YOGA FOR YOUwhile pregnant and avoid lying on your belly once you begin
to show. Also, beware that the hormone relaxin is being
released into your body to soften connective tissue. This is
meant to make expansion of the pelvis possible; however,
the hormone affects all other tissues in your body as well and
can make you hypermobile, thus making it easy to over-
stretch. One of the key things to remember while pregnant is
to not overdo anything and, as always, listen to your body.
Yoga for Athletes
Yoga is a great complement to athletic activities. Whether
you’re a marathon runner, triathlete, golfer, skier, surfer, or
anything in between, yoga can help you prepare for your
sport in a variety of ways. The physical postures will provide
you with balance, core strength, and flexibility, but the men-
tal aspect of yoga helps you hone in on your goals.
If you are an avid athlete, I highly recommend spending
some time searching online for a program that works for
your sport. I will also say that a variety of basic “yoga for
athletes” classes are popping up all over. These classes
focus on stretching the most commonly tight muscles in
athletes and building core strength, without all the Sanskrit
and philosophy. These are great classes to seek out if you
are looking to add yoga to your training program but aren’t
necessarily looking for the meditative aspects of the practice.
Yoga for Stress Relief
Yoga is great at relieving stress. The simple act of moving
your body can release much stress, but so does meditation.
A combination of these two is great for calming the mind
and letting go of all your worries.