Yoga can help women get through their pregnancy with minimal discomfort.  Physical posture is improved by regular yoga practice and this can help ease back pain, which is common among pregnant women. Maintaining strength and flexibility enables women to adapt to various positions during labour and childbirth. Yoga also helps to prepare for birth, through enhancing bodily awareness and reducing anxiety through rhythmical breathing practices.

The holistic nature of yoga means that it is beneficial to both body and mind. Some women feel the breathing techniques are particularly useful during labour. While some, who practice yoga regularly, claim to find that their delivery is easier due to their bodies being more flexible. The changes that the body undergoes during pregnancy can be difficult to handle. Experts agree that light exercise, and yoga in particular, is also good for balancing water retention.

During pregnancy, a woman's body produces a hormone called relaxin that helps loosen the joints and ligaments in preparation for labor and delivery. This can allow the body to over stretch holding some yoga postures. Be sure you listen to your body when performing any pose and take things easily at first to reduce your risk of injury.

Yoga continues to have benefits after  pregnancy as well. Postnatal yoga, which can be started about six weeks after the birth, strengthens abdominal and pelvic muscles and helps the body to return to pre-pregnancy levels of fitness.

About Meeta's  pregnancy classes in Southampton

Meeta is a qualified, experienced yoga teacher and insuredby FRYOG.  She runs gentle yoga classes for pregnant women to help cope with the physical demands of pregnancy and child birth. The gentle yet strengthening classes help with toning muscles and opening the hips. The breathing techniques taught in her classes also help with calming and focusing the mind.

If you want to attend Meeta's pregnancy yoga class, please email her to get a registration form. This form is needed for Meeta to get an idea of your physical condition and for her to become aware of any related health issues. All information is kept strictly confidential.

Classes are held every Saturday 11am-12pm (starting 3rd of March) @ The Church of the Immaculate Conception (Church Hall), Portswood road, Southampton. SO17 3SB. Classes start 3rd of March 2012. Please download a registration form here: Download form

Price: £60 for 10 classes or £8 walk in.

To book for a Pregnancy Yoga class, also contact Meeta on: 07931503903 or Email: meetayoga@gmail.com