Postpartum Fitness: Becoming a mother is one of the best feelings in the world, but pregnancy can often lead to weight gain & loss of fitness. There’s nothing wrong with it because it’s just a part of giving birth to a child. Also, it is not a permanent thing as you can get back into shape with the right diet and exercises. One of the best exercises to do after delivery is Yoga, an ancient Indian discipline. By doing various yoga asanas regularly, you can easily get back into shape. Moreover, it helps your body to recover faster from the overwhelming experience of labor.
Why should you do yoga?
Postpartum yoga involves various physical, mental, spiritual activities that help in healing and protecting our body from various health problems. The Yoga Asanas and Pranayamas include breathing exercises and meditation. Our body has the power to heal itself, and yoga is the pathway to self-healing.
During the last few months of pregnancy, women are bound to perform almost zero physical activities. This can often lead to weight gain, muscle stiffness, bone rigidity, lack of energy, and many other problems. But don’t worry, you can easily get your fitness back through Yoga Asanas & Pranayamas.
Best yoga asanas & pranayamas after delivery
Here are the best Yoga Asanas & Pranayams for new mothers to get back into shape after delivering a baby.
The Plank pose
Also known as the Kumbhakasana, Plank Pose is one of the most effective full-body yoga workouts and best after postpartum. Plank Pose might seem very simple, but it is very effective in losing abdominal fat & strengthening the core area. Also, it helps in strengthening arms, legs, shoulders, wrists, backbone, etc. By doing it correctly, you can also improve your body posture greatly.
How to do the plank pose?
- Lie down on your stomach.
- Lift your whole body using your arms and toes. You can also use forearms to do the plank pose.
- Make sure to form a straight line with your whole body.
- Stay in this position for 30 to 60 seconds.
- Slowly, lower down your body on the floor.
- Repeat these steps 2-3 times.
The Triangle pose
The triangle pose is also known as the Trikonasana. This pose helps in strengthening the back, improving digestion, relieving stress, and burning excessive fat. Its main focus areas include hamstring muscles, chest, thighs, hips, pelvis, ankles, back, and knees. By doing this pose regularly, you can easily get your fitness back in little time.
How to do the triangle pose?
- Stand straight with your feet distanced twice the width of your shoulders.
- Turn the right foot to the right side, without moving your left foot.
- Now touch the floor by bending your upper body to the left side.
- Simultaneously, lift your left arm in the air, forming a straight line with both arms and the shoulders.
- Stretch your body in this position with your face towards the ceiling.
- Hold this position for 10 to 30 seconds, and repeat the same steps with the other arm.
The Cobra pose
The Cobra Pose is commonly known as the Bhujangasana. This pose offers a large number of benefits to new mothers. Firstly, it helps in the stretching and strengthening of various muscles like shoulders, arms, chest, abdomen, and back. Also, this pose helps in improving flexibility and menstrual cycles. It also helps in burning the extra fat, especially from the abdominal and hips area.
Here are the steps to do the cobra pose.
- Lie down on the floor facing downwards.
- Bring both your palms near your shoulders
- While inhaling, lift your upper body and keep your face towards the ceiling
- Hold this position for 10-20 seconds.
- Slowly bring your body back into the initial position.
The Bow pose
Also known as the Dhanurasana, the Bow Pose is extremely helpful in losing weight by regulating the digestive system and metabolism. Moreover, it helps in the strengthening of muscles in the arms, legs, core, and spine. Apart from this, the Bow Pose is a great stretching exercise for the complete body. It also helps in improving blood circulation and eliminating excess fat from the body.