YOGA IN PREGNANCY: A BOON TO MOTHERHOOD

Abstract

Yoga in pregnancy is multi dimensional physical, mental, emotional and intellectual preparation to answer the
challenges faced by a pregnant woman. The challenges of pregnancy are revealed by the state of happiness
and stress while yoga is a skill to calm down the mind. Pregnancy in a woman is a condition in which woman
changes both from inside as well as outside. These changes create obstacles or hurdles in the normal life of a
pregnant woman and yoga in pregnancy can help the women to cruise through these changes and challenges.
Practicing yoga during pregnancy provides a great range of activity and benefits to unborn child and mother
by numerous ways. Yoga soothes the mind, refocus the energy and prepare the woman physiologically and
psychologically for labour. Different breathing techniques impart invaluable neuro-muscular control and helps
in coordinated relaxation and contraction of uterus. Different type of asanas (postures),are described in
Ayurveda and Yoga darshan texts which can be performed by a pregnant woman as they consume low energy
and provide greater benefits. Published articles and different studies with references have been considered to
support the effect of yoga in pregnancy. Yoga practicing includes physical postures and breathing techniques
which minimizes the complication of pregnancy, like pregnancy induced hypertension, intrauterine growth
retardation and pre-term delivery etc. Western exercises bring about what is known as phase contraction of
muscles while yogic exercises create a static contraction which maintains a muscle under tension without
causing repeated motions [1]. An approach to yoga in pregnancy can improve birth weight; decrease pre-term
labour, decreased IUGR with least or no complications.