The Power Of Yoga

Prepare your body and mind for labor and delivery with our prenatal yoga workout.

There is probably no better way to prepare for childbirth than with yoga. The practice involves not just exercise but mindfulness as well, opening both your body and mind to what lies ahead. “Prenatal yoga teaches a woman to connect more fully to the life growing within her,” says Sue Elkind, a certified anusara yoga instructor at Yogaphoria in New Hope, Pa., and the mother of two. What’s more, she says, “Childbirth requires a great deal of strength, stamina and focus; yoga helps you with all of this.”

In fact, research shows that moms-to-be who regularly practice yoga may have a leg up during labor and delivery. A study of 74 first-time mothers in Thailand found that those who did prenatal yoga experienced less pain and a shorter labor.

This workoutcan be done every other day. Do the poses in the order shown and take the time to relax after you finish and feel the changes in your body. Try to alternate this workout with some aerobic exercise, such as walking or swimming, three to five days a week for 20–45 minutes a day.

Click here for The Power Of Yoga workout moves.

Note: Always check with your doctor before beginning this or any workout program during pregnancy.