Very soon, I will be starting my practice of prenatal yoga. I know there are several benefits of this special kind of yoga for pregnancy (http://www.babble.com/pregnancy/prenatal-yoga-pregnancy-health-benefits/prenatal-yoga-pregnancy-health-benefits-1/):
1. Yoga builds
strength.
"One
of the best things about yoga is it makes you stronger all over," says Santa
Monica YogaWorks instructor Julie Jacobs. You’ll need that strength in your
lower body to carry the added pregnancy weight and compensate for changes in
balance. And you’ll need it in your upper body to handle the weight you’ll be
carrying around for the year or so after birth… your baby!
2. Yoga helps relieve aches
and pains.
Back
pain is a common pregnancy complaint, often worsening as the weight of the
uterus (and the baby in it) increases. Prenatal yoga strengthens the muscles
that support this weight, taking pressure off the lower back. Many women
experience irritation of the sciatic nerve during pregnancy, and yoga can also
be great for this. The pigeon pose and half-moon pose can stretch this area to
relieve pain, and inversions can help make space in the pelvis to lessen
irritation. 3. Yoga teaches you to breathe.
Breathing
exercises can be incredibly helpful during pregnancy for calming and centering
purposes, and to maximize oxygen flow when you need it. Breath control is an
invaluable asset for pain management in labor and birth, especially for those
hoping to forego medical pain relief options. 4. Yoga teaches balance.
As
weight and body shape changes, pregnant women can feel wonky and wobbly.
Balancing asanas, like the tree pose and the half-moon pose, help women get
comfortable with their changing center of gravity, while poses like the downward
dog and the warrior will help stretch and strengthen the muscles required to
counterbalance the big belly.
5. Yoga helps you open your
hips for childbirth.
Not
only does yoga make your body stronger all over (a huge asset in childbirth),
but as your pregnancy progresses, your practice can be tailored to focus more
directly on birth preparation. Squats and other hip-opening poses can help your
baby get into position and help with pushing. Some yoga teachers will work
directly with women in the end of the last trimester to give them tools to cope
with pain and ease childbirth.
6. Yoga relieves
anxiety.
The
attention to breathing, the calm atmosphere and music, and the stretching and
relaxation can really help turn down the noise in your head. Yoga is about being
in the moment and letting everything else fall away for the time being. That
break from the bustle can help with anxiety about health, birth, or anything
else there is to do or worry about.
7. Yoga helps you bond with
your baby.
The
focus on staying in the moment can serve another important purpose. Prenatal
yoga gives moms a heightened ability to connect with the experience of being
pregnant in the here and now, and bond with their babies. It’s easy to lose that
feeling in the hubbub of the everyday, so having a dedicated time to relax and
connect can be a real gift — the echoes can last a lifetime. 8. Yoga teaches you how to rest on command.
"Nap
when the baby naps." You’ll hear this advice dozens of times during and after
pregnancy. The takeaway is that sleeping when you’re tired is not necessarily
part of your new normal. Instead, you’ll have to learn to rest when the
opportunity presents itself. Savasana, the relaxation pose that comes at the end
of any yoga class, is often adapted to a side-lying or semi-reclining pose in
prenatal yoga. But the benefits are the same. Learning to quiet your mind and
body and get rest when you can will serve you well when your sleep schedule is
out of your control. 
Prenatal
exercise classes are one of the best ways to meet moms who are also at your
stage in pregnancy. As you transition to a new phase of your life, having a
supportive network of women who understand what you’re going through is
incredibly helpful. 
Unfamiliar
feelings and uncomfortable side effects often result in a general sense of
unease with your body during pregnancy. Seeing the power of your own body in a
room full of other powerful pregnant women can be great positive reinforcement.
And your yoga instructor’s words of wisdom can help remind you of your
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