Yoga can benefit ALL bodies, but it's especially great for women who are pregnant, like Naomi Watts. She certainly looks happy - maybe it is the yoga since it feels great to have some time alone with your baby, to relax and stretch your muscles.
Here are some things all pregos should know when it comes to yoga and their bodies:
- While pregnant your body produces a hormone called relaxin that is intended to soften your inflexible bones and ligaments to make room for your growing baby and to prepare for birth. Avoid stretching further than you normally do, you don't want to pull a muscle.
- Try to find a Prenatal Yoga class so you'll be able to get your questions answered. It's also a great way to meet new moms and share with women who know exactly what you're going through.
- Drink plenty of water and be sure to get the extra 300-500 calories you need during pregnancy, especially if you are exercising.
- Prenatal Yoga also benefits your unborn baby - when you experience peace and relaxation, so will your babe.
Want to know what else and see more pics of Naomi? Then read more
- There are a few poses and actions you should avoid - deep twists from the belly, jumping, deep back bending, holding your breath or rapid breathing (kapalabhati), abdominal work such as boat pose, lying on your belly such as in cobra pose, Bikram/Hot yoga (you don't want to raise you body's core temp), and anything that feels uncomfortable.
- In the 3rd trimester, avoid all inversions - your baby is getting ready to move into birthing position and you don't want to disrupt that. This means any pose where your head is below your heart, even in down dog. Substitute hands and knees pose instead.
- Prenatal Yoga focuses a lot on opening the hips, releasing and stretching the lower back, relaxation skills, and pranayama (breath). By using and stretching the muscles you'll need during birth, you will essentially be making labor easier!
- Listen to your body. If you get too hot or too tired during class, take a break. And don't overdo it.
Nudie Jeans
Alexander Wang
Stella McCartney
awesome article!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE yoga, and will most certainly continue to do it when i decide to have kids. It has a lot of great benefits =0)
1I have 2 friends who was pregnant and did Yoga.
2They loved it.
I love It.
3I think yoga is great for all pregnant people. However, Bikram yoga (hot yoga) is perfectly fine to continue to do IF you have been a dedicated Nikram yoga practitioner for atleast a year. Poses can be modified. And you stand in the cooler part of the room. I know of three pregnant women this past year who have continued to practice into their third trimester.
But, again, you have to have been a dedicated practitioner prior to doing Bikram while pregnant. It should NOT be the first choice you make if you are pregnant and new to yoga.
4I have to say yoga is really good.It's the kinda sport you can do even in your period.But I just cant be into it...Im now thinking abt learning it only for my period time:I need to lose my weight
5Hera - I hear you on that. There are faster paced yoga classes like Ashtanga and Vinyasa that burn calories as well as strengthen and tone your muscle. Check em out!
6It worked great 4 me when I was pregnant. I'm back in my size 6 clothes-and my baby is only 3 weeks old.
7Way to go Fancy!
8Oh, I'd missed this one because of the holiday! I'm pregnant now and was a regular yoga practitioner before I got pregnant. Let me tell you, it helps SO MUCH with the aches and pains!!! Seriously, I'm practicing every day now because it's the one thing that keeps me feeling great.
I've heard though that inversions are fine, even into the 3rd trimester if you've practiced them before becoming pregnant and the baby hasn't dropped yet. In fact they're recommended to help turn breach babies. Of course, once the baby has settled into position for birth you don't want to be messing with it! And I wouldn't be doing them at all without a competent prenatal yoga teacher.
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