With more and more women delaying having children until later in life, there are a growing number of couples having difficulty conceiving. Starting in their thirties, women’s chances of getting pregnant drop dramatically, and many turn to medical intervention to help them have a baby.
Trying to conceive can be a very stressful and emotional experience, especially when it involves undergoing fertility treatment or IVF. Many doctors now recommend that women use yoga in conjunction with their medical treatment, both to help de-stress and to improve their chances of getting pregnant.
A Harvard-based study found that women who were trying for a baby were three times more likely to conceive if they took fertility-focused yoga courses than those who didn’t. But what is it about yoga that prepares the body so well for conception and pregnancy?
As we’ve already mentioned, stress can be a major issue when a couple is having trouble conceiving. Stress can interfere with a woman’s menstrual cycle and delay ovulation, as well as reduce sperm production in men. The emotional release of yoga can relieve stress and anxiety, improving couples’ chances of conceiving.
This is most effective if both the man and woman participate, and a couple might consider partner yoga in this situation. In addition to deepening and strengthening your relationship, partner yoga can teach you how to deal with the stress of trying for a baby together.
There are many other ways a fertility focused yoga course can help a woman conceive. In yoga, the body is seen as an energy system, with several different areas or chakras. Certain yoga positions focus on increasing the flow of energy in the second chakra, known as the seat of creation, which is where the reproductive organs are located.
There are many yoga positions that increase the energy in the second chakra. Certain restorative poses are perfect for preparing the body for conception. They can help smooth out the abdominal region and remove any tension from the area of the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus. Reclining postures are used to lengthen the abdominal region, allowing more blood to flow to the reproductive organs.
There are also specific yoga positions that a woman can use after sex to increase her chances of conception. One of the most popular is the legs-up-the-wall pose, known as Viprarita Kirani. This ensures that the sperm remain in the optimal position for fertilization for as long as possible.
One last way yoga can aid conception is by correcting irregular hormone levels that may be limiting fertility. Certain yoga positions can improve glandular function, which helps normalize hormone levels.
While no one would say that yoga alone can get you pregnant, taking a fertility-focused yoga course can significantly reduce the stress and excitement of trying to conceive. Used in conjunction with medical treatment, it can prepare your body and mind for pregnancy and greatly increase your chances of creating that long-awaited baby.