Benefits of Prenatal Yoga

Obie Editorial Team

Working out during pregnancy can be a headache. You’re already uncomfortable and it’s only going to get worse as you approach your due date. However, exercise will help you retain flexibility and will also help minimize back pain and restlessness. Some exercises though aren’t suitable for pregnancy. A popular pregnancy exercise is a prenatal yoga because it:

  • Builds strength
  • Helps with breathing and pain management
  • Assists with balance
  • Calms anxiety
  • Helps with opening your hips for childbirth

Before you jump right into prenatal yoga though, there are some things you need to know about how to get started and why prenatal yoga may be right for you.

Look for a prenatal yoga class near you

If you live in a moderate to large sized town or city, there’s a good chance that you will have at least one yoga studio. Not all yoga studios will have prenatal yoga classes, but there’s also a good chance that they will or at least have information about where you can find a class.

It’s not a good idea to try prenatal yoga on your own. An instructor will be able to tell you all about how to move, breath, and participate in a way that will be healthiest for you and your baby. Though the moves you will learn aren’t dangerous, you can overstress your body and over exercise if you aren’t careful. Your instructor will have advice on how much exercise is suitable and can even recommend some moves to do in your own home. 

What can you learn from prenatal yoga?

Prenatal yoga is a lot like regular yoga, as you can imagine. The moves you will do will stretch your body and provide you with the exercise you need to get ready for childbirth. The best thing about prenatal yoga is that it’s not just exercise, it’s a stress reliever and it helps you bond with your baby.

Yoga requires balance and breathing. These exercises will help you deal later on with the pain of childbirth, and after giving birth the breathing and relaxation techniques you learn will help you fall asleep faster at any time. This means that you can sleep when your baby sleeps and your new schedule won’t be as exhausting as it could have been if you didn’t have the practice or skills from prenatal yoga.

Prenatal yoga classes will also put you in touch with other moms in your area and they can be a real confidence booster. With other exercise classes and routines, you may be the only one pregnant, which can make you feel awkward. With prenatal yoga though, you will be surrounded by other moms getting their bodies ready just like you.

Odes, R. (2010, November 30). 10 benefits of prenatal yoga. Babble RSS.