Alternate Nostril Breathing Prenatal Yoga Technique

Series Summary

With the popularity of yoga, it has developed focuses such as yoga for backs or focuses on specific groups of people. Pregnant women have created a demand on yoga. Prenatal yoga focuses on poses and workouts that are good for the pregnancy and the woman. While there are many poses that are not good for pregnant women there are many that they can utilize to help stay in shape and even help their pregnancy. If you are pregnant it is good to talk to an instructor to decide which poses will be best for you. Your poses will be limited as the pregnancy progresses due to the enlarged belly. This video series will explore different yoga poses that are good for pregnant women. The “Cat Cow” is a pose in which you are on all fours. This will allow you stretch out the spine and the pelvis. The “Cobbler’s Pose” is a great prenatal pose that will be demonstrated. It is a seated pose that will open up the hips and groin area. Doing these various poses along with walking or some form of cardio with help keep you fit throughout your pregnancy.

Video Transcript

"And then the second technique it's also a meditation which is used to still the mind and to calm and quiet is Alternate Nostril Breathing. And this technique is practiced with your left hand in the Mudra with the first finger and the thumb touching. The right hand is in the Mudra with your first two fingers towards your thumb and your ring finger extended out and you use your ring finger and thumb on your right hand to block the flow of breath through your nostrils. So as you inhale through both nostrils you can close the block now and then you lift your right nostril to exhale. Inhale through the right close block both, exhale through the left, inhale through the left, close block both, exhale through the right. And just doing that for as many rounds as you feel comfortable and as you do that trying to just allow yourself to relax and calm and feel the shoulders opening, the heart center opening. "