KissMeGoodnight Article Series: Fertility
Fertility & Conceiving A Baby Explained

Can Yoga Help My Fertility & Get Me Pregnant?

If you are thinking of taking up yoga for fertility, or wondering how best to adapt your yoga practice to increase your chances of conceiving, then there are certain things that you should know.

Most people these days spend years - sometimes even decades - taking steps to avoid pregnancy. It can then be a big surprise when they stop using contraception and do not immediately get pregnant. But in fact, this is not unusual.

The average young couple with no fertility problems will take four or five months to conceive. For an older couple, it usually takes longer. It is only if you have not gotten pregnant after a year of trying, that your doctor will consider that you may have fertility problems.

Yoga for fertility is something that you can do in the intervening months, if it is too early to see your doctor or if he or she is not taking your concerns seriously yet.

Yoga is usually considered to be a method of relaxation, at least in the West. In Asia it is often perceived as a spiritual practice, as well as having certain health benefits. But in North America, Europe and other Western countries it is seen primarily as a physical practice, increasing flexibility and relaxing the muscles by stretching them. At the same time, it can help with emotional tension and stress.

It is this stress reduction aspect that leads many people to recommend yoga for fertility. Stress can often contribute to infertility, especially in what is known as "unexplained infertility". This means infertility that has no obvious cause. Both partners appear healthy and there is no apparent problem with their reproductive systems. Ovulation is happening on schedule and the man's sperm count is normal. Yet there is still no baby on the way.

In most cases, it is the woman who will practice yoga for fertility. It can be helpful for men too, but keep in mind that it is not going to reduce anybody's stress levels if one partner feels forced into a yoga practice that does not interest them. If your partner is unwilling, there are other relaxation methods that might work better for them, such as sports, meditation or working out at the gym.

Once you have mastered a general beginner yoga course to increase flexibility and reduce stress, you can join in with long time yoga practitioners to concentrate on particular poses that may have an effect on fertility. Yoga for fertility poses are those that can help to relax and open the abdominal area and pelvis, and stimulate blood flow to the reproductive organs.

Some of the yoga for fertility poses that you may want to incorporate into your routine are:

Legs Up The Wall (Viparitakarani)

This has some of the benefits of inverted poses (headstand or shoulder stand) without the possible negative effects of having the hips raised high. Lie on your mat on your back with buttocks against a wall and legs stretched up the wall. You can do this pose during your period as long as hips are kept level with the torso.

Open Angle Forward Bend (Upavisthakonasana)

Seated on the floor, stretch the legs out, wide open. Bend forward with a straight back until you feel the stretch in the hamstrings, walking your hands forward. Have the awareness in the pelvic region and the hamstrings. Be gentle on the pelvis in your mind.

Butterfly Pose (Baddhakonasana)

Still seated on the floor, bend the knees and bring the soles of the feet together in front of you. You can flap the knees up and down a little like butterfly wings, but do not force them at all. You should be comfortable in this pose. This is another pose that opens and stimulates the pelvic region.

Pigeon Pose

There are several variants of the pigeon pose. It is best to learn this pose with an instructor to avoid mistakes that might injure your hips or knees.

It is important to consult with both your doctor and a yoga instructor before practicing yoga when you may be pregnant. Tell your yoga instructor that you want to practice yoga for fertility and he or she may recommend more poses for you.

Click here if you or someone you love is struggling to get pregnant (or simply want to increase the odds). Don't let anyone tell you that you cannot have kids naturally. It's my KissMeGoodnight recommendation.

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by KissMeGoodnight.com : 2011

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