Prenatal Yoga

Few people know that Dr. Ferdinand Lamaze studied with B. K. S Iyengar, the father of Iyengar Hatha Yoga.   Dr. Lamaze applied Iyengar’s Yogic techniques to develop his Lamaze Method. Yoga, like the birthing process and motherhood, is a union of body, spirit and mind.  Yoga is one of the most effective ways to enjoy your pregnancy and prepare for birth.

Yoga has many benefits to offer the mom-to-be as well as the new mother.    Pregnancy is a time of transition in a women’s life and having a yoga practice will nurture the mother-to-be during this transformation and adjustment. Taking a Prenatal yoga class can energize, lessen fatigue, and reduce physical and emotional tensions and stress. Practicing yoga while pregnant can enhance one’s strength and confidence in their body while improving posture, stability and balance. Yoga can help mothers create an inner focus and awareness through connecting their breath with yoga postures in a meditative manner. 

Prenatal yoga provides safe, gentle and effective exercises that strengthen and stretch muscles and release tension.  Movements and yoga poses relieve some of the common discomforts of pregnancy such as backache, digestive difficulties, and sciatica.  Yoga asanas promote advantageous positions for labor and delivery. Breathing and relaxation techniques help maintain focus and calmness throughout pregnancy and delivery. Prenatal yoga uses birthing muscle exercises, upper body stretching, stabilizing poses, hip-opening poses, leg strengthening poses and balance poses.  Breathwork, meditation and relaxation decrease stress and encourage relaxation.