10 Benefits of Prenatal & Postnatal Yoga

How yoga leads to a healthy pregnancy and recovery

Written by Jamie Kalynuik

1. Increases your energy 

Practicing yoga gets the blood flowing. Like all exercise, doing yoga regularly provides us with an energy boost short term and long-term.  It energizes and revitalizes both our bodies and spirits.

2. Helps you sleep better 

Yoga helps you sleep better by relaxing both your mind and body. A regular yoga practice helps people fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer and improved the overall quality of their rest.

3. Reduces stress

The focus on breathing, the calm atmosphere of the studio, and the stretching and relaxation can really help clear your mind and relax your body. Yoga is about being in the present moment. The hustle of your life is put on hold while you practice. That break from the bustle can help with anxiety about health, birth, or anything else there is to do or worry about. 

4. Relieves aches and pains

Yoga is an amazing way to stretch and loosen up tight muscles. It reduces joint pain, muscle stiffness, and overall physical discomfort while greatly improving your flexibility, range of motion, and muscle strength. Yoga is a great way to reduce lower back pain and it can also decrease nausea, carpal tunnel syndrome, headaches and shortness of breath.

5. Teaches you to breathe

A yoga class is the perfect place to practice breath awareness and rhythm. Breath control is an invaluable asset for pain management in labor and birth. It is also the perfect stress-relieving tool in everyday situations. 

6. Prepares your body for childbirth

Practicing yoga improves flexibility, range of motion and strength - all which are important in labour and delivery. Yoga can help bring flexibility and comfort into the hips, range of motion into all of your joints, and strength into your entire body. 

7. Builds strength

Yoga is an entire full body workout and makes you strong all over.  Specific poses are incorporated into the practice to strengthen your legs (to help carry the extra pregnancy weight) and strengthen your arms (for carrying baby around afterwards).

8. Bonds you with baby

Yoga gives expectant moms a chance to connect with the experience of being pregnant and bond with their babies. It’s easy to lose that connection as you rush through the day - prenatal yoga creates the space in your life to truly relax and connect, forming a loving bond even before birth. 

9. Encourages confidence

Pregnancy is filled with so many physical changes and new feelings. Sometimes these changes can create feelings of unease with your body (why can't I remember things anymore? Why is this part of my body feeling this way??) Realizing the true power of your own body in a room full of other powerful and beautiful pregnant women can be great positive reinforcement.  A regular yoga practice will give you a clear mind and the inspiration and courage to be constantly expanding and improving your life.

10. Makes you happy :) 

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh...that relaxing yet rejuvenating feeling you experience as your roll up your mat and head back out into world after finishing a great yoga class. Yoga gets the blood flowing and warms up the body, and the deep belly breathing practiced in yoga activates the parasympathetic nervous system to produce a calming, relaxing and happy effect. Overall, yoga is an amazing and easy way to enhance your mood, your confidence and overall sense of well-being.