I did not find out I was pregnant until the beginning of the third month, when I suddenly noticed a subtle shift in my yoga practice. I felt I shouldn’t twist deeply. My lower back got jammed, and the juicy arches I was used to felt counter-intuitive. I temporarily parted from my “pretzel poses” and instead started to enjoy nurturing hip openers and Goddess poses. My six-packed abdomen started loosening up and the body somehow told me not to push. I felt rather odd, but whatever was happening within felt right.

In a few days I went for a sonogram, and to my amazement, saw a little sac sheathing a baby in the uterus. It was a moment of sheer joy and elation, but with it a giant gust e responsibility swept through me. What was I supposed to do to provide the optimal home, nutrition and positive environment for my baby? I knew the yoga practice wouldn’t be the same as it used to be, so I modified my whole routine to cater to the needs of the first trimester. I reduced all deep abdominal work, cut on the rinsing spinal twists; eliminated rigorous backbends; modified inversions to simple semi-reclining poses. The binds that strung my body into a pretzel were now simplified to safe meridian crossing that provided space for the little soul blossoming inside.

Suddenly the focus of the practice shifted from “asana” to “pranayama” and I began to enjoy deep breathing coupled with life-nurturing “mudras” and illuminating meditations. Every time I breathed in, I felt one with all creation on Earth and in the Universe. Each time I exhaled I released stale patterns of inhibition and preconception and gave in to the miracle of motherhood.

There are so many ancient breathing and gestural techniques to aid and sustain the 9 month cycle of pregnancy. What is yoga breathing? It’s a form of controlled deep breathing (pranayama). In sanskrit, “prana” means energy, and “ayama” means distribution of energy. As we bring awareness to the breath we expand the lung capacity, extend the space between the inhale and the exhale and tap the energy resources of the body. When we breathe in, we inhale oxygen, which our body needs to function. When we breathe out, we exhale carbon dioxide, a waste gas that our body doesn’t need. Most of us take quick, shallow breaths, which don’t benefit our body as much as deeper breaths.

Physiologically, “pranayama” teaches us to breathe well, with an equal balance of nourishing oxygen inhaled and toxic carbon dioxide exhaled. But energetically it opens an entire new realm of our being – the rainbow body. The rainbow body is an assemblage of energy sheaths that interpenetrate each other from the gross to the subtle to evidence that we are not only composed of crude matter, but we also own an electromagnetic, emotional, mental, causal and higher-intuitive sheath of consciousness. Activating the rainbow body through breath-work, mudra gestures and creative visualization is perhaps the most healing attribute of yoga for pregnancy.

Generally in pregnancy, we focus on developing awareness of our breathing, rather than holding the breath. Breath retention also known as “kumbaka” in Sanskrit is not recommended during the entire pregnancy as it could potentially reduce the amount of oxygen available to your baby. If you are pregnant you should refrain from taking deep, quick, forceful breaths
Techniques such as bellow’s breath (bhastrika) and cleaning breath (kapalabhati) are not advisable in pregnancy. Breathing quickly and forcefully could make you feel faint, light-headed and dizzy. When practicing deep breathing, pregnant women are advised to listen to their body and keep the breathing smooth and steady, emphasizing the lengthening of the breath during exhalation, without feeling the urge that they have to breathe in or out for a certain period of time.

“Pranayama” during pregnancy improves the blood circulation, boosts the flow of oxygen that is supplied to baby and mom, helps your body to remove waste effectively, and most notably relaxes and helps reduce stress and anxiety that accompany the nine month journey. Your body produces increasing amounts of adrenaline when you’re afraid, which can prevent the production of oxytocin, a hormone that helps labour along. Deep breathing in labor can help you fight the urge to panic when you feel the pain of contractions. Keeping your body relaxed means you can save your energy for when it is needed. The honing of deep breath prepares you for inviting labor and leads you into smooth and safe delivery.

The needs in your first trimester revolve around regulating the hormonal balance of the gonads and reproductive organs, so you can enjoy safe and healthy implantation and primal growth of the fetus. Because the major organs develop during this critical time, breath work, mudra and meditation practice proves essential in creating a cozy space for the fetus and in nurturing the budding seed with positive affirmations and nourishing visualizations to accept the changes with reverence and unconditional gratitude. It is a beautiful and vivid way to connect with all women throughout the ages and reclaim your shakti power as you get ready to take on your mission as a mother and a guide.

This gentle Yogea breathing and mudra practice balances all bodily systems by promoting blood circulation to your baby, relaxing your mind, boosting the oxygen levels, removing waste residue effectively and inviting you to celebrate the gift of motherhood. The breath work is especially geared to the first trimester as it helps you deal with the physical and hormonal changes that happen in your body. The mudra practice is creatively carved into the breath extension to help you visually and kinesthetically dance with the baby’s needs. An authentic infinity loop visualization and mudra flow allows you to balance the two brain hemispheres, making you a part of the feminine lineage of procreation all over the planet, and stringing you and baby into the loop of infinite devotion and unconditional love. The creative visualization helps you find the right balance between commitment and freedom, between conscious relaxation and concentrated effort.