Prenatal Yoga

When I got to know about a contest in Women's Web on Passport To A Healthy Pregnancy, I decided to plunge in. Writing about that delightful chapter of my life is a gratification by itself.

That unfortunate moment you announce your pregnancy to the world, monsoon sets in for the next few months for the mom-soon (person who will moan-soon). Why? It will be raining with wanted/unwanted information, advices and suggestions from ….ahh probably you cannot guess that. (Advices have come in public places as well!) I would use smile-and-nod umbrella. 

The ante-natal class I attended with BH helped me get complete information on the journey to create life. The obstetrician and her team conducted this class for us. Many mis’conception’s  about pregnancy were wiped-off. One important factor which helped me physically, emotionally and mentally was YOGA!

Healthy body, mind and attitude of the mother are critical for the growth and development of the baby. Yoga helped me achieve all these with ease. The first thing that registered in the mind was ‘Pregnancy is not a disease; it is the time to say Cheeese!’  I resolved to give the best I could do, for my baby to develop and grow in my-own-cocoon.

Physically

o        9 whole months of pregnancy is all about wait and weight. (Don’t you think so?)

o       I did not gain more weight than required.

Image: 123rf

o        The asanas helped me keep myself flexible, and tone up my reproductive muscles to put up with the stretch and changes (The uterus grows almost 500–1,000 times its normal size – ouch! Other organs, bones and muscles need to accommodate the change right?)

o        Some exercises did help me loosen the pelvic floor muscles which was supposed to mitigate the pain during the labor.(read here) (if that pain was LESS!)

o        Asanas were the astras (weapons) I used to beat the common discomforts like backache, swollen legs, calf-muscle cramps, gastritis and many more. 

Emotionally

Image: DepositPhotos

o       In this go-go-go world, when worries, tensions, apprehensions are so common. Meditation was a real stress-buster.

o       Breathing techniques helped me during the labor to concentrate on the rolling out the red carpet for my baby rather than the pain (*Inner voice* ‘Big deal!, She rolled on a  red carpet like thing inside too’.) 

Mentally

o        I have read some where that, excruciating labour pain is akin to 40 fractures on a single spot, at the same time. The most important preparatory factor in facing up to this pain is ‘Inner-Peace’, which is bolstered by meditation and yoga. (Yoga to bear pain? Did you remember Yogi Bear-cartoon? Meee too.. :P)

Image: RealBollywood

o       It is a huge reprieve from fear and anxiety that we face during pregnancy.

My two cents finally (or four I should say)

o       Say yes to Meditation, you may avoid Medication

o       Yoga during pregnancy? YO! Ga-Ga over it!

o       Don’t eat for two, it is too-much! (Remember the size of baby, rather its’ stomach)

o       Go to a professional trainer. Do not experiment yourself.


Yoga is indeed the 'passport' to healthy pregnancy, helps the baby to 'pass' through the 'port' without a hitch (*wink wink* )

PS: I believe being mother is just a ‘state of mind’ for any woman. Just physically bearing child does not make any woman complete.