Why practice yoga while pregnant?

     To bear a child is undeniably the ultimate dream of the majority of women. Pregnancy is the state of carrying a growing embryo or fetus in the uterus. In mammals, pregnancy is defined as the period between implantation of a fertilized egg (now called a zygote) in wall of the uterus and delivery or other termination. Some people believe that conception, the moment when the sperm and egg first meet in the fallopian tube, is the start of pregnancy, while the legal and medical definition holds that pregnancy begins when the zygote implants in the uterine wall. 

     Human pregnancy lasts about 38 weeks from conception to birth, or 40 weeks from the time of the last menstrual period to birth (a little more than nine months). It is an almost divine fulfillment that she hopes to attain through this act of procreation. Fear and apprehensions often cloud the mind, the moment pregnancy is confirmed. Will I be able to take this responsibility? Will it be a male or a female? Will it be a healthy child? and so on. Child birth is surely the greatest act performed by women. It can be a great emotional experience. The physical and psychological aspects can’t be separated. For most of women labour is a time of apprehension of fear and agony. But with a proper antenatal preparation the majority of women can have and labour that is easy and painless or almost painless and she can actually enjoy the labour and experience a sense of fulfillment.  

     Yoga tackles an individual's well-being on the whole – body, mind and heart. This is very much unlike other forms of physical fitness. Yoga for pregnant women can help would be mother get through their pregnancy with the least amount of discomfort. Pregnancy Yoga even helps in childbirth and in the post-delivery stages. Pregnancy Yoga’s stretching exercises help relieve aches and pains. The practices also help improve overall posture and this can help alleviate back problems so common in pregnant women. Smooth pregnancy and a natural childbirth are just some of the benefits of yoga. But more importantly, yoga does wonders on the physical and mental development of the fetus.

     Ensuring a healthy baby is every woman’s dream and yoga helps you do just that. During last few decades, the research in yoga has proved beyond doubts that yoga helps to prevent and cure many chronic ailments. Yogic practices integrate the body, mind and spirit. They bring harmony; develop a restful and positive attitude towards life. This comprehensive programmed of yogic practices designed for pregnant women will help; those to have correct posture flexibility of spine improve their breathing capacity, to manage stress. It helps to build immunity, inner strength, improve control over body and emotions. In short it is the best preventive and curative therapy for many ailments that can occur during pregnancy. It will also ensure the baby's healthy growth.