Eco Pregnancy and Baby

After childbirth, yoga helps speed recovery by reversing diastasis (the separation of the abdominal wall) and by strengthening your core muscles, says Lee. It also helps you re-engage your pelvic floor muscles, which weaken during childbirth. A yoga practice before and after pregnancy also helps you connect with your baby, says Jennifer Wolfe, a prenatal yoga instructor, doula and creator of the DVD Mom & Baby Vinyasa Yoga. Before beginning postpartum yoga, consult your doctor or midwife, she says, but the recommended time is typically two to three weeks postpartum, or six to eight weeks postpartum after a cesarean.

Postnatal workouts are, in some ways, verydifferent from prenatal workouts, but both address the hormonal changes you’re going through. Postpartum mother and baby classes typically focus on posture and interacting with your infant. Arm-stretches and shoulder-openers are extremely beneficial, says Teasdill, who recommends a simple raised-hands pose called urdhva hastasana. Another exercise you can do right away is a pelvic floor lift called mula bandha, says Teasdill. It involves drawing the pelvic floor muscles upwards towards your navel as you exhale.

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Tags: lose baby weight, postnatal fitness, postpartum yoga

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