Pregnancy Yoga – Joyfully Staying Fit, Healthy and Centred throughout Pregnancy
For Aisshvarya, yoga was already a big part of her life since childhood. Even at a young age, she realized how the practice centered and calmed her after performing her favorite asanas.
It was only natural that she decided to continue her quest to seek higher knowledge on yoga. “While working overseas, I felt the intense desire to further expand my knowledge in yoga so I came back to Malaysia to take it up seriously in 2009.
“I took up Kriya Yoga under Master Manisekaran initially and then a month later, I was so inspired and felt the transformations taking place that I decided to join the International Yoga Instructor Course (IYIC).
“As I learned more I became amazed at how essential yoga is in one’s life and how it can transform one for the better, so much so that I want to share it with everyone I know who will benefit from it,” she enthused.
Knowing the full benefits of yoga and having completed almost all the courses offered by Yoga Franchise including Urdhva Retas, it was not surprising that she conceived her baby through consistent Urdhva Retas sadhana. She wanted to be ensured of a healthy, happy and strong baby.
“Feeling ecstatic at this point and also how blessed I was to carry this divine child into the world, I knew here is one of many wonderful purposes in life to fulfill,” she added.
In order to enjoy a healthy pregnancy and that yoga becomes part of her baby’s life as well Aisshvarya then joined the Pregnancy Yoga Instructor Course offered by Yoga Franchise.
The course not only equipped her with the knowledge to teach other pregnant women, it also enhanced her own journey through pregnancy. “The knowledge I gained gave me the confidence that I think every woman should have during her pregnancy. With the experience of teaching pregnancy yoga to others, I feel it is necessary for all pregnant women to learn yoga and experience a healthy, happy and confident pregnancy.
“I learned how asanas can be adjusted to the comfort of any pregnant woman so that both mother and baby can receive the full benefits.
“Pranayama techniques help to balance the hormones, calm and prepare the mother mentally throughout pregnancy and for labour. The baby too receives wonderful benefits from these practices,” she added.
“My continued practice of Kriya, pranayama and asanas throughout pregnancy was very comfortable as it helped alleviate back pain, hormonal imbalance as well as mood swings,” she reiterated.
Pregnancy yoga should be the first choice to stay fit, healthy and centred in a joyful manner for any expectant mother. More and more yoga is becoming widely recommended by midwives and doctors, and is considered as an ideal birth preparation programme.
The Pregnancy Yoga Instructor Course (PYIC) is detailed in providing both theoretical and practical training necessary to teach yoga classes through the trimesters. Sessions include asanas modified for pregnancy, pranayama, yoga nidra and essential medical information, encouraging participants to develop their own style and method of teaching pregnancy yoga within a clear framework of safety guidelines. It teaches instructors to help prenatal students reap the benefits of yoga through a practice that is calmer and more introspective to support a healthy pregnancy.
This article was featured in YogaMail Oct-Dec 2011 issue.
