An article on seven of the benefits of practicing yoga for pregnant women.

7 Benefits Of Yoga For Pregnant Women

During pregnancy, a woman’s lifestyle changes significantly. Exercising becomes more difficult, with group sports such as basketball or tennis becoming difficult and even potentially dangerous; however, pregnancy doesn’t have to mean forgetting about fitness and exercise. There are yoga classes specifically designed for pregnant woman which can help mothers-to-be stay fit as well as offering a host of other advantages:

1. Flexibility

Yoga involves stretching the body and its muscles, increasing our flexibility, which can help women assume various postures with ease during labour. The improved flexibility of ligaments can also help reduce labour pains before the childbirth.

2. Breathing

Breathing is a fundamental part of yoga and most yoga teachers will have students breathing deeply, using their lungs properly, which can be beneficial when a woman is giving birth to a child.

3. Posture

Yoga helps us improve our posture, which is particularly helpful for pregnant women who are carrying the extra weight of a baby. Improved posture can mean reduced back pain, a common complaint of pregnant women.

4. Balance

Many yoga poses require good balance, from the tree pose to the half-moon pose. Pregnant woman may find that their balance has been impaired by the extra weight they carry, so this focus on improving balance can help prevent pregnant women from tripping or falling due to the weight of the baby.

5. Mental Clarity

As well as being a physical activity, yoga is also a mental exercise. It aims to encourage mindfulness, a focus on the present and peace of mind. Women experiencing anxiety or stress during their pregnancy can benefit from yoga’s focus on the inner self and the emotions. This also helps women stay emotionally stable, avoiding mood swings triggered by hormones.

6. Bonding with the Baby

Many pregnant women who have taken prenatal yoga classes attest that the classes help them to build up a bond with their baby and prepare for its birth.

7. Socialising

A yoga class for pregnant women is the perfect place for pregnant women to socialise with other mothers-to-be who will understand what they’re going through. Plus, women on maternity leave might appreciate the extra social contact.

So if you are pregnant and want to stay fit, calm and prepare for the birth of your baby, pregnancy yoga classes are perfect for you. Plus, after the birth of the baby, gentle yoga exercises can help your body recover from the birth.

This article was written by Jackie Bryant who practiced pregnancy yoga Dublin before the birth of her child earlier this year and continues to practice yoga today.

When you begin to practise yoga regularly, you have taken a very important step towards positive living. This is especially helpful when you are pregnant as your body is providing the very first surrounding for your baby.

Honour your pregnancy and the essential work you are doing by giving yourself and your baby the time and attention you both need, practising a  little yoga every day. 

When you practise yoga in pregnancy you bring awareness to your body and the inner connection with your child, helping to focus on your pregnancy in a deeper way. This will help you to feel more in touch with you inner self and discovering and accept the power to give birth and to nurture your baby lies within yourself.

Yoga teaches you to breathe naturally and normally becoming aware of your own rhythm and helping to centre yourself and feel grounded even in the intensity of the sensations when you are in labour.

Yoga is ideal as exercise for the childbearing year as it in encourages relaxation, flexibility and strength in a completely gentle way.
Yoga can help you to release tiredness, back pain, nausea, anxiety, headaches and many other common complaints of pregnancy.


Many of yoga positions we use in class are very similar to positions women instinctively assume in labour: Opening and releasing
pelvis, pelvic exercises, squatting, kneeling.  Yoga prepares you physically and psychologically to open and release while you are giving birth. 
 
To sum up the many benefits of yoga: 
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Yoga improves the blood circulation and minimizes the problems of water retention and oedema.
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Yoga reduces the anxiety and stress and induces a relaxing sleep. It helps women adapt to the new situations.
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It successfully expels toxins from the body and improves digestion.
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Yoga is a safe way for  strengthening muscles and joints.
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It regulates blood  pressure and sugar levels in body and thus helps in preventing the risk of getting diabetes and high blood pressure during pregnancy.
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Yoga stimulates the nerves and calms the body and mind. Breathing exercises regulate the hormones and emotions.
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Yoga improves the posture and thus helps in easing back problems which are common in most of the pregnant women.
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Regular practice of yoga stretches many ligaments throughout the pelvic, hip and leg areas, which eases labour pain.
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Breathing exercises reduce mood swings, nausea and morning sickness.
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Yoga strengthens the abdominal muscles which take part in pushing the baby through the birth canal