From time to time I'm going to bring you suggestions of poses to do daily during your pregnancy. All the poses in this series will:
keep you moving, which can help ease and prevent aches and pains
help you build strength and stamina for childbirth
familiarize you with some great labor positions
and most importantly, soften your muscles and ligaments in a way that encourages good fetal positioning, or getting the baby in a spot that makes it easiest to come out.
We're going to start today with everyone's favorite--squats! The earlier you can start squats in pregnancy the better. Continuously doing them as your belly gets bigger is much easier than trying them for the first time nine months in.
To begin, stand with feet as wide as your mat, toes point out. Bring hands to heart center and lower all the way down.



You can stay here as long as feels comfortable, or continue to go up and down to build more leg strength. As you do rest in squat, try to drop soften the low back and groin. Resist any urge to pull your knees closer together. Relax and open your shoulders, bringing shoulder blades together and moving your heart forward.
In addition to the benefits mentioned earlier, specific benefits of squats are that they:
build leg strength
engage baby in the pelvis/help to move baby down during labor
are a great pushing position!
Be mindful while doing squats of your balance. It can't hurt to put a blanket behind you in case you drop onto your bum! Also, go slowly while moving up and down. Stop and rest if you feel dizzy or lightheaded at all.
Go ahead and give them a try today. And next time we see you in class be sure to tell us how they're going!
Yoga Mamas Schedule
Prenatal Classes
Wednesdays: 6pm (50-min) - *NOTE Time Change*
Sundays: 2:30pm (75-min)
Postnatal Classes
Sundays (Just for Mamas): 1:00pm (60-min)
Weekday Baby+Me: Coming Soon!
Walk-ins are always welcome, but if you'd like to sign up ahead of time to reserve your spot in class, click here!