy.

Squats or the Utthan Asana

This yoga posture has similar benefits as the butterfly posture. During my pregnancy, my mother always got me to mop the floor with a wet rag, wherein I had to squat and bend forward to do it. That is why sweeping and mopping floors has been an old practice in India with pregnant women, since ancient times. Similarly, the toilets (water closets) in India, until a couple of decades ago, were of the Indian kind, where you had to squat completely. This practice eliminated any possibility of developing knee pain or pain in the inner thigh. That is why people who lived during the 1950s, 60s and 70s did not complain about joints or muscular pain in their body.

Click on link below to see how "squats" is done

http://youtu.be/jMMwH96GBxw



Cat Stretch or the Marjar Asana

This pose is very good for your entire body as it tones and flexes your neck, shoulders, lower back and spine. It is very beneficial to do it during and after pregnancy as well.

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