Pregnancy Yoga
Yoga is a noninvasive and cost-effective way of improving quality of life and interpersonal relationships during pregnancy.
Physical exercise can be helpful in the management of stress and other associated conditions or symptoms accompanying pregnancy, such as edema, gestational hypertension or diabetes, mood instability, musculoskeletal discomfort, aches, and weight gain. It is recommend at least 30 minutes of exercise, most days of the week.
Mind-body practices that cultivate general health, diminish distress, and increase self awareness, such as yoga, maybe be particularly effective in addressing both the physical and psycho emotional aspects of pregnancy and labor.
A recent review of yoga for pregnancy related outcomes concluded that yoga is positively indicated for use in pregnancy.
Yoga is a low impact, easily modifiable and mindful activity can be used even across trimesters, which is more vulnerable to physical stress.
It is possible that elements commonly included in a yoga practice, such as breathing exercises or deep relaxation, may affect both fetal heart rate and fetal movement.
It is possible that alteration of maternal sympathetic nervous system functioning, as demonstrated by reduced levels of stress-related hormones such as cortisol, may be one of the mechanisms through which yoga initiates psychophysiological change in pregnant women.
Prenatal yoga program is safe for pregnant women and can reduce the discomforts of pregnancy and increase maternal self-efficacy and self-confidence.
Furthermore, results demonstrated that the first stage of labour and the total duration of labour were significantly shorter in women who had received the yoga intervention.
The number of infants weighing over 2.5 kg was significantly greater for women who had participated in the yoga condition.
In addition, the number of women who experienced preterm labour (i.e., before 37 weeks) was significantly lower and complications such as IUGR and PIH with associated IUGR occurred significantly less often in the yoga group.
Silna Yoga assimilate multiple aspects of yoga, such as physical postures, breathing practices, lectures on yogic philosophy, and relaxation practices. It is considered integrated yoga program that is the most beneficial program for pregnancy.