Pregnancy is perhaps the most cherished journey of a woman’s life. The idea of nurturing a life inside you is inexplicable and brings along a cocktail of emotions. With a burgeoning belly and fluctuating hormones, you also tend to experience symptoms like morning sickness, back pain, and joint discomfort, which are far less welcoming. While these tenants of pregnancy are inevitable, you can make your journey easier by practicing prenatal yoga.
Practicing breathing exercises and different asanas can help the expectant mother can better deal with the changes that her body undergoes and support childbirth. However, there can be a lot of overwhelming information regarding staying active and exercising during pregnancy. In fact, there are certain misconceptions around what is deemed safe during pregnancy in terms of movement and exercise.
Here are some of the long-held beliefs around practicing prenatal yoga that are rather hackneyed and lack scientific evidence.
Myth- You Shouldn’t Do Yoga During Pregnancy If You’ve Never Done it Before
This myth has been around for quite some time now, and even some of the most seasoned yoga practitioners still believe this. There’s no “ideal” time when it comes to practicing yoga. In fact, according to an article published by John Hopkins Medicine, “Public health guidelines for pregnant women recommend moderate exercise or activity for approximately 150 minutes per week.” If you have never followed a workout regime, prenatal yoga is a great way to support the physical changes that your body undergoes and manage your mental and emotional well-being. Not to mention, your yoga instructor will speak to you about your health, fitness level, and pregnancy stage before guiding your prenatal yoga sessions.
Myth- Practicing Yoga Can Bereave Your Child of Essential Nutrients
You don’t have to worry about your baby getting all the nutrients that it requires, as long as you’re eating a healthy balanced diet and staying hydrated. That being said, practicing prenatal yoga or any other physical exercise is just as important to prevent complications related to pregnancy and help maintain the health of mother and child.
Myth- You Should Not Perform Asanas That Involve Twisting During Pregnancy
Most people believe that performing poses and asanas that involve deep twisting can compress the belly and cut off the circulation to the uterus. In addition, there is a looming misconception around rotational movements that claims that these exercises can overstretch the connective tissues of the abdomen, worsening or increasing the incidence of diastasis rectus abdominis (DRA). However, this is far from the truth as rotations are the foundation of spinal movements and in fact, engaging in these movements strengthens our connective tissues and muscles through tensile forces and contraction.
If you’re a mom-to-be, it is important to remember that pregnancy is a very personal experience and every woman’s journey is different. When it comes to physical and mental well-being, it is crucial that you listen to your body and doctor instead of falling prey to these myths that plague the pre and postnatal yoga world.
Now that you know that prenatal yoga is absolutely safe for the expecting mother and the child, it’s time you take conscious steps to make the gestation period is made comfortable for yourself while promoting great postnatal health. If you’re looking to join prenatal yoga in Miami, get in touch with us today!