Second Trimester

Fitness/Health

“My pregnancy experience was so positive because of massage and yoga that I refer to it as “M.Y. Pregnancy,” or “Massage and Yoga during Pregnancy”. Massage and yoga made me feel healthy, comfortable, strong, graceful, beautiful and confident throughout pregnancy, provided invaluable tools for childbirth, and eased the transition into motherhood. Prenatal yoga and massage complement each other beautifully: while sharing some of the similar benefits, both of them offer unique benefits of their own.

Both massage and yoga were a great way to nurture myself and connect with my baby during pregnancy. Every time I received a pregnancy massage, my therapist provided me with a full hour of focused, undivided attention, nurturing hands and compassionate heart. With her help, I was able to let go of the tension I already felt and discover the areas of tension I had no idea I had. Enhanced body awareness and ability to relax completely came in very handy in labor. Some of common pregnancy-related discomforts like lower back pain and swelling didn’t even stand a chance, thanks to massage, while others like tension in the hips, leg cramps and fatigue were significantly reduced. After gentle structural alignment work, which was part of the pregnancy massages that I received, my body felt so much at ease and my baby had so much more room in my belly! My massage therapist taught me specific exercises and stretches for self-care between the sessions for different stages of pregnancy as well as the optimal pregnancy posture to minimize any possible physical discomfort. Yoga strengthened not only my body, but also my mind and spirit. It taught me a great deal about myself. I learnt to embrace pregnancy and welcome labor with open heart and open mind, to trust my body and its innate wisdom of how to gently give birth to my daughter. Yoga provided me with important tools for labor – deep, slow breath, ability to stay in the present moment, physical stamina and flexibility. For me, the benefits of yoga extended into motherhood as well. The postpartum recovery and adjustment were very smooth, and I was able to get back into my pre-pregnancy shape fairly soon. Mindfulness, inner and outer strength, patience and non-judgement were some of the valuable qualities cultivated during yoga classes that enhanced my mothering experience. One thing I realized for sure – parenting asks for a lot of cleansing breaths! Also, it was great to meet other pregnant moms in the yoga classes and share pregnancy stories and experiences with each other.”

—Tatsiana, Lexington, mother of one