Keeping fit in pregnancy can be a real challenge. If your energy levels are being drained and you are feel increasingly uncomfortable with your ever expanding bump, exercise is probably the last thing you feel like doing.
But yoga may be the answer.
The term yoga comes from the Sanskrit root yuj, which means unity.
Yoga focuses on the balance between your mind, body and breath through a combination of relaxation techniques, breathing exercises, meditation and posture exercises.
Yoga is a gentle form of exercise and can be practiced throughout your pregnancy from 14 weeks.
Not only can yoga help to alleviate some of the discomforts caused by pregnancy but the relaxation and breathing techniques can be really useful during labour.
Antenatal yoga classes can also be a great way of meeting other expectant mums in your area.
If you are new to yoga then the best thing would be to join an antenatal yoga class so that you have a trained teacher to discuss the best exercises for you.
If however you would rather practise yoga in the comfort of your own home with the help of a book or DVD, do make sure that you only follow exercises that have been developed for pregnant women as not all yoga exercises are appropriate. You must be careful not to overstretch your ligaments as these will have softened during pregnancy.