[Physical]
If you already practice yoga then the chances are you already know the seemingly endless benefits of doing so!
As well as boosting your strength, enhancing your agility, helping you to maintain your weight and keeping stress and anxiety at bay, it has also been suggested that yoga can help with fertility. In fact, yoga can support you through the process of getting pregnant, during your pregnancy and also post-birth.
The varying health and wellness advantages of yoga vary depending on what type of class you are taking part in. Each of the asanas has their own exciting set of benefits and knowing which poses are best for all aspects of pregnancy can be very helpful for supporting you during this part of you life!
Yoga Poses and Fertility
Certain yoga poses are fantastic for giving both the endocrine system and the reproductive system a helping hand.
The endocrine system is responsible for producing hormones and having a healthy hormonal balance is key to fertility. This system consists of a collection of glands and affects practically every cell in the body in one way or another.
The reproductive system can be supported in several ways by yoga. By helping the flow of energy through the body, lowering stress levels, increasing circulation, and stimulating the reproductive organs, you have the potential to improve your fertility!
The following poses are believed to be great for boosting fertility and you can easily take just ten minutes each day to practice them.
Bee Breath (Bhramari Pranayama)
This stress relieving breathing pose is perfect for tackling the emotional blockages that can contribute to decreased fertility. Regularly practicing this pose can calm the mind, alleviate anxiety and soothe stressful thoughts.
To engage in this pose you must simply sit comfortably with your eyes closed. You can then place each of your index fingers on the tops of your ears. Breathe in deeply as you gently push the cartilage area of your ears with each finger. You must then release your fingers when you breathe out. Continue with this cycle of breathing in and pressing the cartilage, and breathing out and releasing your fingers for a minimum of ten breaths.
Shoulder Stand (Sarvangasana)
This pose is perfect for stimulating the thyroid gland, which is a main component of the endocrine system. Hormones secreted from the thyroid gland regulate many of the essential functions in the body, including the menstrual cycle, body weight, body temperature and more*. This pose is also great for stress relief and promoting a calm mindset.
To engage in this pose you should lie on your back on your mat with your legs stretched away from you. Your arms should rest at either side of your body with your palms facing down. Raise both legs up towards the sky at a 90-degree angle, push your palms into the ground, and bring your waist slightly up off the mat. As you lift your hips, move your legs forwards but ensure that you keep them vertical to the ground. As you continue to support your body with your hands on the floor, move your legs further so that they are at a right angle to the floor.
Hold yourself in this position for between one and two minutes, breathing deeply and mindfully as you do so. When you are ready to exit the pose you can slowly lower your legs back down to the ground until you are once again flat on your mat.
Staying Positive
If you have been trying to conceive for a long time then it can of course be frustrating that it hasn’t happened for you yet. This additional stress can actually further hinder your chances as your hormones are impacted by the knock-on effects of this stress. A regular yoga practice is a natural way to combat this stress whilst also helping with your fertility in other ways.
So, stay positive, stay on the mat and choose clothing for your yoga practice that supports your body and expresses your personality. Click here to check out the range of activewear available from PAMA London!
