Yoga has enormous potential to help expectant mothers prepare themselves physically, mentally, emotionally for this grand experience that can be a very spiritual one for so many. Yoga as a way of life focuses on right living and right thinking while utilizing various tools for the overall psycho-physiological health of the mother and child. Yogic diet with a stress on natural life-giving foods and adequate hydration helps the mother nurture the child growing within herself and fortify herself for the challenging events to come. A balanced lacto- vegetarian diet rich in calcium, iron and other essential vitamins and minerals is advocated with training in the preparation of soups, salads and sprouts. Foods of the Sattwic nature elevate the mother’s consciousness thus helping to create an uplifting psycho-mental-spiritual inner environment developing the inherent potential of the child in a wonderful manner. Preliminary evidence from various scientific studies supports Yoga's potential efficacy, particularly if started early in the pregnancy.

1. YOGA : A BOON FOR
MATERNAL AND
CHILD HEALTH CARE
Yogacharya
Dr. ANANDA BALAYOGI BHAVANANI
MBBS, ADY, DSM, DPC, PGDFH, PGDY, FIAY, MD(AM)
Chairman: International Centre for Yoga Education and
Research (ICYER), Pondicherry, South India
www.icyer.com & www.rishiculture.org

2. PREGNANCY :
A SPECIAL TIME INDEED
• Pregnancy is a special period of a woman’s life
• It is an opportunity for the mother-child bonding
that caries on into the whole lifetime
• Human pregnancy lasts 40 weeks / 280 days
from the LMP- with 3 trimesters
• It is time of unique physical, mental & emotional
experiences, each day of the whole period.
• Smooth pregnancy and a natural childbirth are
some of the benefits of Yoga.
• It is the creation time of a firm foundation that
will last for the whole of the child’s life

3. • Pregnancy and childbirth is a period of
great change for the mother as well as the
entire family.
• It provides the opportunity to take another
look at our life, bring about the necessary
changes, and
• Finally become a better human being as
the result of this entire process that
engineers a great sense of joy and
confidence in the individual.

4. RESEARCH FINDINGS
ON YOGA FOR
MATERNAL-CHILD HEALTH
Preliminary evidence
supports
Yoga's potential efficacy,
particularly if started
early in the pregnancy.

5. • Women practicing Yoga in 2nd trimester
reported significant reductions in physical
pain while women in 3rd trimester showed
greater reductions in perceived stress
and trait anxiety. (Beddoe AE et al.
2009).
• Women who took part in Yoga reported
significantly fewer pregnancy discomforts
at 38-40 weeks of gestation. They also
exhibited higher outcome and selfefficacy expectancies during active stage
of labour and 2nd stage of labour. (Sun YC
et al. 2009)

6. • Reduced perceived stress and improved
adaptive autonomic response to stress in
pregnant women (Satyapriya M et al. 2009)
• Higher levels of maternal comfort during
labor and 2h post-labor, and less labor
pain. Shorter duration of 1st stage labor +
total time of labor (Chuntharapat S. 2008)
• Alternative therapies -effective for reducing
pregnancy-related back and leg pain and
nausea and for reducing depression +
cortisol levels and associated prematurity
rate. Research shows that alternative
therapies reduce labour pain and thereby
the need for medication (Field T. 2008)

7. • Occurrence of complications of pregnancy
such as PIH, IUGR and pre-term delivery
showed lower trends in Yoga group An
integrated approach to Yoga during
pregnancy is safe. It improves birth
weight, decreases preterm labor, and
decreases IUGR either in isolation or
associated with PIH, with no increased
complications (Narendran S et al. 2005)
• Yoga information during pregnancy results
in reduction in pregnancy discomforts with
an improved childbirth self-efficacy. (Sun
YC et al. 2009)

8. TRADITIONAL VIEWS ON
PREGNANCY
• Garbhopanishad is a treatise on embryology
that explains the systematic growth of the
embryo in the womb in the 2nd chapter
• 3rd chapter of Sushruta Samhita explains
– factors that determine the gender of the fetus
– prohibited conducts during gestation
– development of the fetus in detail
– how the embryo feels pain in the same part of
its body as the one in which the mother feels

9. Thirumoolar in Thirumandiram (480) says,
“Paigindra vayuk kuraiyir kuralaagum
Paigindra vayu villaikkin mudamaagum
Paigindra vayu naduppadir koonaagum
Paigindra vayuma tharkkillaip paarkkile”
Birth Imperfections Explained as
When after intercourse,
the man is short of breath, infant is born a dwarf;
when breath blows feeble, defective limbs occur;
when breath halts mid-act, a hunch-back is born;
All these apply not, to the woman’s rhythm.

10. Maadha udharam malamigil mandanaam
Maadha udharam jalamigil moongaiyaam
Maadha udharam irandokkil kannillai
Maadha udharatthil vanda kuzhavikke
(Thirumandiram 481)
How Deaf, Dumb, and Blind are Born:
When at the time of union, the mother’s bowels
are heavy, a dullard will be born;
if urine exceeds, a dumb child will be born;
if both exceed, a blind child will be born;
thus is it for the infant born according to the
mother’s condition.

11. VITAL YOGIC TOOLS FOR
MATERNAL-CHILD HEALTH
• Asanas and loosening practices for healthy
functioning of all systems
• Pranayama for psycho-somatic harmony and
Pranic energisation of every cell of body
• Mudras and Bandhas- tone up pelvic
musculature and induce a sense of inner
wellbeing
• Concentration and meditation for inner peace
and to develop a deep sense of selfunderstanding
• Deep relaxation to promote growth of the baby
and facilitate healing at all levels of being

12. Parivritta Trikona Asana

13. Bharadwaja Asana

14. Baddhakona Asana

15. Supta Baddhakona Asana

16. Utkat Asana

17. Vyagraha
Pranayama
and
Chiri Kriya

18. Eka Pada Uttanpada Asana

19. Nishpanda Asana

20. Meru Asana

21. Looseners &
strengtheners
for pelvic
health

22. Pranayama
• Vibhaga Pranayama • Bhramari Pranayama
• Pranava Pranayama • Kukriya Pranayama

23. Aswini Mudra & Mula Bandha
• Improves pre and post natal
pelvic muscular tone
• Evokes dormant spiritual
forces from within
• Alleviates urinary & anal
incontinence
• Helps reduce depression
Nada Yoga and Mantra
• Chanting helps release tensions
• Soothes and calms the mind
• Raises the consciousness
• Has an extremely positive effect on the inner
senses of the mother and the developing child
creating a healthy bond though the vibrations.

24. Proper Diet
• Easily digestible, balanced vegetarian diet
• Variety of foods can be used to create a healthy
diet for the expectant mother.
• Diet must be low in fat, sugar and salt
• Include more fresh vegetables, fruits, sprouts
• Include more vegetable proteins in combinations
• include fiber rich foods -whole grain, vegetables,
wheat bran, legumes etc
• Calcium and iron rich food is important
• Include milk shakes, juices, soups and sprouts

25. Points to Remember
• Drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of water.
• Include variety of fruits
• Eat small meals at regular intervals rather than
large meals after long gaps.
• Consumption of alcohol should be avoided.
• Smoking is harmful to the growing fetus,
• Be Confident, Committed and Creative
• Develop a clear vision and clear understanding
to overcome the fears about pregnancy

26. Postnatal Care
• Yoga helps to restore the uterus,
abdomen and pelvic floor to pre
pregnancy levels
• Post natal complications can be avoided
• Relieves body pain and breast discomfort
• Improves milk production.
• Stretch marks after delivery is reduced
• Yoga makes mothers vibrant with youthful
energy of positive optimisim

27. Concluding thoughts
• Indian culture understands and respects
mother as 'First God', even before 'Father'
and 'Guru'.
• It may be said that motherhood is the
Ultimate Yoga Sadhana as attainment of
motherhood is height of ego-lessness, the
goal of spirituality.

28. • To be such a ‘Mother’, consciously aware
of the great spiritual nature of pregnancy
and childbirth, our young girls must start
Yoga early & continue it into adulthood.
• Inculcation of healthy and positive
attitudes towards child bearing and child
rearing – a firm foundation for producing
healthy and spiritually potent children who
can transform the future of our planet into
a ‘Garden of Eden’.

29. Thank you