Yoga for Pregnancy

When you're ready to start moving again, here's how to reconnect with your breath and your body.

Bound Angle Pose, or Baddha Konasana, opens the deepest part of the hip muscles.

Padmasana creates an essential foundation for meditation practice, while stretching the front of the thighs and ankles.

Named for a legendary warrior, Virabhadrasana 2 strengthens your quads, shoulders, and core—not to mention your stamina and inner resolve.

Don't let the name fool you. If you're used to sitting in chairs, Easy Pose (or Sukhasana) can be quite challenging.

Extended Triangle Pose is a quintessential standing pose that stretches and strengthens the whole body.

You might not be able to entirely prevent diastasis during pregnancy, but you can modify your yoga practice to minimize its effect.

Try these 5 poses to support you during late pregnancy and after giving birth

Pregnant mamas, celebrate your journey with a simple practice that grounds and enlivens you.

This relaxing "fourth trimester" yoga sequence can help you reconnect with your body and calm your mind in those early months with a new baby.

Use this sequence to check in with yourself, quiet fears and negative mental chatter, and ultimately move into a place of deep trust.

We can mitigate some of the shifts in the body that occur during pregnancy, simply by standing well. This practice will wake up the muscles that we need to maintain good structural integrity and a healthy pelvic floor even as big changes are occurring within.

So, just how handy is yogic breathing during childbirth? Is 9 months of prenatal yoga actually realistic? And can you meditate your way through contractions?

Strala Yoga founder Tara Stiles shares how her practice contributed to her pregnancy and recovery and the benefits a baby with a yogi mom receives. (Read: Good vibes galore.)

Senior Prana Vinyasa teacher and psychotherapist Coral Brown opens up about her trying pregnancy, nonexistent prenatal asana practice, and the wonder of bringing another being into the world.

Aruba-based yoga teacher Rachel Brathen, aka Yoga Girl, gets real about her pregnancy, letting go of her control-freak tendencies, and how pranayama isn’t actually an effective substitute for pain medication during labor.

During pregnancy the body changes rapidly, but if we use our yoga practice wisely, we can support these changes, making us strong and flexible in all the right places for easier labor, delivery and recovery.

Trying for a baby? Master teacher Ana Forrest offers advice for doing yoga, breathing, and living in a way that creates a womb that is clean and welcoming.

Prenatal yoga has long avoided certain poses, but new research indicates some of them may be safer than once thought.

Prenatal yoga can prepare your mind, body, and spirit for motherhood.

Help your third-trimester students use yoga to ease physical discomfort and prepare for labor.

Help your students get the most out of their practice during these middle months.

If you teach yoga regularly, you will have a pregnant student in your class at some point. Learn what to do to encourage a healthy first trimester.

Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa offers advice for practicing yoga during pregnancy.

Yoga teacher Jaki Nett investigates restorative yoga for fertility. Learn which poses have the best possible benefits to aid fertility and conception.

Check out Sarah Powers's author page.

Janu Sirsasana, or Head-to-Knee Pose, is appropriate for students of any level and melds a forward bend with a spinal twist.