In this Article
As your pregnancy enters the second trimester of its journey, you will be breathing a huge sigh of relief. Having faced the initial time of pregnancy, this period is termed as the golden period. By this time, most pregnant women are quite relaxed as morning sickness reduces by a huge amount, and the tummy starts showing the presence of a growing life inside it. If you haven’t started prenatal yoga until now, this is one of the apt times to do so. Yoga for 6 months pregnant woman helps you get the energy you’ve lost in the initial months and prepare you for the rest of the journey.
Is It Safe to Practice Yoga in Pregnancy Second Trimester?
Very much so. Around the second trimester, women tend to get more comfortable with the pregnancy and their changed body. By undertaking yoga, your progesterone levels rise that cause muscles to relax, aids circulations, and improves digestion. These are all necessary to strengthen your body for the incoming baby. Furthermore, attending prenatal yoga classes helps you talk to other pregnant women and get to know how everyone’s progressing with their pregnancy.
Precautions You Should Take while Practicing Yoga in 2nd Trimester
Here are some precautions to take while practising yoga in the second trimester.
- Do not rush through the yoga exercises. Make sure your heart rate does not escalate to more than half the usual one.
- Keep away from any strenuous exercises. This can increase your body’s demand for oxygen and reduce the amount your baby gets.
- Keep yourself cool while you exercise. Increase in body temperature can be harmful to the baby.
- If yoga exercises are getting taxing for you, walking can be a pretty good alternative as well.
- Don’t opt for exercises that require stretching of muscles in the abdomen or need you to lie on your back.
- Do not push yourself. If your body feels any discomfort, stop immediately and take a break.
- Remember to breathe normally and do not make any sudden or jerky movements.
- Do not bend backwards during any exercise.
Yoga Poses You Can Try During Second Trimester of Pregnancy
The following yoga poses are deemed fit for women in their second trimester.
1. The Side Leg Raise
Also known as “vishnuasana”, this exercise is bound to be fun and relaxing at the same time.
How To Do
- Lie down on your right side. Place the left leg on top of the right one.
- Use your right arm to support your head as you raise it up.
- Placing the left hand on the left thigh, gradually start raising the leg upwards as vertical as possible.
- Start moving your left hand towards your left foot as you raise it higher. Once your hand reaches the toes, hold it there for a few seconds, then bring it down.
- Repeat it with the other leg by lying on the other side.
Benefits
This exercise relaxes the hamstring muscles, as well as the abdomen and the inner thigh, giving them a good stretch and increasing flexibility.
2. The Warrior Pose
Called as “virabhadrasana”, this is fitting for a mother raising a baby on her own and makes her stronger.
How To Do
- Stand placing your feet about 40 inches apart. Turn the right foot outwards completely while slightly turning the left foot inwards.
- Take a breath and raise your hands to the shoulder level. Breathe out and bend the right knee, extending the leg behind you.
- Once you form a pose that resembles a lunge, look straight ahead in line with your left foot, holding the hands and the posture while you breathe in and breathe out.
- Repeat with the other foot
Benefits
A great exercise to boost self-esteem and confidence, along with strengthening the muscles all over the body including the back, ankles, knees and shoulders.
3. The Triangular Pose
This pose is called as “trikonasana” in yoga and references the stable nature of the geometrical shape.
How To Do
- Stand while keeping your feet apart. Inhale and raise your arms sideways, keeping them parallel to the ground.
- Exhale, and bend sideways to the right, touching the right foot with your hand, as you raise the left arm upwards.
- Hold the posture, inhale, and rise back up.
- Repeat with the other leg.
Benefits
The stretching that this posture grant help in boosting blood circulation in the body and alleviating any pains that are present.
4. The Side Angle Poses
Known as “konasana”, this can be termed as a variant of the triangular pose, although the process is different.
)
How To Do
- Start by inhaling and raising your left arm. Then, exhale and bend to the right as you look at the left palm above.
- Inhale again and rise back up. Exhale and bring the arm down. Repeat the same with the other arm.
- Later, raise both arms and join the palms together above your head.
- Then while breathing in and out, bend to one side and come back up, then bend to the other side.
Benefits
This pose and exercise directly impacts the spine and relieves any stress in the vertebral column and back.
5. The Standing Upward Stretch
The “urdhva hastasana” has a major focus on stretching the muscles of the arm and shoulders.
How To Do
- Stand still and raise your arms above as you inhale. Stretch them as much as you can and then relax while exhaling.
- Now, alternate by stretching the right arm more than the left arm. Repeat the same by switching arms. Remember to inhale as your stretch and exhale as you relax your arms.
- Repeat these exercises at a normal speed for about 5-6 times.
Benefits
Any stiffness in the back and shoulders is relieved instantly by this pose. The rhythmic breathing helps boost oxygen supply to the brain as well.
6. The Palm Tree Pose
Fancy looking like a tropical tree? Here’s “tadasana” helping you find your ground.
How To Do
- Begin by standing still. Then take a deep breath and raise your arms above your head, interlocking the fingers.
- Turn the palms upward and exhale. Then take another deep breath and stretch your arms and chest as much as you can, holding the position.
- Relax the muscles and breathe out.
Benefits
The entire vertebral column gets a workout, loosening the stiffness and helping achieve a strong balance physically and mentally.
7. The Downward Dog Pose
Mimicking the typical nature of dog’s looking under them, the “adho mukha svanasana” is a nifty pose to make you feel better.
How To Do
- Rest on all fours and lift your hips up to make an inverted V shape.
- Spreading your arms and legs and keeping stable, gently breathe in and breathe out.
- Relax down by bending knees and resting your chest down.
Benefits
Right from making your legs stronger, it affects internally by stimulating digestion, improving breathing and bringing mental calm.
8. Neck Rolls
As basic as it might seem, the “kantha sanchalana” can affect multiple muscles at the same time in one go.
How To Do
- Stand still and roll your head in different directions.
- Start with back and forth, then left and right, and rotate in both directions.
Benefits
Any stiffness from the neck, shoulder, and the head will be lost within no time.
The benefits of yoga have been mentioned by various people in a multitude of ways. In the second trimester, prenatal yoga can play a vital role in keeping the mother healthy and preparing the body for the baby’s delivery. When done right, it can keep you at peace and let you enjoy your pregnancy in a better way.
