Prenatal Yoga Series
Date: Saturday, 2/13-2/27 and 3/13-3/20
Time: 1:30-2:30pm
Location: Downtown
Instructor: Rachael Eyrich, RYT
Tuition: $50 per person
Prenatal yoga is a wonderful safe class for expectant mothers. Some of the
wonderful benefits of this class are increased strength, flexibility, and wellbeing.
This class also reduces low back pain and sciatica for mothers. Prenatal yoga reduces swelling & inflammation, aids in digestion, and helps mothers
be prepared physically for giving birth. Here are a few of the benefits of Prenatal
Yoga:
Increases overall strength, flexibility & well-being
When you practice yoga you are not only stretching your muscles, you are
stretching the tissues that encase your muscles, stimulating your organ systems,
promoting the circulation of blood and oxygen, breathing more intentionally,
and focusing your attention inward through imagery and meditation. This
wonderful combination promotes a heightened state of physical and emotional
well-being.
Reduces lower back pain & sciatica
As you are taught to become acutely aware of proper body alignment, you can
carry yourself and your belly in an integrated manner. This can help to reduce
the degree of pelvic tilt associated with pregnancy and significantly reduce the
lower back pain which it can cause. Additionally, there are specific yoga poses
which stretch the muscles and tissues associated with the lower back, hips, and
hamstrings. Your yoga instructor should make theses poses a part of each
class.
Reduces aches & fatigue in the thoracic & cervical regions of the spine
During pregnancy, it can be difficult to find a space for yourself when trying to
sleep at night. As a result, spinal alignment can become compromised during
the night. This can leave congestion and muscle tension in the middle and upper
regions of the spine. There are yoga poses which create more fluidity in the spine by stretching the Para spinal muscles, as well as poses which involve
very gentle rotation of the upper torso. When these sequences are combined
with directed yoga breathing, it can have the effect of relieving stress and creating
more breathing room in these regions of the spine.
Aids in digestion
As baby grows, your intestinal organs get pushed around, which may affect
your regularity and cause indigestion. A regular practice of safe and gentle rotations
and forward folds can help to promote regularity and aid in overall digestive
flow.
Helps prepare you physically for giving birth
A regular practice of squatting asana helps to tone muscles of your pelvic floor,
and to help you gain strength to remain comfortable in a squatting position. This
is an integral part of any yoga program as it helps to familiarize you with these
very useful muscles. Even if you choose not to squat during labor, you will want
to be able to use these muscles efficiently and effectively when nature calls
upon you to push your baby into the world.
Improves your emotional well-being.
Participating in a group prenatal class provides a community of support from
people who understand what you are experiencing. It is a place to make new
friends with whom you feel similarly situated. The combination of the physical,
or asana, portion of yoga with the emotional and spiritual component can be an
aid in reducing pregnancy-related anxiety, and help to experience the miracle
and empowerment of pregnancy.