Top tips for doing Yoga during pregnancy

Yoga can be wonderful for pregnant women and can empower and assist you and your child through pregnancy and birth. There are many wonderful health benefits to a regular Yoga class. If you are going to Yoga during your pregnancy checkout our handy list of Do’s and Don’ts to help you gain confidence, assurance and understanding in your Yoga practice.

Dos

• Move slowly and gently.
• Breath softy, fully and smoothly.
•  Rest your body whenever you need to.
•  Listen to your body, do what feels right.
•  Support your knees with blankets, use props such as cushions, bolsters and blankets to be comfortable in any exercise or relaxation.
•  Enjoy practices and postures that gently open the chest and body to help promote easy breath
•  Do take time to let Yoga focus on yourself and your baby.
•  Do practice Yogic relaxation techniques, such as humming, chanting, sound practices, deep relaxation, yoga nidra (yoga sleep) and meditation.
•  Do use gentle pelvic floor exercises  to learn how to feel identify, tone and release these muscles.
•  Do make friends and chat with the other lovely women in the class.
•  Do enjoy your Yoga practice and feel good that you are making this time and space for yourself and your baby.

 

Don'ts

• Don’t be tough on yourself
• Don’t hold poses, be stiff or strongly tense your muscles
• Don’t jump from pose to pose
• Don’t over stretch
• Don’t practice inverted postures
• Don’t hold your breath or practice any vigorous breath work.
• Don’t fold forwards if it feels awkward
• Don’t rest on your front
• Don’t lie on your back after 30 weeks
• Don’t twist deeply
• Don’t maintain a lifted Mula Bandha for more one breath
• Don’t rush the practice
• Don’t rush to or from the class
• If you come from an already established Yoga practice or other physical discipline, don’t expect yourself to do all the same things as before, your body is already doing something amazing!

Pregnancy Yoga in Finsbury Park