7 Reasons You Should Practice Prenatal Yoga
Photo credit: Samantha Heather Photography
7 Reasons You Should Practice Prenatal Yoga
During pregnancy, a yoga practice can be so powerful—a fact I’ve witnessed time and time again as a prenatal yoga teacher, doula and mum. Many regular practitioners choose to stick with their open-level classes when they become pregnant, but there are so many benefits to getting your booty to a specialised prenatal class. Here are seven reasons why you should.
Bond and connect with your baby
Most of us lead busy, fast-paced lives. There is so much to juggle, and it can be easy for a whole week to go by without once pausing to stop and spend time connecting with your unborn child. During a prenatal yoga class, you will have the chance to get quiet, tune in and bond with your baby.
Remain more comfortable throughout your pregnancy
Everything we do in a prenatal class is especially tailored for the pregnant body, helping with core, pelvic floor, common pregnancy complaints, birth preparation and recovery. Women tell me all the time that coming to prenatal yoga classes kept them feeling as comfortable as possible as their body changed.
The power of your intuition
One of my favourite things about teaching prenatal yoga is giving women the opportunity to go inward, connect to their own intuition and learn to trust it. Pregnancy is so full of medical tests, procedures, and appointments that it’s easy to lose your connection to that little voice inside of you. It’s also easy to lose sight of the beauty and mystery involved in growing a new soul; a regular yoga practice creates the space to revel in that beauty.
Community
Connecting with other women going through the same transition into motherhood is so affirming, whether it’s your first baby or your fourth. Here in Sydney, many of us are expats (like me) or live far away from our families, so it’s especially nice to meet like-minded women in a safe and supportive space. I’ve witnessed so many beautiful, life-long friendships being formed through regularly attending the same prenatal class.
Destress and fill your cup
Let’s be honest, an hour to yourself is a wonderful thing! Your phone is away, no one can make demands of you (I’m looking at you, child-of-mine asking for her 6th snack this morning), and there is nothing else you could be doing. We all know that stress isn’t good for us, and during pregnancy, stress can affect your baby as well. A yoga class gives you an hour to down-regulate your nervous system, relax and unwind. Think of it as a gift to yourself.
Feel empowered
As a doula, I love to weave childbirth education into my yoga classes. My aim is to provide information so that the birthing person can make the most informed/empowered choice at any given time. So often people are surprised to discover that they have choices when it comes to their body, pregnancy and birth. I want you to take ownership and have an empowering and positive birth experience as you define it.
Learn tools and tips that will help you during birth
A yoga class is a safe place where you can practice being uncomfortable and dealing with strong sensations. Through breathing techniques, visualisations and meditations, you’ll learn strategies that can help you deal with physical and mental discomfort both on and off the mat. It’s worth noting that this isn’t just for women wanting an unmedicated birth; I have so many students tell me that the tools they learned in class helped them during their cesarean birth as well as into their postpartum period.
If you’re a pregnant mama, I hope to see you on the mat soon!
If you’re a yoga teacher wanting to share the many benefits of prenatal yoga, I hope you’ll join me for my 50 Hour Pre and Postnatal Teacher Training this November. This training is perfect for yoga teachers who want to teach prenatal yoga classes, welcome pregnant and postpartum people into their group classes and enhance their marketability as a yoga teacher. The training is certified by Yoga Alliance and will count as a 50-hour teacher training for those who have already completed a 200-hour certified yoga teacher training. Learn more here, or feel free to shoot me an email at info@gabrielafearn.com.au!