6 yoga steps for fertility

 

A sedentary life at home or work, smoking, high blood pressure, certain medications, excessive stress and deficiency of key nutrients (zinc, magnesium, iron, folates, vitamin Bs, vitamin C) can all affect the reproductive system adversely. To combat this, Shameem Akthar, a certified yoga acharya with the internationally acclaimed Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre, Kerala (headquartered in Canada), recommends six yoga exercises that focus on the last chakra at the perineum (also referred to as the mooladhara chakra) to rejuvenate and repair the uro-genital system. By proxy, the adrenal glands (which are involved with our biological response to stress) are also massaged, thus making such yogic therapy to fertility problem a holistic one. Yogic therapies start at the level where we can exert some control -- and that is in our bodies. A regular mind-body routine also primes the body for nutrient absorption, wrings out stress, clears our arteries and reduces our dependency on medications, thus acting as a perfect complement to any conventional fertility treatment that you may be undergoing. Also, since sexual hormones are part of the reward hormones that boost our self-esteem and make us feel good, getting the entire system back on track with yoga is crucial for our well-being. So, use these fertility poses to revamp your inner self. . Points to note: ~Yoga is best done early in the morning. You could also time your practice two to four hours after a meal. Remember to do some warm-up exercises before attempting any of these poses (spot walking, a few rounds of surya namaskar or any joint-releasing exercise). ~Always rest in the corpse position after a full yoga session to maximise the impact and allow the blood lactate levels to revert to normalcy. ~Beginners may not be able to execute the pose to the full extent possible and may use props like small cushions or stools to help them achieve flexibility and strength with regular practice.