View All Articles

Six Great Benefits of Prenatal Yoga

July 25, 2017

Prenatal yoga is a great way to maintain a healthy mind and body during pregnancy, with movements and techniques tailored to work the areas with the most need for the expectant mom. Here are six ways prenatal yoga can have a positive impact on your pregnancy:

1. Giving Your Body More Support

Stretching your muscles and strengthening your body in healthy, safe ways can help you adjust to the physical changes experienced during pregnancy. Toning the lower body in particular can help support your belly as it grows.

2. Toning Important Muscle Groups

Prenatal yoga helps tone muscle groups that are important in the birth process, such as the pelvic floor, hip and abdominal core muscles. Toned muscles can also aid in lessening the aches and pains of pregnancy and in helping your body recover after delivery.

3. Training Your Breathing

Practicing yoga with deep, mindful breathing can help your body relax and loosen up, which in turn may help you remain calm and focused throughout labor and delivery.

4. Connecting More with Your Baby

Certain yoga and breathing exercises can bring a heightened awareness of the changes happening to your body and of the life growing inside you, allowing for an intimate connection between you and your baby.

5. Finding Relief from Common Pregnancy Ailments

Getting the blood circulating throughout the body and bringing oxygen to your muscles and your baby with healthy stretching, toning and deep breathing can help ease common pregnancy discomforts, such as lower back pain, nausea, insomnia, headaches and shortness of breath.

6. Making Friends with Other Moms-to-Be

By joining a yoga group with other expecting moms, you can connect with women who are experiencing the same physical and emotional changes as you may be. Sharing the pregnancy journey can help ease your anxieties as well as your aches and pains, and strengthen your confidence along with your body.

Join us for a class at Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies and experience the benefits of prenatal yoga.