As you may know the pregnancy phase is divided into three trimesters and the yoga poses for pregnant women that can be practiced during each of those three trimesters vary. Prenatal yoga classes are becoming extremely popular these days because women are now realizing about the importance of yoga during pregnancy. Yoga is an ideal way to keep fit during this phase.

One of the popular yoga poses for pregnant women during the second trimester is the Flapping Fish pose, also known as the Matsya Kridasan pose. In order to get into this position, you should lie down on your stomach and interlock your fingers and place them under your head as a support. Now bend your left leg sideways and try to bring the knee of the bent leg as close to your ribs as possible while ensuring that the other leg, i.e. the right leg, stays straight. Now swivel both your arms to the left and rest your left elbow on your left knee. In case you find this to be challenging then just rest your left elbow on the floor and relax for some time before changing sides.

The Flapping fish pose is a great yoga pose for expecting mothers during their second trimesters because it stimulates digestion and gets rid of gastric-related problems such as constipation. It also helps to bring relaxation to the nerves located in your legs. This pose is ideal for the second trimester and not the third because during the third trimester your belly would expand even more.

Another useful pose among the lot of yoga poses for pregnant women during the second trimester is the Thunderbolt pose or the Vajrasan. To do this pose simply kneel on the floor, bringing both the big toes together and while separating the heels. Now lower your buttocks onto the ‘seat’ created by your feet and ensure that the side of your hips is touching the heel of your feet. Now place your hands on your knees with the palms facing down. It is essential to keep the back and head straight during the pose.

This pose, i.e. thunderbolt pose, is great for enhancing your body’s digestive functions and therefore the best time to practice this pose would be right after you have had your meal. During pregnancy, expecting mothers are very prone to hyperacidity and this pose is the solution for this stomach ailment. It can also assist the individual in labor which is practicing it regularly is a must.

A third pose that can be practiced during the third trimester is known as the gracious pose, also known as the Bhadrasan. This pose is almost same like the thunderbolt pose but it requires the knees to be separated and kept as far away from each other as possible. The toes should be touching the floor and the body should not be strained and the benefits ensuing from this pose are the same as the benefits of the thunderbolt pose.

Second semester is the time when most women will have recovered from the nausea and are yet to feel the heaviness of the stomach. Hence the objective during these three months is to provide the baby with as much nutrition as possible which is why most of the yoga asanas are aimed towards improvement of gastric health. A mom to-be who eats well can definitely be assured of having been blessed with a healthy baby.

Yoga for pregnant women is considered to be the most beneficial form of physical activity which is practiced by many women during and after their ordeal of pregnancy. Since it entails stretching of muscles and attaining mastery of breathing and relaxation techniques, the combination of yoga and pregnancy is often chosen over the combination of yoga and exercise as an ideal preparation for birth. Pregnant yoga not only prepares the body for enduring the labor pains but also alleviates the discomfort associated with pregnancy like morning or evening sickness and sciatic pain so that this crucial journey is one of relaxed enjoyment and better health.

Although yoga for pregnant women may enhance the flexibility and the energy levels of the practitioner, there are certain precautions which need to be adhered to for this program to meet its desired objective. The foremost criterion in this regard is that the practitioner should always be alert about her body and the changes taking place in it. It is this sensitivity which would warn the practitioner of any discomfort experienced during the session thus prompting her to stop and then resume only after appropriate modifications to the poses have been decided upon in accordance with the physical changes taking place in one’s body.

While practicing asanas, one must avoid causing the abdomen to compress and also avoid asanas which entail the practitioner to lie on the back or cause the abdominal muscles to stretch too much. This is because lying on the back may cause the blood supply to the uterus to be cut off and unwarranted strain on abdominal muscles may cause damage to the physical health of the baby.

A common precaution which is usually incorporated while practicing yoga for pregnant women is to practice the standing and balancing asanas next to the wall which can be leaned on for support in case of sudden dizziness and loss of balance. Similarly, asanas which require the body to twist should be performed by twisting more from the shoulders and back rather than involving the abdomen.

Breathing forms an essential part of pregnant yoga and should be carried out by lengthening the distance between the breast bone and the pubic bone and keeping the pelvis upright while causing the chest and the front of the thighs to stretch. Pregnancy is the time when one’s muscles are particularly subject to strain and this knowledge in itself should act as a red flag while performing asanas during pregnancy.

Yoga for pregnant women is great for may reasons this video highlights a few.

Nice informative Yoga for pregnant women video on how yoga helps you relax during pregnancy.

Yoga is a wonderful way to connect to your pregnancy and to connect to your growing body in a calm and peaceful way