Changes that occur during pregnancy  can cause both physical and emotional stress on the body. Prenatal yoga is a  good way to maintain  a healthy mind and body. It may help you prepare for labor and promote healthy growth of the baby.  It also helps pregnant women develop proper breathing and relaxation techniques for easy delivery.

What are the benefits of prenatal yoga ?

 
This form of exercise has lots of benefits , some of which include the following :

• decreased nausea
• decreased headaches
• reduced stress and anxiety
• improve sleep
• increases the strength,  flexibility  and endurance needed by muscles for child-birth
• reduced risk of preterm labor
• lowered risk of intrauterine growth restriction
• decreased carpal tunnel syndrome
• improved sleep
• decreased shortness of breath

 
Prenatal yoga can also help prepare you for the stress associated with childbirth as well as improve fetal health.

Choosing a  prenatal yoga class

It is better to choose a prenatal yoga class taught by a certified prenatal yoga instructor and a yoga class specifically designed for pregnant women. The instructor knows your condition and therefore knows what poses to focus on and what to avoid.

What you need to know about prenatal yoga.

It is essential to keep your yoga class to about half an hour to prevent putting unnecessary stress on your body. It also important to note that even  though yoga is beneficial, it is not for all pregnant women. Some types of yoga such as Bikram require a hot environment which is not safe for pregnant women. Other poses that require extensive abdominal stretching or lying flat on your back are also not recommended.

Prenatal yoga is not recommended for pregnant women at risk for preterm labor. It is important to seek your doctor’s okay before starting prenatal yoga.
 
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