Kundalini yoga is a fantastic way to keep fit, fight stress and boost your mood.
It can help to keep you centred during early pregnancy & can even help to ease postnatal depression. Read on to find out more about this ancient practice.
What is Kundalini Yoga?
Originating from ancient Tibetan practices, this kind of yoga combines asana (postures), breath, meditation, mantras (chanting) and mudras (hand positions). It works directly on the nervous system and the glands to encourage positive brain chemistry.
Regular practice develops fitness, spirituality, positivity and creativity.
In normal circumstances, women can practice this form of yoga up until the 120th day of pregnancy (end of the 4th month). After this, it is generally recommended to switch to a specific pregnancy-centric yoga class.
Kundalini yoga expert Harmanjot Kaur claims that regular practice can help to rebalance the hormonal system after pregnancy, boosting oxytocin and dopamine. It also helps to bring the body back into shape and helps new mums to create stronger bonds with baby.
Kundalini practitioners believe that for the first 40 days after a baby is born, the aura of the mother and newborn remain closely intertwined. Harmanjot explains that this kind of yoga works on that magnetic pathway to increase connection and communication.
Zita West is a leading fertility expert, practicing midwife, acupuncturist, nutritional advisor and author of ten fertility and pregnancy books – and the founder of the Zita West Fertility Clinic. She has been involved in fertility for over 30 years, and has helped thousands of couples to get into optimum shape for all the vital stages of childbirth from pre-conception to conception, pregnancy and the months immediately after birth.
At the Zita West fertility clinic, we believe that fertility is a whole body event, and many factors contribute to getting pregnant. What sets us aside from other fertility clinics is that we assess all of the factors that can impact on success, from the medical to the psychological – stress and mindset play a huge role. We believe that every couple is different – you cannot have a one-size fits all approach with fertility. The programme we have developed is highly individualised. We start with getting to know our clients, their lifestyle, their nutrition and even their mindset so we can develop the right plan of action for them.
2) Can you tell us more about your methods?How do diet and lifestyle factor in?
My approach to fertility, IVF and pregnancy has always been an holistic one. It’s about making little changes to various aspects of your life, remembering that fertility is a whole body event rather than something that just happens in the fallopian tubes. I believe that the best way to conceive is to start by looking at five key areas in your life – medical, nutrition, relationship, mindset and lifestyle. Many women trying for a baby just focus on the pregnancy and not what they can do beforehand to ensure a healthy egg and a healthier pregnancy.
Nutrition is ultimately the foundation for a healthy pregnancy. When you are pregnant, the baby doesn’t rely on what you eat in any one day, it will rely on your valuable stores of nutrients. So looking at what you’re eating and when you’re eating is vital. You both need regular meals filled with lots of protein for healthy eggs and sperm, essential fatty acids for cell membranes and hormone regulation, and micronutrients.
3) Do you have any advice along these lines for expectant mums?
My book The Pregnancy Companion is full of great tips, it’s a huge tome that took me a year to write! In the first weeks of pregnancy many women are anxious, they fear that they are going to do something that may harm the baby such as the foods they eat, their diet and exercise. They need a lot of reassurance.
I always encourage women to learn stress techniques or have treatments such as acupuncture to cope with some of the early pregnancy anxieties.
I developed my pregnancy range of multivitamins and minerals 15 years ago and have tweaked them throughout the years. I have a different product for each of the 4 trimesters of pregnancy, with the fourth being the post-natal period. I believe growing a baby results in different nutritional needs throughout the pregnancy, so the supplements vary accordingly. Likewise DHA Omega 3 is so important to start taking prior to pregnancy to build up in the system so it’s available for the baby’s brain development – it is hard to get large amounts from food. The supplements are all about meeting the body’s needs at various stages.
How Much Do Londoners Know About Their Fertility?
6) It must be amazing to know that you are helping so many families. What would you say is the best part of your job?
That’s easy. It’s when women come back with their babies!
The fact that there are no guarantees. If you pay £10k for a hip operation, you’re going to get a new hip. With fertility treatment, we cannot ultimately, despite all that we do, guarantee a couple a baby. And seeing a woman who regrets that she left it too late to become a mother is always heart-breaking.
8) A little bird told us that you are about to become a grandma! Congratulations – What are you looking forward to the most?
I am so excited as it has taken me a while to persuade my daughter to get on with it!!!!! As a midwife, I take nothing for granted, so until she has had the baby I can’t relax. I’m looking forward to being in labour with her and the time after, helping her through those early days and giving her the confidence she needs.
Glow like a goddess through your pregnancy with these simple hints and tips for radiant skin, glossy hair and gleaming white teeth! We’ve all heard of that radiant pregnancy glow that appears during your nine months… the one that will have friends and family commenting on how fantastic you look. So why not give your natural glow a little boost with these simple pregnancy-safe tips:
There are no shock revelations or secret shortcuts here (well maybe just one….). The best way to ensure radiant skin fit for a goddess, is to lead an equally saintly lifestyle. That means drinking plenty of water and eating good anti-oxidant rich foods like grapefruit, watermelon and broccoli to flush out toxins.
When it comes to your skincare routine, every goddess is different, so all we can really advise is that you find a regime that works for you and stick to it. You may find that your skin becomes more sensitive during pregnancy, so it’s probably best to steer clear of heavy duty products, opting for the gentler ones instead.
Quick Fix
If your pregnancy glow is in need of an instant radiance boost, try sucking on an ice cube! This will boost circulation to your face and provide an instantly plumper, rosier complexion. Works like a charm!
For glossy, goddess-worthy locks, it’s all about keeping things cool. It’s no secret that heat is damaging to your hair, so a quick cool rinse at the end of a shower, or finishing off your blow dry with the cool shot setting on your hair dryer could make the world of difference!
Top Tip
Did you know that different hair colours behave differently? Lighter hair is more porous, and will be more prone to build-up, so blondes are at their glossiest when their hair is freshly washed. Whereas those with darker hair are at their best with well-conditioned second-day hair! Learn how your hair behaves and you’ll be able to wash wisely for your next big party.
Aside from the obvious (brush twice a day and don’t forget to floss), a great way of keeping your teeth pearly white is to eat plenty of crunchy fruit and veg like apples, celery, broccoli and carrots. Sounds like some crunchy crudités and hummus is in order!
Of course once you’ve achieved your goddess-like pregnancy glow, there’s no better way to show it off than in some stunning new maternity clothes! Choose the styles that make you feel like the most shiny and fabulous version of yourself. Whether that means rocking a Grecian style maternity dress, strutting your stuff in the perfect pair of maternity jeans, or pulling out all the stops in a glamorous LUXE maternity evening gown!
Look after your pregnancy glow & have fun with fashion this season mamas!
We could all use a little more Headspace in our lives – especially during pregnancy!
Developed by a former Buddhist monk, Headspace is a meditation app, with over a million users worldwide. Starting with just 10 mindful minutes per day, this app aims to transform the way your brain works, helping to reduce stress, recharge creativity, boost focus and even improve your relationships.
So how can it help during pregnancy?
This summer, the founder of Headspace Andy Puddicombe released a book – The Headspace Guide to a Mindful Pregnancy, along with a brand new pregnancy pack, which can be found in the health section of the app.
Now we know what you’re thinking…. A pregnancy guide written by a man? But hear us out! It offers simple, empowering exercises designed to create the best state of mind from conception, through pregnancy, birth and parenthood. Andy puts it better than we could – check out his explanation on the Headspace blog.
Andy Explains
This app changes lives for the better; scores of celebrities and successful entrepreneurs swear by the Headspace system including actresses Gwyneth Paltrow and Emma Watson, TV presenter and fan of the Seraphine maternity jeansFearne Cotton, Huffington Post founder Arianna Huffington and Seraphine founder Cecile Reinaud.
Your pregnancy could be the perfect opportunity to shake up the way you think and introduce a little mindfulness into your routine!
