Today, women do everything from rocking the cradle to ruling the world. She competes with herself and climbs from being good to better to best. But to accomplish this, she needs a sound body and mind. But is it as easy to achieve as it sounds? The answer is yes—and it is yoga.
Emerging from the east even before the birth of the Vedas, yoga aims to liberate the body and mind by practising physical, mental, and spiritual exercises. There are historical references that this practice began during the Indus Valley civilisation and spread further. Today, it has spread across the world and is practised in different parts of the world for mental and physical well-being.
It is always advisable to consult with your healthcare professional before starting your yoga sessions. While practising yoga, it is essential to avoid exerting yourself beyond your body’s normal limits.
To de-stress
Women often suffer from stress, and stress is known to cause the development of some serious complications. Several physical and emotional factors are the culprits.
A simple act, such as finding a calm corner and taking a few steady, deep breaths, can do wonders for your mood and mind. This can be done from the comfort of your home or even while you are working.
For back pain
Women are known for their multitasking abilities, and many develop a sore neck, back, or both. Sit comfortably in a cross-legged pose (called sukhasana).
Stretch both your arms from the side and bring them to the top in such a way that your fingers are interlaced and your palms face the sky. Make sure that the sides of your arms are touching your ears while in this pose.
Hold this pose for three regular breaths. You can also slowly bend sideways to the right and then left, continuing to inhale and exhale. If you are doing this standing, make sure that your feet stay parallel.
For fertility
Yoga may help regulate the body’s stress and immune systems, which can reduce inflammation. When you practice yoga, it activates your body’s “rest and digest” mode, which can calm the immune system and lower inflammation markers in the blood.
Studies in women have found that yoga affects specific inflammation markers (like IL-6 and TNF), though results are mixed. This matters for fertility because too much inflammation can interfere with reproductive processes and make it harder to conceive.
By reducing inflammation, yoga might create better conditions for fertility and improve the chances of successful fertility treatments.
Yoga also helps in detoxifying the body and flushing out harmful cells from your system. The result is a physically and mentally healthier you.
During pregnancy and birthing
Ayurverdic and Chinese Medicine doctors today encourage pregnant mums to practice “pranayamas” or a set of controlled breathing exercises. During birth, these exercises reduce the occurrence of foetal distress and decrease the deprivation of oxygen to the baby. The mother also benefits from exercises that relax the neck, back and leg muscles. However, if you are pregnant, ensure you obtain your health professional’s approval before practising yoga.
After delivery
Yoga helps strengthen and tone the abdominal muscles. Some poses are believed to enhance the blood flow to the mammary glands, thereby enhancing milk production. It helps ease post-partum stress. If you have undergone a caesarean, make sure to ask your doctor when you can start practising yoga. The wait time exceeds a couple of months.
During menopause
Yoga helps alleviate stress, fatigue, night sweats, and hot flashes during menopause, and may also decrease psychological and physiological risk factors for cardiovascular disease. It’s a lovely practice to have in your PCOS well-being toolkit.
Practising yoga daily also helps in relieving joint pain in cysters during their 50s.
So, practice yoga to stay fit and live a healthy and happy life!
Guest Author:
I am Rosie Alison, a Blogger and Freelancer. I enjoy reading blogs and writing for them on various topics, including travel, Auto, Lifestyle, Education, and Health. Currently, I am conducting research on EHIC cards.
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