Women go through many stages of hormonal changes from the start of puberty well into menopause, and women’s bodies are constantly changing and flowing with energetic and hormonal shifts. Each of these stages and seasons in a woman’s life has varying levels of the primary female hormone estrogen, which is key for fertility. Infertility rates have been increasing considerably for both men and women since the early 2000’s due to the trials and travails of modern-day life, such as exposure to environmental toxins, genetically modified agents in our food, and a significant increase in our stress levels, to name a few. Simple yoga poses can help women alleviate that if they do them every morning
Empowering women to focus on their reproductive health and fertility ensures healthier and stronger generations ahead of us. Women who have struggled for years to get pregnant have found refuge in yoga. Yoga can help women transform the way they approach how to conceive through a range of practices, including pranayama, mudras, kriya, and specific asanas that increase blood flow to the pelvic region, strengthen the uterus, aid in creating a fertility-friendly lifestyle, and above all, bring stress levels down and promote mental and emotional well-being, which helps ovarian egg quality. Some specific asanas that help the reproductive organs and are agents to improve female fertility are discussed below:
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Paschimottanasana
According to Himalayan Siddhaa Akshar, yoga guru and founder, Akshar Yoga Kendraa, “To step into paschimottanasana, one has to sit down with their legs outstretched in front of them. One then bends forward to bring their hands closer to the ankles or big toe, and the trunk is closer to the legs, with the head ideally touching the knees. Paschimottanasana is a seated back bend that stretches out the back, strengthens the spine, tones the abdominal muscles, and more importantly, stretches out the hips and hamstrings, which increases blood flow to the pelvic area and ovaries.
Hasta Utthanasana
Hasta Utthanasana is part of the Surya Namaskar series and is called the standing back bend. This pose warms up the muscles that support the spine and opens up the chest and shoulders. With hands held in the pranam mudra, one raises their hands and bends the spine backwards up to the point it feels comfortable, arms stretched upwards, while the waist is pushed outwards. This posture opens up the heart and strengthens the spine and abdominal muscles and organs, promoting blood circulation and digestion and an overall sense of relaxation.
Dhanurasana
In order to perform Dhanurasan, or bow pose, one lies down on their belly, then bends their legs at the knees and brings their feet up behind them, and the arms stretch up and back to hold the ankles or feet, assuming the shape of a bow. This asana stimulates the reproductive and digestive organs, improves blood circulation to the pelvic area, strengthens the abdominal muscles, balances hormones, and reduces stress, which are all key components in reproductive health.
Sarvangasana
Sarvangasana, or shoulder stand, is a highly beneficial asana in bringing blood flow to the brain. One has to lie on their backs and bring their knees gently upwards and move the legs upwards to the sky with all the pressure of the body on the shoulders touching the ground. This inverted pose has immense mental, physical, and spiritual benefits. It calms the nervous system a great deal, stimulates thyroid and parathyroid glands, thus supporting overall endocrine function, improves blood circulation, stimulates the digestive organs as well, and removes a sense of fatigue.
Batthakonasana
According to Yogacharya Akhil Gore, Founder of RouteIn Yoga, “This pose is referred to as the butterfly pose or bound angle pose. One sits down on their mat with legs outstretched at first and hands beside the legs; one then brings the soles of the feet together with knees in a seated pose and holds the feet with their hands. This pose is a great hip opener; it stimulates the ovaries, brings blood flow to the pelvic region, and induces a deep relaxation effect, calming the nerves.”