The Benefits of Postnatal Yoga
Birth and the early postpartum period take us all by surprise in some way or other. Whether your birth was very different to what you expected or hoped for, or your body does not feel that it was ready for all the feeding, carrying and sleeplessness you are experiencing, tailored movement and mindfulness can assist.
At The Centre of Bright Beginnings, we understand how time-poor the postpartum period can feel. Sometimes even the thought of leaving the house can seem too much. We are here to demystify and simplify postpartum recovery for you, to assist you in finding the most effective and efficient practices to have you keeping up with your kids and enjoying the journey of parenting.
A private class, although an hour or so of your precious time, can offer you hours of more comfort and confidence as you journey further into the world of parenting. And remember, if you have older children, they are welcome to come along with you and baby.
Babies do not develop an understanding of themselves as a separate being until around 6 months old (which explains why your personal space seems to have disappeared overnight). For this reason, practising Postnatal Yoga will benefit your baby just as much as it will you. Hence why it is often called Mums and Bubs or Parents and Bubs Yoga.
The Research
A systematic review of research into Postpartum Yoga published in 2024 shows that:
“Taking part in postnatal yoga is associated with decreased symptoms of depression, an increase in psychological well-being and quality of life.”
The researchers noted that more high-quality research is required to further explore the potential benefits on other aspects of maternal well-being and infant outcomes… but we have no doubt what they will find. Although it would be wonderful if they continue their investigations.
The Benefits
Without overwhelming you with research articles, we feel it’s more helpful to provide you with a summary of some ways in which Postnatal Yoga may support your transition into parenthood:
Gently and gradually restoring the tone and strength of the abdominal and pelvic muscles that are stretched during pregnancy
Fostering the parent-child bond
Decreasing stress and anxiety
Providing restorative and rejuvenating practices to address fatigue
Improving stamina to manage the rigours of parenthood
Supporting breast and bottle feeding
Providing an opportunity to network with other parents
Providing a safe place to discuss and process your matrescence journey
Supporting the transition and adjustment to parenthood
This is certainly not an exhaustive list, but hopefully is a helpful starting point in your consideration of whether Postnatal Yoga is a suitable investment of your time and energy at this intense time of life.
