YogaBellies for Pregnancy
Why should I practice yoga during pregnancy?
These days expectant mothers everywhere are looking for ways to maintain their health and stay in shape throughout their pregnancy. Unfortunately, pregnancy can severely limit a woman's exercise options. That's why thousands of pregnant women have turned to yoga as a way to stay active and healthy - when performed properly, yoga is safe for pregnant women and has benefits for everything from flexibility to cardiovascular health.
Here are some of the most important Benefits of Yoga for a Pregnant Woman...
- Stretching exercises promote circulation of blood and oxygen throughout the body, relaxing both body and mind and promoting a sense of general well-being.
- Pregnant women typically shift their pelvis forward in response to the increased weight, which places significant strain on the lower back. Yoga strengthens the core muscles, resulting in better posture and alleviated back pain.
- Yoga strengthens the muscles used in delivery, which will make the entire process easier and less painful.
- Pregnancy can shift the position of the digestive organs, impeding digestion and causing unwanted side effects. Yoga can help reverse this process and restore healthy digestion.
- Practicing yoga will build muscle mass, which will give you more energy and make your pregnancy easier. It will also make it easier to lose the weight you put on while you're pregnant.
- One of the most important benefits of yoga for a pregnant woman is the practice's focus on breathing. Concentrating on breathing properly will teach you to relax your mind and your body, even in frightening or high-stress situations, helping your pregnancy to develop healthily.
YogaBellies® for Pregnancy Classes - Pre natal yoga and birth education
Each block of classes is 8 weeks long and at the end of the block you will have the option to continue
your practice as long as you wish.8 weeks of pre natal yoga and birth preparation classes;£5 off any block of post natal classes booked (choose from baby massage or mum & baby yoga)YogaBellies® Yoga Birth pack packaged in a lovely YogaBellies tote bag and including our YogaBellies deep relaxation and self hypnosis for birth CD;
When can I start pregnancy yoga classes?
We recommend 14-16 weeks gestation if you are completely new to yoga. You will probably be feeling a
bit more energetic and less nauseous around this time. If you have any Pre-existing medical conditions or have had any serious problems during pregnancy, please run this past your GP before starting the class and discuss with your YogaBellies teacher. Please don't worry if you have never done yoga before, a lot of the mums will be trying it for the first time and our classes are suitable for all levels.
What do I need to bring to class?
Wear comfortable non restrictive clothing and we don't wear shoes or socks ( we don't want to slip) during the class. Mats and props will be provided, but feel free to bring your own if you have them. Make sure you bring water to sip as we want to keep nice an hydrated.
More about YogaBellies® for Pregnancy classes...
YogaBellies pre natal yoga classes are gentle and safe for all women, whether new to Yoga or with years of practice. Each class lasts 1hr 15 minutes and each week focuses on a different aspect of pregnancy and birth. This is more than just a yoga class, but also training in deep relaxation and preparation for birth and motherhood.
We practice yoga postures suitable for pregnancy and birth, adjusted for each trimester; invaluable breathing techniques for pregnancy and labour and also relaxation and meditation techniques that mum can also use once baby arrives. At the end of each class we have an informal group chat about the focus of our class for the week. This class also helps you prepare for birth and is so much more than just physical stretching :)
YogaBellies support mums no matter what their birth or parenting choices or circumstances.
Our techniques offer mums the opportunity to birth naturally, but if special circumstances arise
or you choose to have pain relief or interventions, the techniques we teach are just as useful.
YogaBellies® for Pregnancy classes also offer mums to be the following:
Pregnancy Support
Reduces stress and anxiety through awareness and breathing practicesProvides emotional support through contact with other pregnant womenIncreases blood and lymph circulation, thereby supporting the physiological processes of pregnancyRelieves musculoskeletal tension and pain through strengthening and lengthening muscles and aligning the skeletonStrengthens the body, thereby decreasing stress on weight-bearing joints & supporting comfortable postural changesEnhances kinesthetic awareness, further allowing for comfortable pregnancy-related structural changes
Labour Support
Labour support techniques includebreathing/relaxation practicesmuscle control/educationdeepened kinesthetic awareness and relaxation
Techniques that contribute to your ability to allow you body work most effectively in labor
Breathing and relaxation techniques can support you through intense or difficult sensations and emotions.Kinesthetic awareness can help you find beneficial laboring positions and release tension that arises in response to pain (these support effective dilation and effacement, proper pushing, and prevent whole-body soreness post-labor).Muscular control and awareness can help you isolate and use your muscles in the most effective ways (this might include moving the hips in circles to bring the baby lower into the birth canal, knowing how to release and open your inner thighs and pelvic floor muscles to allow the baby to move through the pelvis, and knowing how to effectively use the abdominal muscles while pushing.)
In the event of cesarean sections (planned or unplanned), the same tools will benefit you in added ways:
Breathing and relaxation practices will help calm you during early contractions or while being prepped for surgery.Muscle control and kinesthetic awareness will support early labor AND help substantially in post-surgery healing.
To locate your nearest YogaBellies for Pregnancy class please click here
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