If you’re looking for a safe way to stay fit during pregnancy, prenatal yoga may be for you.
Prenatal yoga offers many benefits, including:
Reducing stress and anxiety
Improving sleep
Decreasing back pain and headaches
Improving strength, endurance, and flexibility
It’s also a great way of meeting and bonding with other pregnant women.
What do you do in a typical prenatal yoga class?
Breathe. Focus on deep, slow breathing. These techniques may help you manage pain and shortness of breath during childbirth.
Gentle stretching.
Yoga poses. These are adapted for pregnancy, and involve gentle movements that help improve flexibility, strength, balance, and endurance.
Points to remember when doing prenatal yoga:
Always check with your doctor before starting any new exercise program
Hydrate well
Stay cool
Set realistic goals and pace yourself. A good rule of thumb is: if you can’t speak normally while exercising, you may be overdoing it.
Avoid certain positions, such as lying on your back or belly. Don’t twist or bend in ways that put pressure on your abdomen. Make use of special props to accommodate your changing body and shifting center of gravity.
Listen to your body. If you have any pain or other concerns during exercise, stop and contact your doctor.
Namaste!
Dr. Tassa, who sees patients in our Pacific Palisades office, is also a certified yoga instructor.
