Prenatal Yoga
There are two types of girls in yoga. The ones who would prefer to be in shavasana the whole time, and the ones who are doing headstands in between every chaturanga. No matter which type of girl you are, if you are pregnant, choosing to modify your yoga practice to help accommodate for your growing little Babba, may be worthwhile. Though there is limited research on prenatal yoga, the research that does exist, seems to suggest that safely implementing proper prenatal yoga exercises for 30 minutes to an hour, 3 times a week during pregnancy, may benefit your physical and mental well-being.
We found a systematic review, published by the United States National Library of Medicine, that looked at a few studies regarding prenatal yoga. The goal of the review was to see if there were any significant physical or emotional benefits to prenatal yoga (Curtis, Weinrib, Katz, 2012).
The review suggests that prenatal yoga during pregnancy appears to have positive effects on pregnancy, labor, and birth outcomes. Here is what they found:
Psychological improvements (e.g., an increase in quality of life and self-efficacy) in women who practiced prenatal yoga.
Reduced pain and discomfort during labor in women who practiced prenatal yoga.
Higher overall birthweight and a lower frequency of preterm birth in the babies of women who practiced prenatal yoga.
*It should be noted that some women reported having uterine contractions in relation to the prenatal yoga, which can be monitored with a modified approach and appropriate activity reduction. Listen to your body. If something doesn’t feel right, then don’t be afraid to modify!
Pregnancy is incredibly taxing on the mind, body, and soul. Properly executed, and professionally taught prenatal yoga may help bring some comfort and peace to your pregnancy journey. Talk to your doctor to see if trying prenatal yoga is a good idea for you!
Take a look at our favorite yoga pants for Mammas-to-be!
