For a long time the medical profession had been suggesting pregnant women take part in yoga as they had assumed that it could help reduce stress in mothers. Now, thanks to a new study, this assumption has been proven.
This is the first time the benefits of yoga in pregnant women has ever been studied and came from the University of Manchester who worked with colleagues in Newcastle. The study was funded by the baby charity Tommy’s, and at the end of the study the team were able to conclude that women who attend just one yoga class a week for eight weeks had lowered anxiety levels when compared to those women who received the standard antenatal treatment.
I have to say, talking from experience, I did a weekly prenatal yoga class during my pregnancy and found it to be extremely relaxing and de-stressing. I also found myself looking forward to the class each week and made sure I didn’t miss too many classes as it became my time dedicated for me to escape from the world, and my time to bond with my baby boy in the womb.
I found it interesting also that my yoga teacher told me that babies in the womb love it when their mums do yoga as it gives them so much more space to move around in.
So, if you are feeling anxious about your pregnancy, about what your life is going to be like once the baby has been born or are going through other kinds of stress that simply coincides with you being pregnant and are struggling to cope then I would suggest giving yoga a go as it could just help to take a load off!