| If you want to get pregnant but are engaged in | | | | quiet and relaxed, thereby relieving stress and |
| strenuous workouts, stop. That kind of heavy | | | | promoting physical healing. |
| exercise may put your fertility at risk and cause | | | | Best yoga styles |
| more harm than good. Instead of doing heavy | | | | Because they are very relaxing, Hatha and Kripalu are |
| workouts, trying gentler forms of exercise such as | | | | two of the best options for overcoming infertility. |
| infertility yoga. | | | | Hatha yoga from the compound word Ha and Tha |
| A Norwegian study published in the medical journal | | | | (meaning Sun and Moon) aims to balance the male |
| Human Reproduction found that strenuous workouts | | | | and female energies in your body for better body |
| can affect a women's chances of becoming pregnant. | | | | and mind connection as well as increased vitality. This |
| The study led by Dr Sigridur Gudmundsdottir and | | | | is the yoga style that most Western people are |
| colleagues from the Norwegian University of Science | | | | familiar with. It mostly consists of gentle physical |
| and Technology and the Emory University in Atlanta | | | | exercises or asanas, purification, controlled breathing, |
| was conducted on nearly 25,000 Norwegian women | | | | relaxation, and meditative techniques |
| aged 27, on average. | | | | Because this yoga style is physical, its main focus is |
| Some basic findings of the research include: | | | | on the limbs. Through asanas, you learn poise, balance |
| 1. The more frequent and strenuous a woman's | | | | and strength which lead to a clear mind and improved |
| physical activity, the greater her chances of being | | | | physical health-the two most important factors for |
| infertile. | | | | longer periods of meditation. This type of yoga is |
| 2. Active women raise by 3.2 times their chances of | | | | ideal for women of any age who want to maintain |
| becoming pregnant compared to their inactive | | | | good health. |
| counterparts. | | | | Kripalu yoga, on the other hand, is a more |
| 3. Women increase their chances of infertility by 2.3 | | | | inward-focused form of hatha yoga that lets you |
| times when they work out 'to exhaustion' in contrast | | | | focus on both your body and your spirit. This yoga |
| to those who don't. | | | | style usually starts with breathing, stretching, and |
| Why yoga is a better alternative | | | | body postures. Kripalu yoga is recommended for |
| Yoga comes from the Sanskrit word yuj which | | | | beginners and women of all ages who are out of |
| means "to unite or integrate." Hindus believe that | | | | shape. |
| integration happens when the mind, body, and spirit | | | | Reaping the benefits |
| are in harmony with one another. As an integrated | | | | If you are new to yoga, expect to reap health |
| person, you also enjoy better health, which can | | | | benefits as early as Day 1. The first time you do |
| improve fertility. | | | | yoga, you will immediately begin to feel more relaxed |
| Yoga enables you to refocus on yourself, your body, | | | | with correct asanas and breathing techniques that |
| and your breathing. This is true for both men and | | | | can help quiet your mind and trigger chemical |
| women. Overall, yoga techniques aim to put gentle | | | | reactions necessary for healing. Physiologically, |
| pressure on the different organs of the body, to help | | | | positive effects can be felt in just one month of |
| realign and balance your body's systems. With proper | | | | consistent yoga exercises, 2-3 times weekly. |
| breathing techniques you allow your mind to become | | | | |