Abstract

ROLE OF YOGA IN PREGNANCY: A HEALTHY STEP TOWARDS MOTHERHOOD

Ashiya*, Laxmi Priya Dei, Rajkrinti and Jaideep Gothwal

ABSTRACT

Pregnancy is one of the most beautiful experiences of life. It is a bundle of mixed emotions, and a test of your mettle. The women experience pure joy and true love for something that is made of a part of her and the man she truly love. Do not let the hormones, emotions, and pains bog you down. Embrace yoga – it will not only sail through the pregnancy with ease but the much-dreaded labor too . “Women often feel quite tired and unwell in their first trimester, so it’s generally a time to do a very gentle yoga practice, focusing on pelvic alignment for optimal placental implantation. “The second trimester is the ideal time to focus on building strength, especially in the legs, so this is the time for a more vigorous practice, which can include sun salutations and deeper squats.”During your third trimester (between 34 and 40 weeks) woman feel more heaviness in body due to baby growth and body moves towards preparing for birth. In third trimester she may experience back pain, loose sacroiliac joints, the discomfort of a widening pubic symphysis and other joints resulting from the relaxing hormones (relaxin) streaming through system. Blood pressure may increase and feel even more breathless than before because baby’s growing body reduces lung capacity. During this time, yoga can help to make the women more comfortable. More than ever, this really is a time of nurturing, of turning inwards and connecting with herself, her inner strength and innate wisdom, and yoga can help her do just that.

Keywords: Cortisol level, Prematurity, Pranayama, Relaxin.