Practice yoga

Studies have shown that women who do yoga during their pregnancies experience less pain and have shorter labors. It is also a good exercise to build strength and flexibility, which you will need during the later stages of your pregnancy.

Here are a few recommeded yoga practices for you to use plus the benefits they provide for pregnant women:

• Pregnancy meditation and resting Shivasana pose − Helps you focus on your growing baby and changing body; helps in deep relaxation; can be added at the end of yoga exercises
• Hands and knees prenatal yoga flow − Helps pregnant women find balance, strengthen legs, and prepare for labor
• Prenatal warrior poses − Helps pregnant women find balance, strengthen legs, and prepare for labor
• Prenatal yoga − Increases leg strength, helps improve ability to relax and focus
• Gentle prenatal yoga − Helps pregnant women relax, stretch all the muscles in the body, deeply connect with baby and help prepare mentally and physically for labor
• Prenatal yoga for the back − Helps alleviate back pain and discomfort
• Prenatal yoga for opening the hips – Helps facilitate the opening of the pelvis to prepare for the baby to descend through the birth canal
• Prenatal pulse yoga − Tailored to suit the stages of pregnancy to adress postural discomforts, especially on the lower back
• Prenatal yoga for shoulder and chest opening − Shoulder and chest opening poses to combat the daily wear and tear of pregnancy and postpartum