Yoga and Women's Health

Studies have proven that emotional pressure and stress are more pronounced as health problems for women. It is because emotional distress often translates into physical weakness and different illnesses. Women endure health problems more than men when it comes to hormonal changes and so the excellent solution to most of these unavoidable health issues would be Yoga.

The different stages in a woman's life are associated with various health problems. Women around the world have to deal with menstrual cramps and the premenstrual syndrome. When reaching the age fifty (the menopausal age varies), hormonal changes become noticeable when menopause occurs and women have to deal with increased stress levels. But one of the major changes in a woman's life is the stage of being pregnant. This is a stage in which every health problem may be reflected on the health of the baby, so it is vital for the mother to stay healthy throughout the whole pregnancy process. Yoga offers various solutions to all of these issues, enabling women to get passed these inherent obstacles.

Yoga is highly useful for women who are preparing for the last months of pregnancy and labor. A fit and healthy mother has better chances of delivering the baby without any complications what so ever, so the importance of yoga practices becomes even bigger. Different yoga poses such as the fish yoga pose or the cat pose help the mother develop both the physical and mental strength and focus that will greatly help during labor. Regular yoga practice can lessen the negative effects of various pregnancy problems such as morning sickness. Stretching poses also help the mother relax and strengthen the pelvis muscles, which will function easier during birth. Breathing techniques are invaluable during birth as they allow the mother to focus on the delivery rather than having to fight off the associated birth pain.

Women in the postnatal period or those that just want to improve their vitality and energy levels can try some of the following poses. The fish yoga pose, for example, helps women increase oxygen processing and increases relaxation. This pose is also known to strengthen back and neck muscles, while also improving the responses of the nervous system. The hero yoga pose is one of the best if the woman is looking for a period of time dedicated to meditation.

The cat pose is one of the most frequent ones to be used by women, regardless of age or physical condition. It is excellent for increasing spinal column flexibility and relaxing the lower back muscles, which carry the weight of the whole upper body while standing. The specific position of the cat pose also favors an increased kidney blood irrigation. This pose can be followed by the head stand, a slightly more difficult pose, but which also produces some beneficial results. This pose allows certain parts of the body rest as they do not have to function to maximum capability due to the reverse of gravity. Women may specifically benefit from this pose as it relieves back pain and lower back muscle pressure.

Callie Armstrong is a writer for http://www.AllergyHero.com. Her insights on dieting, exercise and health can be read at http://www.body4beach.com