Nurtured Birth is now offering our prenatal yoga classes online with Zoom so we can continue to support expectant families during the Covid-19 pandemic. To book your place in our online prenatal yoga class click the button below.
WHEN: Every Tuesday 6:15pm till 7:30pm
COST: 15+gst
2020 is shaping up to be a very different year for all of us. As Covid-19 sweeps through communities across the entire world, we are left feeling apprehensive and uncertain about what the future holds for us.
These feelings are enhanced for expectant parents. Not only do they worry about keeping themselves safe, but also about their unborn baby and the uncertain future they are bringing a newborn into.
During this time of the unknown and of isolation it is more important than ever pregnant women have avenues of support, comfort and safety.
It is essential to find ways to draw the focus towards themselves, their pregnancy and the joys it brings, rather than the confusion of the outside world.
Prenatal yoga is a wonderful way for pregnant women to care for themselves and their changing bodies.
There are a variety of changes a woman experiences during her pregnancy; changes to the body, the mind and energy levels. Prenatal yoga is a great way to listen to, cope with, find support and connect positively with these changes.
Top 5 Benefits of Prenatal Yoga Online During Covid-19
Pregnant women can practice yoga within the safety and comfort of their own home. Prenatal yoga online offers a calm and restorative therapy for the physical body and emotional state, supporting the flow towards a happy, healthy, pregnancy and birth.
-
Body & mind connection: improve your emotional state in these uncertain times
Taking stock of your current mental health is important when travelling through the trimesters of pregnancy. It helps you to understand what areas of your life are overwhelmed and when you might need support.
Prenatal yoga brings about a mind-body connection as it includes working the physical body alongside the mental and emotional being. The deep breathing and mindfulness exercises used in prenatal yoga promote calmness and ease the emotional ups and downs pregnancy brings.
Attending regular online classes is a way of forming routines and this in turn helps us to feel in control of our own lives and destiny.
Prenatal yoga helps to release ‘feel good’ endorphins that lifts our mood and energy levels. This improves your state of mind during these uncertain times.
-
Physical fitness and strength: happy and healthy, prepared for birth and beyond
Prenatal yoga can not only enhance the mind-body connection but also supports your changing body. You learn how to listen to your body, work within your body limitations, and trust your body.
We know exercise in general improves your physical fitness. During pregnancy you can continue your normal exercise regime, being guided by your body, your trainers and health professionals, making adjustments as your pregnancy moves forward.
Even for those who don’t do regular exercise, prenatal yoga is a gentle way to allow you to strengthen your muscles to support your body during pregnancy, prepare for birth, and assist in recovery postnatally.
During pregnancy, changes in your body can happen quickly and your body can need help adjusting and accommodating. Prenatal yoga offers pregnant women optimal ways to stretch and strengthen their muscles to support their growing belly, improve circulation and flexibility.
Prenatal yoga eases common pregnancy complaints such as headaches, back and joint pain, shortness of breath and insomnia. It is important to keep core, abdominal and pelvic muscles strong during pregnancy. Keeping these areas toned and functioning helps support the body, as well as assisting the birth process and recovery after birth.
Even during Covid-19 isolation it is still important to focus on our health and fitness. Our society may be slowing down but pregnancy doesn’t stop or slow down so keeping yourself well is vital. Prenatal yoga is available online so you can continue with your exercise program.
-
Breathing techniques: what you learn in pregnancy, carries through to birth
Prenatal yoga improves muscle tone and leads you to understand where tension is held in your body. Prenatal yoga teaches you to practice simple breathing techniques to release and let go of tension, especially on days when the current situation seems overwhelming.
Learning and practicing breathing techniques can help assist with reduced lung capacity during pregnancy and in lowering blood pressure.
Breathing techniques practiced during prenatal yoga can be carried through to birth. When in labour, focusing upon your breath cycle and using practiced techniques allow for a smoother and more positive birth experience.
-
Mum and baby connection: build a bond and prepare to meet your little one
Regularly attending prenatal yoga classes is an act of self-care and a reminder to let go of the stresses of life and focus inward to bond with your developing baby.
Engaging your senses and developing an awareness of this little human living inside your body begins the connection. The pregnant woman can use techniques to visualise their baby and grow this connection.
This is important as the connection will continue between mother and baby during labour and bonding after birth.
As your belly grows, prenatal yoga helps you learn and appreciate the amazing work your body is doing: growing and nurturing your baby.
-
Connection with others: building community and support
Although we are in isolation we do not need to feel isolated. A regular prenatal yoga class creates a sense of community and connects you socially with a support network that continues after your baby is born.
Nurtured Birth’s prenatal yoga teacher Lanie shared:
I love that we are still able to offer something during this challenging time. It can be so isolating and I worry about expecting mums having to be without all the usual activities that support their growing pregnant bodies. Although it is not my preferred way of teaching, as I do love teaching in the studio and being with people in person getting to know each of the students, I do understand that we all have to be adaptive in this current unprecedented situation.
Prenatal yoga online is a wonderful opportunity to bond with other expectant mums, forming friendships and the beginning of a valuable support network.
To begin enriching your pregnancy journey with prenatal yoga online, please contact us or visit our prenatal yoga page for sign up for yoga classes.
All prenatal yoga classes during Covid-19 will now be online using Zoom until further notice.
Author: Sharon Clarke, Remedial Massage Therapist at Nurtured Birth
