Prenatal Yoga: The Family That Breathes Together, Stays “Together”

First-time moms, it's a tight squeeze in there! Take a breath.

During pregnancy, good breathing and control of Prana (energy) are as important as the healthy food you put into your body. Energy and oxygen is also needed to allow for those nutrients to be dispersed throughout your body. The benefits of prenatal yoga (the principles of which can be applied forever), extend beyond the nine months.

Best of all, your stronger breathing techniques will allow you to enjoy less stress, less anxiety, more blood flow, better fitness and vitality, which in turn is shared with the baby. The full yogic breath (pranayama) is the basic building block of yoga. The have been used for centuries to stimulate the nervous system, help overcome respiratory illnesses, release muscle tension around the heart, and jumpstarts the auto immune system by stimulating the endocrine system.

Pranayamas are simple to learn. Just deepen, lengthen and extend your natural breath. Exhale slowly and entirely, emptying your lungs. Then inhale filling rib cage and you abdomen completely for 20 seconds. Then exhale slowly and entirely, emptying your lungs and abdomen, watching them cave in, for another 20 seconds. Congratulations! You have achieved full yogic breath!

Practicing a few simple pranayamas help release emotional tension during labor and s the chances of getting baby blues afterward, which spoil an otherwise healthy, beautiful moment in time.

Pranayamas are so effective, they’re used in Ayurvedic and alternative medicine to manage pain, constipation, depression, PMS, and weak pelvic floors.

Health and Yoga offers simple pranayamas and asanas for each of the trimesters. For a complete guide click here.