Yoga is holistic system perfect for women who want to feel fit, healthy and happy during pregnancy. Instructor and owner of Illuminate Yoga share with us some of the physical, mental and spiritual benefits of yoga during pregnancy.

Body – A good yoga teacher will ask you about any pre-existing conditions and your current pregnancy symptoms. Most classes will include women at different stages of pregnancy and the teacher will modify poses to suit everyone. It’s best to be guided by your own comfort. Stop and rest when you need to and let the teacher know if something doesn’t feel right.

Prenatal yoga classes usually include poses to:

• Strengthen the spine and legs
• Open the hips and pelvis and
• Alleviate conditions include nausea, back ache, fluid retention and indigestion

Many teachers also include positions, visualisation, breathing techniques and vocal toning that can be used during the birth. You will be encourages to embrace your body’s changes and feel confident, strong and capable.

Mind - Meditation is a core aspect of yoga. It stills the mind and encourages focus so it is especially beneficial during pregnancy because childbirth requires you to surrender and ‘get in the zone’. This zone is a place where you stop thinking and start being.

By the time we reach adulthood we have spent years in non-surrender; holding on to negative thought patterns and behaviours and acting the way we thinking we should. Surrender involves allowing yourself to become primal and instinctual. When this happens the natural birth process unfolds and hopefully minimal intervention is needed.

Spirit – Pregnancy is a sacred time and childbirth is a wondrous event. Prenatal yoga celebrates both. It encourages you to honour yourself and start developing a relationship with your son or daughter.

A good prenatal yoga class will leave you feeling strong, confident, calm and happy. The focus on the breath will help to surrender to the birth process and your new role as a mother. Pregnancy is a time of great transformation for women and prenatal yoga will help to connect to your body, breath and growing baby as well as prepare you for a positive, empowering birth experience.

To find out more about pregnancy yoga, please contact Amanda on 0404 876 820 or visit www.illuminateyoga.com.au and let her know Mother Maternity sent you.

Interested in the benefits of prenatal massages? Dr Nicoletta Vizakos, a chiropractor who specialises in pregnancy and paediatrics, has given Mother Maternity an insight to prenatal massages. Visit our previous blog here to find out what prenatal massages are, and its benefits.

What to expect:

Nicoletta says that the one thing that you can expect during prenatal massage is to not be lying on your back.  This is because it causes some pregnant woman to feel dizzy or breathless. Commonly you will be placed lying on your side, with pillows, to make it as comfortable as possible. Some practitioners have a special pregnancy table, or pillows, with a cut for your belly so you can lie on it without discomfort.

Technique:

A prenatal massage is similar to a modified version of Remedial and Swedish massage. It is gentle and relaxing. During pregnancy, a hormone called relaxin is present throughout the body which role is to loosen joints in preparation for delivery. This is the main reason why prenatal massages are not rough.

Qualified Practitioner:

Nicoletta believes it is vital that you seek the assistance of a qualified professional who offers prenatal massages. Massaging the wrong areas or focusing on certain acupressure points may actually trigger uterine contractions in some women. Massage therapists trained in prenatal massage know exactly what areas to avoid, and what areas to focus on, to provide pregnant women the most benefits during a massage therapy session.

Caution:

Some massage therapists use aromatherapy oils during a massage session. While many aromatherapy oils are safe to use during pregnancy, others are contraindicated. Consult with a qualified massage therapist to be sure. During your pregnancy, you may find oils off-putting. If this is the case just let your massage therapist know ahead of time so you can enjoy a fragrance free massage therapy session!

Thank you to Nicoletta for her time and providing all my mummy-to-be’s with some wonderful information about prenatal massages. For more information, or to contact Nicoletta, visit  http://familyfirstchiro.com.au/ or call her on 02 9560 0184.

Release your body of tension and anxiety with prenatal massages. I have teamed up with Dr Nicoletta Vizakos, a chiropractor who specialises in pregnancy and paediatrics, to provide you with some insight on the benefits that prenatal massages can offer women during their pregnancy.

While pregnant, many women experience aches and pains throughout the body. The most common complaint during pregnancy however is back pain.

Nicoletta explains that the main reason for this is because of the increase in weight distribution in the front of the body during pregnancy. The body naturally changes your centre of gravity to stop you from falling forward however as a result more pressure is applied on the posterior structures of the body. In addition the increase in hormones such as relaxin that is released for preparation of labor, allows for increased joint laxity and so this adds more stress on the muscles in order to stabilise the joints. Ultimately this affects the structure and alignment of the spine and integrity of the muscles – my poor mums to be, I feel for you.

Fortunately, there is a natural and effective way to help with aches and pains during pregnancy.  Prenatal massages are a great way to help relieve back pain associated with muscular tension because of pregnancy. Prenatal, or pregnancy massage, is a massage therapy tailored for expectant mothers, which aid in circulatory and lymphatic systems by helping to maintain good posture, flexibility and relaxation.

There are also many other benefits that prenatal massage has to offer:

- Prenatal massage helps to relieve swelling by stimulating circulation throughout your body.

-  Leg massages can help to reduce leg cramps and swelling in the legs, common during pregnancy.

-  Massage is very beneficial for relaxing anxiety during pregnancy, a must!

-  Massage can also help to promote a more restful sleep, and help with the prevention of pregnancy related insomnia.

For more information on prenatal massages, visit http://familyfirstchiro.com.au/

Love Mother Maternity xx