Review: Gaiam Prenatal Yoga DVD

Prenatal yoga was my exercise of choice in my last two pregnancies. I found that when I took the time out of my day to practice yoga, I felt better. I experienced fewer aches and pains, had more energy and felt more relaxed and peaceful. There is evidence to suggest I am not alone. Yoga offers several benefits to pregnant women. The stretching and breathing is helpful for many discomforts of pregnancy and helps control weight gain. Practicing yoga in pregnancy also helps tone and strengthen the muscles for birth and increases flexibility. If possible, or if you have never … Continue reading

Yoga Poses to Avoid

There are many benefits to prenatal yoga. Regular practice of yoga tones the muscles and prepares the body for labor and delivery. In addition, many women find they get an emotional boost from yoga, which is very beneficial. Although yoga is safe and effective for pregnancy, there are some poses which should be avoided. Positions requiring you to lie on your stomach are not safe for pregnancy. These include poses such as cobra, are not safe particularly as the belly grows. As the baby grows, you will need to avoid poses which require you to lie on your back for … Continue reading

Choosing a Prenatal Yoga DVD

If you plan to practice yoga at home during your pregnancy, you will need a prenatal yoga DVD. The DVD you choose is largely a matter of preference. There are so many on the market that it can be confusing to choose one. If possible borrow one or two from friends, the library or rent one at the video store to try it out. I am going to review a few prenatal yoga DVDs in this blog. They can all be purchased online through Amazon.com. By clicking on the title of each DVD, you can view the DVD, read the … Continue reading

Practicing Prenatal Yoga at Home

Prenatal yoga offers many benefits. It was my favorite form of exercise during pregnancy. Yoga strengthens and tones your muscles to help prepare you for labor. For me, the relaxed feeling I’d get after practicing yoga was the big draw. It was perfect for stress relief. You can attend a prenatal yoga class at your local studio. A class is great if you can afford it and find the time to get to class. I couldn’t find the time for classes when I was pregnant with my fourth baby. Fortunately, yoga can be easily practiced at home with the right … Continue reading

Natural Remedies for Insomnia

Most pregnant women experience insomnia at some point in their pregnancies. For some, insomnia can become a serious problem. When you consistently lose sleep at night, it will affect your life during the day. You may feel tired in the day time and experience mood changes. Taking over the counter or prescription sleep medications is generally not considered safe during pregnancy. The side effects with some of these drugs makes them unsafe. Others haven’t been studied on pregnant women, so doctors are hesitant to recommend them to patients with insomnia. The best bet is to try some natural remedies to … Continue reading