What are the benefits to doing yoga during pregnancy?
Yoga is an excellent way to increase your flexibility and soothe your mind before the baby comes. Yoga poses help stretch and strengthen the muscles used during labor and birth. This early preparation will allow your body to work more efficiently when it comes time to head to the delivery room. As with any exercise, you want to consult with your doctor before you begin yoga and then start with a beginner class or a yoga video made specifically for pregnant women. While yoga can be a gentle way to work on your flexibility, now is not the time to challenge yourself with difficult, pretzel-like poses. The poses should be soothing, gentle and fun not painful! When doing yoga, you want to avoid supine positions after the third month and, as your belly grows, positions in which you have to lie face-down. To find yoga classes near you, call your local health club or community center for information. Make sure the instructor knows you’re pregnant and is able to give you modifications to avoid
