yoga for women
From adolescence through to motherhood, menopause, and old age, women undergo many life changes. Throughout, yoga he|ps women to strengthen both body and mind and create a state of balance and harmony. At each stage of a woman's life, her body
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From childhood to adolescenceAt adolescence, young girls undergo many changes in body and mind. This period of sudden change is an ideal time to begin the practice of yoga asanas and pranayama, both of which can help to maintain a healthy and regular menstrual cycle The practice can be tailored to concentrate on poses that help to strengthen emotional stability, regulate mood swings, and avoid menstrual disorders. Yoga is also beneficial during this period of growth as it helps to develop muscular strength, avoid obesity, assist the development of the reproductive organs, and balance hormones.
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yoga from conception to motherhood
From pre-conception through to pregnancy and motherhood, maximizing physical and mental health is important. During this period, yoga can help to optimize reproductive health to improve the chances of conceiving and help a woman's body cope with the demands of pregnancy and labor. During pregnancy, yoga has many benefits and can be tailored to suit the body's changing needs and capabilities. As well as helping to strengthen the uterine muscles and support the spine, enabling the back to cope with additional pressure, it also helps the body to deal with many of the health problems common to pregnancy, such as poor circulation, fluctuations in blood pressure, excess weight gain, fatigue, edema, and urinary problems. Regular practice of the yoga asanas strengthens and prepares the body for the demands of labor, easing delivery. |
The discipline involved in the asanas and the ability to achieve peace of mind enable the body to face the contractions with less anxiety and to relax and let go with greater ease in between each contraction. Regular yoga practice during pregnancy also speeds recovery and restores energy levels. After the delivery, the practice of pranayama, or yogic breathing, increases oxygen intake, helping to ensure a plentiful supply of milk. A month or two after the birth, gentle practice can be resumed to restore firmness in the muscle fibers and encourage a continued supply of milk. During this period of recovery, the emphasis should be on recuperative poses, gradually building up to more active ones and, at around three months after the birth, normal yoga practice can be resumed. |