You're Pregnant? CONGRATULATIONS!!
Yoga is a fabulous experience and very beneficial for pregnant women. Yoga helps the process of breathing and relaxing, which in turn can help you adjust to the physical demands of pregnancy, labor, birth, and motherhood. It calms both mind and body, providing the physical and emotional stress relief your body needs throughout the experience of pregnancy.
We recommend you attend specialty pregnancy yoga classes where available in your area, however if local prenatal classes don't suit you, or you just want to continue your loved regular yoga practice at the Lounge at this special time, we're happy to share your journey with you in our regular classes. There may be some poses that you will have to modify or replace, but your teachers (and your body!) will let you know when this is the case.
Please note, Yin Yoga is teh only class not recommended during pregnancy due to the hormone 'relaxin' which is released in pregnant women to help relax their joints. Because of this, Yin can place excessive, unnatural stretch on the joints, ligaments and tendons of pregnant women.
To ensure we care for you at our utmost, we do require the following:
STUDENTS NEW TO YOGA:
CURRENT EXPERIENCED STUDENTS:
We recommend you attend specialty pregnancy yoga classes where available in your area, however if local prenatal classes don't suit you, or you just want to continue your loved regular yoga practice at the Lounge at this special time, we're happy to share your journey with you in our regular classes. There may be some poses that you will have to modify or replace, but your teachers (and your body!) will let you know when this is the case.
Please note, Yin Yoga is teh only class not recommended during pregnancy due to the hormone 'relaxin' which is released in pregnant women to help relax their joints. Because of this, Yin can place excessive, unnatural stretch on the joints, ligaments and tendons of pregnant women.
To ensure we care for you at our utmost, we do require the following:
STUDENTS NEW TO YOGA:
- Participation in classes is available from 2nd trimester only.
- Arrival 15 minutes early to your class to discuss guidelines with your teacher.
CURRENT EXPERIENCED STUDENTS:
- Participation in the classes is welcome during 1st trimester with a letter from your doctor giving approval.
- Arrival 15 minutes early to your class to discuss guidelines with your teacher.
Why Practice Yoga During Pregnancy?
DEVELOPS STAMINA & STRENGTH
As baby grows within our body, more energy and strength is needed to be able to carry the weight. Yoga poses strengthen the hips, back, arms and shoulders.
BALANCE
Your balance becomes challenged physically as your baby grows within your body. Emotionally you can become drained due to the increases in progesterone and estrogen. As you focus on holding and breathing through each yoga pose, you are able to fine tune your balance, physically and emotionally.
RELIEVES TENSION OF LOWER BACK, HIPS, CHEST, UPPER BACK, NECK & SHOULDERS
As baby grows, more stress is put upon these specific muscle groups in your body, and pregnant women tend to have a greater lower back curve due to the increased size of their bellies, and your hips get tighter due to the added pressure of baby’s weight in your belly. As your breasts increase in size, your upper back and chest have more tension, along withthe neck and shoulders.
CALMS THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
Through deep breathing, the nervous system goes into parasympathetic mode, which is responsible for relaxation. When your body is in that mode, your digestions operate properly, you tend to sleep better, and your immune system is at its optimal.
PREPARATION FOR LABOR
You are working with conscious breathing during each yoga pose, which may sometimes be challenging. This transfers into the time of labor, allowing one to practice being “comfortable with the uncomfortable” through our breathwork. As you inhale, you acknowledge the tension that is felt. As you deeply exhale, you let go of it more and more with each breath.
CONNECTION WITH BABY
A yoga practice allows you to slow down and focus attention on what is going on within your body. Through working with your breath in each pose, you become more aware of what is going on within.
INCREASES CIRCULATION
Circulation is enhanced within your joints and your muscles are elongated during practice. Upon circulation of the blood within your body, swelling is decreased and your immunity is enhanced, creating a healthy environment for a thriving baby.
BREATHWORK PRACTICE
This is a good tool for labor during contractions. If we are consciously breathing, our blood pressure and heart rate is regulated keeping us in parasympathetic/relaxation mode. A calm mum equals a calm baby.
NURTURING TIME
Yoga creates the time that allows you to stop and slow down from your busy days. Through the practice of yoga, you are setting intention - taking care of not only yourself, but also of your baby.
As baby grows within our body, more energy and strength is needed to be able to carry the weight. Yoga poses strengthen the hips, back, arms and shoulders.
BALANCE
Your balance becomes challenged physically as your baby grows within your body. Emotionally you can become drained due to the increases in progesterone and estrogen. As you focus on holding and breathing through each yoga pose, you are able to fine tune your balance, physically and emotionally.
RELIEVES TENSION OF LOWER BACK, HIPS, CHEST, UPPER BACK, NECK & SHOULDERS
As baby grows, more stress is put upon these specific muscle groups in your body, and pregnant women tend to have a greater lower back curve due to the increased size of their bellies, and your hips get tighter due to the added pressure of baby’s weight in your belly. As your breasts increase in size, your upper back and chest have more tension, along withthe neck and shoulders.
CALMS THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
Through deep breathing, the nervous system goes into parasympathetic mode, which is responsible for relaxation. When your body is in that mode, your digestions operate properly, you tend to sleep better, and your immune system is at its optimal.
PREPARATION FOR LABOR
You are working with conscious breathing during each yoga pose, which may sometimes be challenging. This transfers into the time of labor, allowing one to practice being “comfortable with the uncomfortable” through our breathwork. As you inhale, you acknowledge the tension that is felt. As you deeply exhale, you let go of it more and more with each breath.
CONNECTION WITH BABY
A yoga practice allows you to slow down and focus attention on what is going on within your body. Through working with your breath in each pose, you become more aware of what is going on within.
INCREASES CIRCULATION
Circulation is enhanced within your joints and your muscles are elongated during practice. Upon circulation of the blood within your body, swelling is decreased and your immunity is enhanced, creating a healthy environment for a thriving baby.
BREATHWORK PRACTICE
This is a good tool for labor during contractions. If we are consciously breathing, our blood pressure and heart rate is regulated keeping us in parasympathetic/relaxation mode. A calm mum equals a calm baby.
NURTURING TIME
Yoga creates the time that allows you to stop and slow down from your busy days. Through the practice of yoga, you are setting intention - taking care of not only yourself, but also of your baby.