Dr. James Clapp, Director of Research for the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Metro Health Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio, has compiled extensive research that indicates Women who continue regular exercise throughout pregnancy tend to have easier, shorter, and less complicated labors.

His knowledge on the subject indicates that starting or continuing regular exercise during pregnancy decreases physical discomforts and hastens recovery.

For the developing life within, there are several long and short-term benefits of exercising during pregnancy. These include more of an ability to tolerate the stresses of late pregnancy, labor, and delivery.

That said, doing abdominal exercises during pregnancy could be a safe choice, when practiced correctly and there are quite a few types of exercises one could practice in this stage of their lives although the key thing will be to avoid whatever puts excessive strain on the back.

Moreover, repetitions should be reduced and the executions of abdominal exercises in pregnancy have to be modified. This brings to mind such low-impact yet effective exercises such as Yoga, the use of props, modified poses and breathing exercises come into play here.

When a lady is expecting a child, she needn't give up her yoga practice as some poses can still be executed and actually will come in handy for the stages of delivery.

In no particular order, here are some recommended pregnancy yoga poses.

-Mountain Pose (Tadasana)

-Triangle Pose (Trikonasana)

-Warrior Pose

-Standing Side Stretch Pose

-Tree Yoga Pose

-Corpse Pose

These poses are of course recommended as they have little or no pressure on the abdomen.

Some serve to strengthen the pelvic muscles and build the small of the back, both being major body parts that need to be strengthened for childbirth.

In order to stay fit, what I'd recommend at this time would be other light exercises such as brisk walks, light jogging, dancing, gardening and cycling.

I will not suggest you do any inverted poses during pregnancy or anything that contracts (forward bends) or expands the abdomen too much as they might adversely affect the position of the child.

For pregnancy yoga exercises, you can also look into mild, yet deep square breathing (which will be best executed with the Corpse and Hero Poses Described Above) as this also helps strengthen the lungs in preparation for the heavy breathing involved with childbirth.

Moreover, on the subject of Yoga as a superior choice of exercise (either exclusively or combined with other Calisthenics), one is not truly practicing Yoga (or any proper physical culture of exercise at that) without observing some basic dietetic guidelines, such as abstaining from all junk, processed, packaged, refined, mucus-forming foods.

So research properly what works best for you and your pregnancy as far as exercise is concerned.

Nonetheless, here's to health and a healthy baby.

In Friendship,

Foras