Why Pregnancy Yoga?

by Carmela Cattuti

Why would you take a pre natal yoga class?  Pre natal yoga benefits the beginner as well as the seasoned practitioner.  When you're pregnant you become more flexible (due to a hormone called relaxin) and so it is perfect for the beginner.  Progress tends to be visible after a few weeks, decreasing any frustration concerning flexibility.  It is a great segue into a consistent practice of yoga if you've never had one.  If you are a seasoned practitioner eventually the class you have been taking will no longer meet your needs.  There are certain poses that are contraindicated, leaving the student with an incomplete feeling.  Shifting into a pre natal class will give you a complete experience.  It will also give the experienced practitioner a chance to strengthen and go deeper into the practice.  A pre natal yoga class also provides community for the pregnant woman.

Pregnancy yoga taught with an internal focus benefits the woman's labor tremendously.  The more the woman is internally connected, the more energy she'll have to do the process of labor.  The postures become more than movement that stretch and strengthen the body, they become an anchor for labor.  Many students report that they visualized certain posture while in labor to focus the mind and bring them back to the yoga class where they received support.

The focus of a pre natal yoga class is to focus and relax the mind and open the intuition.  In all the postures we relax the mind and maintain a focused gaze.  A deep relaxation at the end of class is key in sensing the witness and observer.  The focus of a pre natal yoga class is developing awareness through detachment.  It brings the realization that no matter what is going on around the woman during labor she can still keep focus and move ahead with her process.

Yoga for Pregnancy & Fitness
Carmela Cattuti
160 Beacon Street
Boston, MA  02116
617-970-5320
E-Mail:  sekmet2@yahoo.com
Website:  http://www.yogame.com