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Expert Q&A
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| By iParenting Staff iParenting Staff Experts | ||
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How does yoga help for toning up the muscles during the postnatal period?
Postnatal yoga is one of the very best forms of exercise new Moms can do. The term yoga translates to union -- through yoga we unite the breath with movement and consciousness. The entire mind, body and spirit connection will help new moms improve every aspect of their new roles and increase their energy levels.
Through yoga, postnatal mom's internal organs are rearranged; abdominals, kegel muscles and lower back are strengthened; and muscles are lengthened. Focus and awareness are placed on the navel (Chi -- which was connected to baby) to help increase power, strength, flexibility and energy. Mom and baby yoga helps promote the mother and baby bonding process, calming effect for fussy babies, utilizing baby as weight helps to strengthen Mom's, as well as balancing baby's brain (left and right side) with the left and right side movements.
Due to joint laxity new mothers should ease into a postnatal yoga program at a comfortable pace and try not to overstretch to avoid injury. There are so many positive benefits of postnatal yoga that I could write pages and pages!