I could hardly move during the first trimester of my pregnancy with my first child. It took all of my efforts to manage my morning sickness and weariness while working all day. But as I entered my second trimester, I gradually (very gradually) started to feel like myself again, and prenatal yoga started to become a regular part of my exercise regimen.
Prenatal yoga is a great method to stay active while pregnant and be ready for labor both physically and mentally. One of yoga’s numerous advantages is that it strengthens your bond with your body, according to Brihony Smyth, certified yoga instructor and creator of the Alo Moves Prenatal Glow program. Pregnant women can benefit from yoga since it helps with relaxation, stress release, and blood flow,overall feeling good, and so much more.”
Do yoga positions help you get pregnant? Not quite, although they can be useful. They won’t cause labor if the cervix hasn’t softened or if the baby isn’t in the proper position, according to Kate Lombardo, yoga director at Yoga Renew Teacher Training (and mom-to-be). They will only function if it is time to go. So, you can use these poses without risk during your entire pregnancy. But at 37 weeks, once you’ve gone full term? To get things started, these stances are unquestionably worthwhile.
One thing to keep in mind is that you should always get your doctor’s or midwife’s approval before beginning any new fitness program while pregnant.
Yogi squat or malasana
Malasana, often known as “garland posture,” is a soft squat that expands the hips and pelvis, making it ideal for labor preparation. Some women may discover that they naturally gravitate toward this stance while giving birth. Lombardo explains, “This position widens the entrance of the pelvic to enable for baby to go down towards the cervix. Also, it puts you in a position to relax your pelvic floor, which is crucial during birth.
Goddess position
With this hip- and pelvic-opening stance, you may embrace your inner fertility goddess. Goddess pose “puts both of the legs in external rotation, which helps to expand the pelvis and provide room for baby to go lower into the optimal position for birth,” according to Lombardo.
Baddha Konasana or bound angle
Bound angle is a seated yoga pose perfect for opening the hips and pelvis to help bring baby into the world. ” It opens and lengthens the pelvic floor while strengthening the outer hips,” Ball-Mitchell shares. “It also helps to calm the mind and prepare for labor and delivery.”
