Prenatal Yoga

I started taking yoga about a month or two before I found out I was pregnant. I often thought it would be too slow for me, but was pleasantly surprised that the slow factor wasn't an issue at all. I actually liked it...all the periodic pauses, smooth transitions and, well—some of those transitions were done fairly quickly. And then my belly started to grow, which meant that I would need to modify or avoid certain moves altogether. Not knowing how to do this, I just quit going. (Silly me.) Tonight, however, I am going back. To yoga, though not to the class I had been taking.

One of our yoga instructors at the gym is teaching a prenatal yoga class for moms-to-be like me, and I couldn't be more excited about it. The benefits of prenatal yoga, according to the flyer she gave me:

1) Finding relaxation.
It's all about you, your body and your baby.

2) Alleviating pain.
Gentle stretching helps relieve the kinks and aches brought on by the ever-changing pregnant body.

3) Sleeping better.
Probably from all that relaxing!

4) Strengthening muscles.
It's low-impact, but still challenging.

5) Finding support.
When moms get together, a sense of communitynis often present.

6) Easing delivery.
Yogic breathing skills translate to labor and delivery which promotes a calmer, more relaxed delivery.

7) Recovering.
It helps your body return to its new version of normal.

As I continue to modify more and more of my usual strength training/cardio routine, I think (I hope) this class will be a good supplement. And as I continue to work toward a natural birth, I think (I hope) this class will prove to be quite useful.

I'll let you know how it goes. I'm certainly quite excited about it.

(Did you enter my giveaway? I'll be announcing the winner tomorrow!)