Pre-Natal Yoga for Your Mind and Body

During my first pregnancy, I had a very conservative OB who told me I needed to limit the exercises that I did (running and surfing), especially during my first trimester. Since this was my first pregnancy, I listened. (You know how you want to do everything right, because you don't want to "mess anything up" only to find yourself getting a little crazier during pregnancy #2.) Anywho, not being able to do just NOTHING, I turned to yoga. I had practiced a bit of yoga before, but this time around, I threw myself into it and thoroughly enjoyed it. And it was good that I did. According to Michelle Maniaci who wrote an article entitled About Yoga, she states, "Studies on prenatal Yoga specifically indicate an improvement in birth weight, decreased incidence of preterm labor, an improved adaptive response to stress, decreased back pain, nausea, perception of pain, stress, and anxiety, as well as less labor

pain and shorter labor times." This statement held true for me, as I had an easy pregnancy, a drug-free labor (with lots of breathing) and a pretty quick recovery time. Next time around, when I was pregnant with my daughter, I was in so much daily pain that after my 20 week mark, yoga was the ONLY thing I could do. Though I could barely walk, yoga helped me mentally because it allowed me to participate in some sort of activity where I could try to keep some muscle tone. BabyCenter reports that . . . "yoga can be an ideal way to stay in shape during your pregnancy. This age-old practice keeps you limber, tones your muscles, and improves your balance and circulation, with little, if any, impact on your joints." So if you're currently pregnant, give it a try. Not only is it good physically, but yoga clears your mind and enables you to let go of the day's stresses--if only for a little while. Want to give it a try in the comfort of your own home? Click here to look at some different poses that are safe for preggies. *Photo taken from Appleton Yoga