Guest post by Sarah Harris of Zen College Life.
The picture of a pregnant woman knitting in a rocking chair, while nostalgic, is nothing like the reality of impending motherhood today. Most women continue to work, socialize, and generally live their day-to-day lives normally right up until labor.
Although it has long been an accepted practice to “take it easy” during pregnancy, there is absolutely no need to give up working out until the baby is born. Not only are there a wide variety of pre-natal exercise option available, there are also a number of reasons why a continued exercise routine is essential for both you and your child.
Pregnancy Yoga
The practice now in vogue for women who are expecting is pregnancy yoga (although swimming, weight lifting, and some aerobics are also popular). Any exercise will provide certain benefits for the expectant mother, such as improved heart health, reduction of pain (lower back) and fluid retention, and an improved self-image and overall mental state. When combined with diet, most exercise programs can even help you avoid certain higher risk health concerns like gestational diabetes and high blood pressure.
Those are some of the benefits you can get from any type of exercise. Pregnancy yoga specifically targets the reproductive organs, pelvis, and fetus to facilitate a smoother labor and ensure an abundant supply of blood and oxygen to your developing child. Also, it makes you feel wonderful!
Control and Calm
Not only will your body be stronger and more flexible, you will also enjoy the mental and emotional benefits of pregnancy yoga. Focusing on the marriage of breath and body control (a basic tenet of both yoga and meditation) will calm those frayed nerves and can help reduce fatigue and even insomnia (a common occurrence during pregnancy).
Taking yoga classes is also a good way to stay social and meet with other women who are experiencing many of the same issues as you. You really can’t underestimate the importance of having a knowledgeable support network when going through a major life change. So if you’re looking for a way to stay healthy and active throughout gestation, you really can’t go wrong with pregnancy yoga.
How to Start
Most women can do 30 minutes of low-impact exercise three to four times per week throughout the majority of their pregnancy, but always check with your doctor before you begin any type of regimen to make sure it is safe and beneficial for you and your baby.
Guest post by Sarah Harris of Zen College Life, the premier directory for online colleges. Find out more information about an online nursing degree.
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