Pregnancy, a time of great change in a woman's life, can be supported by yoga. The breathing, postures, and visualizations of this discipline offer the mother daily help, from the moment of conception through to birth and beyond.
I have practised since I was nineteen and, from the very beginning, this discipline fascinated me with its simplicity. With just a few exercises and the right attitude of awareness, it is possible to change the course of the day.
As a teacher I have been able to observe the effect of yoga on many people with different life experiences, and I applied this experience directly to my own practice, including during those nine months when a new life was growing inside me.
It was a truly special time, when I rediscovered in yoga a support able to work deeply and, at the same time, gently.
The practice of yoga proves to be real help for a woman during that phase of total transformation of the body, the mind, the emotions, and her attitude towards life.
What helped me most in particular was attention to the breath, one of the fundamental elements of yoga. Mindfully listening to the air entering and leaving our body is something that can be applied straight away, with no contraindications.
Among the many benefits of prenatal yoga, the most important for me is being able to connect with the baby. A deep bond is created simply by stopping, sitting down, starting to listen to your own breath, and imagining sending light and love to the life growing inside you.
Yoga also offers psychological support, encouraging good physical and emotional preparation for one of the most explosive moments in a woman's life: childbirth (but I will explore this topic in another article).
Doing yoga during pregnancy also helps strengthen the muscles and keep under control the leg and back pain that is often inevitable as the baby grows bigger and heavier. The exercises help you manage your posture, always keeping the body well aligned according to the changes under way.
And if you cannot practise directly with your body, because of pain or discomfort, yoga can help even through simple visualizations.
It is right to remember that, if you have never practised before, you should ask your midwife and your trusted doctor for advice, and rely on a teacher experienced in pregnancy yoga.
Every mother-to-be can draw from yoga whatever she needs most.
So if you are expecting, don't hesitate: roll out your mat or sit on a large cushion and begin your practice.
L. Bugatti, EFOA Yoga teacher, specialist in maternity and children's yoga (www.yogacristallo.it)