Whether you've been doing yoga for years, days, during pregnancy, or before and after it, no one particularly loves holding a Warrior Pose for a minute or longer. Of course, holding is an important part of yoga: It cultivates breath awareness, strength, flexibility, reveals new sensations and levels as the body warms into the challenge, and perhaps most importantly, it reveals a mental clarity that helps us to understand that our mind will almost always try to tell us that we "can't,"--long before the body is physically unable to continue. Whether you're a seasoned yogi, "recreational yogi," expecting mother who is curious about prenatal yoga and its benefits, or a runner or cyclist looking to gain flexibility, it's a lesson that can enhance everyone's practice--and life "off the mat." Eventually holding can become a welcome challenge, building appreciating and respect for difficult postures and always discovering that with practice, most endeavors are possible when you conquer your mind.
But in prenatal yoga, holding a pose for a minute takes on a whole new meaning. Naturally, it's more challenging to hold a pose as strong as a Warrior, when you have a growing baby and weight in your upper body. However, holding a pose for one minute, learning to breathe into your discomfort and past your mental edge is the best training there is for labor. Why? Because the average length of a contraction is also one minute.
This is not to suggest your prenatal yoga workout needs to be a grueling series of holds, and if you are newer to yoga or later in your pregnancy, it may be necessary to use some props and modifications to keep yourself safe.But try practicing just a few warrior holds for at least a minute, whether in a class, or in you rhome practice. It's possibly the best way to get comfortable with using an intentional breath to calm yourself from within, to get out of your head, breath into challenge, and know that there is always an end to your suffering--so you can enjoy the ride.
But in prenatal yoga, holding a pose for a minute takes on a whole new meaning. Naturally, it's more challenging to hold a pose as strong as a Warrior, when you have a growing baby and weight in your upper body. However, holding a pose for one minute, learning to breathe into your discomfort and past your mental edge is the best training there is for labor. Why? Because the average length of a contraction is also one minute.
This is not to suggest your prenatal yoga workout needs to be a grueling series of holds, and if you are newer to yoga or later in your pregnancy, it may be necessary to use some props and modifications to keep yourself safe.But try practicing just a few warrior holds for at least a minute, whether in a class, or in you rhome practice. It's possibly the best way to get comfortable with using an intentional breath to calm yourself from within, to get out of your head, breath into challenge, and know that there is always an end to your suffering--so you can enjoy the ride.
