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There is a prenatal hatha yoga dvd video developed by a woman named Shiva Rea that has received some rave reviews. She lays out a system for a pregnant woman to follow for each trimester, which is great due to the changes that occur during the pregnancy. Rea definitely eliminates any doubt for women that prefer home exercise over a class might have about the safety of certain poses. She also takes viewers through meditation stretches and gives pointers on items that are good for support. This video definitely provides the guidance to help you and your baby achieve a pleasurable pregnancy experience. However, some women prefer to have a community of support which can only be achieved through a prenatal yoga class.
Prenatal yoga has really caught on lately. Perhaps it's the Hollywood stars that are attracting the attention or simply the health benefits for a mom to be and her baby. Even with its benefits, when attending a class, a woman should only practice yoga with a qualified prenatal yoga instructor. Like all activities during a pregnancy, she should also consult her doctor before beginning any prenatal class. The postures and breathing exercises should be gentle and designed specifically for pregnancy.
Caution: During pregnancy a woman is at more risk for over stretching due to a hormone produced in the body during pregnancy called relaxin. This hormone softens bones and ligaments to prepare the baby for delivery. Due to this, a woman should avoid overexerting herself during certain positions which could easily cause serious injury.Many expectant mothers report that yoga tends to reduce aches and discomfort caused by the pregnancy and changes in their bodies. It can also improve focus through breathing and relaxation techniques to help with your delivery. Some of the other things pregnancy yoga can do for a woman are:
Expectant mothers can benefit from either a home based regimen or a group pregnancy yoga class. Personal preference should guide you in your decision. If you are interested in prenatal yoga training at home through videos, I can't recommend Shiva Rea's dvd enough. You can get a copy at