Yoga and Fertility

[Briss]

ladies, after struggling to conceive for 3 years and doing millions of things to improve my lifestyle, wellbeing etc I came to realise that my mind is possibly my worst enemy in this process. I worry about everything and am constantly stressed. it's possible that no matter what healthy food I eat it's no good until I am calm and stress-free. We all heard many times how yoga is great for mind and body and how it helps to relax and rebalance your hormones etc. In the past couple of years I've acquired a small collection of various yoga related materials which I tried to practice. have to say I could never manage to stick to it. I could force myself to drink disgusting Chinese herbs twice a day and get needles inserted in various parts of my body on a weekly basis but for some reason I cant make myself practice yoga regularly. I feel like I do not really get it and never sure whether my position is right, some of the poses are just not possible for me to do so after a while I just get discouraged and give up. I tried joining a class but it's the same story, never sure whether I am doing it right and also due to being constantly busy at work I can never fit it in my busy schedule. Doing it at home is the best thing for me but I am lacking motivation. So I thought if we can maybe join forces and try to share our experience and success in Yoga that would help with motivation to keep it going.

Is anyone doing Yoga/fertility Yoga regularly? How do you find it? it would be great if you could share any tips with somebody who is just starting

I recently got this book on fertility yoga https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1936303329/ref=oh_details_o06_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 and want to try and practice it at home.

Some more fertility yoga DVDs which I tried in the past:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0001ARFEI/ref=oh_details_o00_s01_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000NJLQWY/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B008NA9UFU/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[DAISYPRENCESS]

Hi, I love yoga and I use to do some classes. I work too much now but I am thinking of starting doing it at home. I have enough motivation and I will try to share it with u . I am positive that yoga helps in many aspects. It helps the body and the mind. Don't worry whether u do it right. The desire is important. U need just to enjoy it. If I find something interesting I will write. Xxxx

 

[Briss]

DAISYPRENCESS, That's great! so happy you joined. do you have a routine that you can follow at home or do you use some books/dvds with exercises? there is a lot of talk about kundalini yoga. have you tried it? I bought some dvds, it's different from other yoga cos you do not stay still you have to constantly move and breathe and do mantras, quite intense actually

no idea why is it so hard for me to motivate myself, while at work I think I am definitely doing some yoga in the evening but once I get home in the evening I just feel so tired that any motivation I had during the day is disappearing. I was able to force myself into aerobics when I needed to lose weight, but then I was determined and I could see how it helps you achieve your goal. with yoga it's not the result it's the process so I guess that's why it's harder.

 

[DAISYPRENCESS]

Hi, Briss, I have one dvd with yoga but I have not tried it yet . But I promise to try it and to start doing it at least 3 times a week. I have a niece that is very good at yoga so I can understand some more inf from her. We can encourage each other . I am also very stressed person and very busy. I believe I can't conceive mainly because of stress. I really think yoga helps for our health.xxx

 

[Briss]

I am proud to say I managed to force myself to do some yoga this weekend. Nothing fancy just a few fertility poses they recommend in TWW like bridge with variations and various breathing exercises.

I find that this position https://www.yogajournal.com/poses/491 or https://www.google.co.uk/imgres?img...iMSUtGCLqH4yQGXroCACA&ved=0CFIQ9QEwBg&dur=262 (I think it's called Downward-Facing Dog) comes up in almost every fertility yoga DVD. do you know what it does and why it is so popular? maybe your niece knows? I feel like I need to learn to do it but for me it's not easy, I am probably just too weak cos I can only manage a few seconds before my hands cant hold it any more. have you tried it?

 

[vietmamsie]

Hi briss! While I have never done yoga specifically for fertility, I have done yoga on and off for several years. Downward Dog is a pretty common 'resting' pose that you often hold at many times in your yoga routine. It really gets the blood flowing through your body, plus is good for your back.

Yoga has really helped me mentally and physically throughout this whole journey. I think one for the things that I am most excited for during pregnancy is finally getting to take some prenatal yoga classes! Keep working at it, I hope it helps you as well!

 

[Briss]

vietmamsie, thank you! and congratulations, praying for your sticky bean!

It's so funny that this pose is referred to as 'resting' pose. there is very little "resting" about it, or is it just me? I feel most pressure in my hands/arms. I wonder if I do it right. I will persevere although not sure how long it will take before I can do without struggling

Can you recommend poses that you think are the best for reproductive organs? or generally the ones you enjoy most?

 

[heres_hoping]

I have Brenda strong's DVD and I try to do it a couple of times a week at least in the follicular phase. I tend not to in the TWW just as I am not sure which poses are ok and which to avoid.

 

[vietmamsie]

I tried to look up fertility poses in the past, but I can't remember what the good ones were. Downward Dog is tough at first! But it is really about finding center and not having all your weight on your hands, but rather equally distributing it to your hands and feet. When I am out of practice, it is really hard for me too!

I would recommend taking a few basic yoga classes so you can get some poses down before exploring the videos online. It can be damaging if you do poses wrong, plus hard to break bad habits. If you meet an instructor that you connect with, you could always ask them about fertility poses. Good luck and thanks for the well wishes! I am hoping this is it as well!

 

[DAISYPRENCESS]

Hi, Briss, how are u? Are u doing yoga? To be honest I have not started yet . When I thought I would start my AF came than I had a bit of a cold and now too busy at work... but I definitely start in my next day off . Tell me how u are? Xxx

 

[Briss]

Daisy, I've only managed to do it once but it was really good. I did kundalini yoga de-stress and detox dvd. I felt so relaxed after that as if I had an hour massage session! I really want to make it a regular thing but struggle to get myself motivated. I am so tired when I get home that all am able to do is watch tv… so unhealthy. seems like I am ovulating I wonder if this is a good time for yoga?

 

[DAISYPRENCESS]

I think it is ok to do yoga when u ovulate. I have just ovulated. FX for both od us. Xxxxx

 

[moose31]

I practice Bikram yoga regularly. it helps to buddy up with some one makes you accountable to show up. That's what I did when first starting out but after a while I started going without buddy because its kind of addictive
Not sure of its benefits to fertility but I see plenty of pregnant ladies in the studio and they look AMAZING!!! I am sure the torture that is bikram ( 90 minutes,26 postures 104 degree room) makes labor more tolerable

Namaste

 

[Briss]

That's really interesting! what is Bikram yoga?

I am still struggling to get myself to do yoga regularly. You are right that it's better to buddy up with some one but I work really terrible hours and can only do it at home whenever I have a bit of spare time.

 

[Myshelsong]

Hey Ladies,

I was thinking about Fertility Yoga as well late August and purchased the Video: "Bend, Breathe, Conceive". It hasnt been delivered yet but I am planning on starting it right away when I get it. I also ended up purchasing a 12 Week fertility detox book as I am still waiting for my fertility specialist appointment.

I am not expecting this to be a miracle cure but I desperately need help with stress so my FX it helps me just call the F* down!

 

[Briss]

I've also ordered this DVD, may be it will inspire me to do yoga more often. There is a great VDV - Fertile Soul of Yoga DVD - Yoga for Fertility with Dr Randine Lewis LAc, FABORM and Jennifer Buergermeister, MA- Dr but unfortunately I cant get it shipped from US to UK and cant buy it here in the UK. very annoying

 

[threebirds]

Great thread, thanks Briss. Im waiting to mc but def going to get back into yoga. I have the Brenda Strong dvd but think I prefer just doing poses. I agree about doing it for the mind. I've also tried everything and like to be pro-active but sometimes all the trying to do the right thing causes more pressure. One new thing I tried over the summer & loved was hypnotherapy for fertility. The lady who did it was lovely (trained midwife who also does hypnotheraphy for birth process), i found it deeply relaxing & it also included reflexology good luck, I keep a wee eye on your TCM thread as I also do that & I do think it helps. I know it's a slow journey. X

 

[Briss]

Hi threebirds, I am sorry about mc. looking at the bright side, you did get a BFP so you can do it again. although it must be heart-breaking to be waiting to mc. Looks like you have more success getting natural BFP than with IVF? How do you find acupuncture & herbs? what does hypnotherapy for fertility involve? it sounds a little scary to me cos I think it may involve you losing control of your body to the therapist and that implies a lot of trust. I have to be honest I have very little trust in medical profession (just based on my experience) so it's hard to let go. Have you been doing yoga for a while? how do you know which poses to do?

I've been so lazy, really ashamed of myself but I could not make myself do any yoga in a while, I just buy new DVDs and do not do them… we just started our first IVF and I really think I should be doing much more of this to help the process along because I am under a lot of stress at work.