Good posture during pregnancy can really help to reduce aches and pains, particularly when it comes...
Time to give yoga a try? Practising yoga has been shown to have so many physical benefits, including reducing blood pressure, positively impacting fibromyalgia, reducing the intensity of migraines, reducing lower back pain, and impacting many other types of chronic pain conditions. There are plenty more benefits too - take a look below to see what postures you could try!
Physical Wellbeing: Improve your strength and balance
Slow, control movements and deep breathing - two key elements of yoga - can help to increase blood flow and warm up muscles, whilst holding a pose for a few seconds or more can build strength. How about trying Tree Pose, a balancing posture to get you started:
Stand up tall, and bring your weight into your left foot. Lift your right foot, turn your knee out to the side and place your right foot on your left calf or inner thigh. Try to focus on one spot in front of you, while you balance for one minute. Repeat on the opposite side.
Mental Wellbeing: Unwind your mind
Restorative yoga poses can be a great way to support your mental health, as well as giving your body time to unwind. Child’s Pose is a traditional resting posture in yoga, and it can help you to reconnect to your body, your breath and your mind:
From a kneeling position, bring your knees out wide and your big toes to touch each other. Extend your arms out in front, placing your hands down to the ground and let your hips sink towards your heels. This restorative pose can be held for as long as you like. Whilst you’re in this pose, you could bring your attention to the length of your spine, the rhythm of your breath or any physical or mental sensations that come up. Take a few deep breaths and feel your body and mind unwind.
Social Wellbeing: Social Connection
Participating in yoga classes can ease loneliness and provide an environment for group healing and support. Whether you're taking a class in person or online, how about spending a few minutes at the end of class to chat to a friend or meet someone new. Partner yoga can help you to connect to each other too - you could try some deep breathing exercises and syncing your breath to one another, supporting each other with stretches or simply taking an online class together from the comfort of your own home.
If you haven’t already tried yoga, why not give it a go? Try a 7 day free trial with My Self-Care Sanctuary today!
