What is Postnatal Yoga?
Postnatal Yoga is a form of yoga women can practice after having a child. The workout helps get fit after pregnancy and reconstruct the pelvic floor with certain exercises. Very often postures include the Newborn, so Mom and Baby can have some quality time and bond… It may also be easier for a new mother to include her baby in her workout rather than find a babysitter or wait for the baby to sleep.
On this page:
- Before Kids
- With the new Baby
- Why is Postnatal Yoga so great
- Psychological Benefits
- Physical Benefits
Before we have kids…
Most of us have plenty of time for workout and taking care of ourselves before we have kids. And as the number of kids we have increased, the time we find to invest in ourselves decreases. Nevertheless, the need to do ourselves well, to get back and also stay in shape, and stay healthy and strong for our family, is always there.
Before my son was born, I always thought– getting back in shape after pregnancy? No problem for me! I sure thought I could leave a peacefully sleeping baby with my husband. Or feed him and then leave him with my husband. What I did not have in mind was an “I -want -to-nurse-and-be-hold-all-day-long” kind of baby. But then, this was what I got. No getaway. No leaving the baby with anyone.
With a new baby…
And most probably I am not the only one…In the first few months after birth, it might be difficult for us to leave the baby. Especially breastfeeding moms will experience great difficulty leaving their babies even if it is only for an hour to go to the gym. Lots of newborns cluster feed and in general have a very strong bond with their moms.
A great way to strengthen our body
Well, first there is walking while wearing our baby. Most babies love to be worn, especially during times of gas and tummy pain. The weight of the baby and the warmth of the carrier help burn extra calories and sweat more, and it is great and healthy in all seasons for us and the baby to get some fresh air.
Besides walking, a great way to strengthen our body and recover from childbirth is Postnatal Yoga Workout. Most babies enjoy looking at their moms working out and there are yoga sequences in which you can involve your baby. So no worries about what to do with your little champ while working out!
So for all of us who don`t have our mothers close by to babysit, or husbands who get home early from work, what options do we have for working out?
Why is Postnatal Yoga so great?
- It can be done at home! We don`t have to wait for the baby to be asleep- which won’t happen anyway if we wait for it.
- There are certain exercises and postures that actively involve the baby.
- There are so few activities we can do with a small baby and sometimes days can get very long so this can be one fine fun activity to do with your baby.
- If we want our kids to grow up in a healthy and active environment it is so important that we become a living example for them from an early age on!
Psychological benefits
Postnatal Yoga helps us new moms find a new harmony and flow in our life with the baby. Whether first-time moms or not, it is difficult every time we have a baby to heal from postpartum and cope with the enormous changes our bodies went through. Suddenly a little human being is totally dependent on only us.
Practicing yoga postures the right way alters serotonin levels in your brain and so improves your well-being, and mental strength to cope with the new situation and prevents postnatal depression.
While practicing postnatal yoga we can find a way to connect with our body again, be aware of the changes and the healing process, adapt to the new situation staying calm and balanced.
Physical benefits
- helps the strengthening of abdominal muscles for recovery after birth
- relieves back and shoulder pain from feeding and carrying the baby
- boosts the immune system and overall health
- exercises the whole body to get back in shape
- helps bond with the baby
Conclusion
Raising your kids in an environment where the workout is important will probably make them like physical activity later on. Involving them from an early age into your own physical activity schedule, they will realize the importance it has for you. They will learn to want to achieve goals like you. They will learn to fight and stick to things that are important to them as they watch you fighting and sticking to yours.
So as soon as you are done with your postnatal checkup, consider the Postnatal yoga workout a great way to get back your strength and feel wonderfully fit and sexy, plus a great quality time activity with your baby! Win-Win!
What about you, what are you doing to get back in shape?
Hi Daniella, thank you for sharing this great information. I have to admit, I am one of these woman who doesn’t exercise after having children. You are totally right that for many reasons we should. Other than for our own health and body we should role model for our little ones.
Thank you for pointing out the importance of postnatal yoga and I definitely will get on to more excersise in my life
Thank you for sharing such valid information, It really inspired me to get more active again. Jude
Hey Jude!I am glad you liked the article and I could inspire you to exercise! I wish you good luck with that and also for encouraging your little angles to do so…