An Indian Art

Yoga and Pregnancy

The happiest moment in a woman's life comes when she gives birth to a child. It is said that a woman becomes complete when she attains motherhood. But to attain motherhood, she has to go though pregnancy which is perhaps the most difficult journey in a woman's life. Pregnancy is a very delicate phase for the expectant mother as this is the time she goes through a lot of emotional ups and downs. The mind of a pregnant woman is clouded with apprehensions and fear, the moment their pregnancy is confirmed. It is a well- known fact that the growing baby in the womb is capable of feeling the effects of tension and stress in the mother. Therefore, it is of vital importance for the expectant mother to feel relaxed at all times.

It is during such times that yoga proves to be a blessing in disguise. Yoga assists in promoting a tranquil state of mind, which is very important for the health of the mother and the baby. Yoga exercises are very useful to the pregnant woman as they prepare her physically, mentally and emotionally for giving birth and becoming a mother. Besides, they alleviate some of the associated discomforts of pregnancy.

The prenatal yoga poses helps the expectant mother to get rid of the common backache problem which they tend to suffer throughout the period. Yoga exercises relieve edema (fluid retention) and cramping which can be quite common in the last months. Most importantly, yoga influences the position of the baby and turns it in advance if needed. Yoga exercises restore the uterus, abdomen and the pelvic floor, and relieve upper back tension and breast discomfort. They also strengthen the abdomen, which helps to stimulate bowel action and appetite.

Another advantage of practicing yoga is that it actually helps the expectant mother to get back to proper shape soon after child-birth. With practice one can actually go through pregnancy without putting on excessive weight; thereby avoiding post-pregnancy crash dieting and rigorous workouts.

To sum it all, we can say that yoga is a safe, simple and a natural method of preparing the pregnant woman for motherhood and the baby for childbirth.