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Top 14 Yoga Asanas That Boost Fertility

The desire to become a mother is ingrained in most women. But what  happens when this most basic biological function becomes a battle? For many women, getting pregnant does not take a lot of effort. But  if you happen to fall on the wrong side of statistics, you may  experience one of the most heartbreaking conditions – infertility. The  inability to become pregnant can leave a woman depressed and hopeless.   

Whether you are just starting out on the journey of trying to  conceive or if you have already walked the path of infertility, the one  solution you can try is yoga. How does yoga impact fertility? Read on to find out! 

Causes For Infertility:

There are a number of factors that can cause infertility. The most  common is the stress we go through everyday life. As it is already known  and proven by research, stress acts a major hindrance in a person’s  fertility. It is estimated that one in six couples face difficulties in  conceiving. The stress arises due to various responsibilities from  career, home, partner and other commitments. Further, not having a baby  after a long time can also be stressful. Stress affects our body so much  that it creates various hormonal imbalances that result to different  diseases. 

Fertility Yoga – Why Is It Essential?

Now here’s a million dollar question! How exactly does yoga work to boost fertility? Now, in no way are we implying that you forego medical treatment and  depend just on yoga to beat infertility. But this ancient form of  workout can be a great weapon in your arsenal.  Here are some major ways in which yoga can effect and treat infertility: 

1. Reduces Stress

As mentioned before, stress plays a major role in slowing down your  fertility. Yoga is a great way to beat stress and achieve peace of mind.  Yoga is not just about the bodyit is also about how you breathe. The  breathing techniques associated with yoga can help lower the stress  hormone cortisol in the body. This is turn can increase your chances of  conceiving. Not just that! With the stress gone from your life, you can  even sleep better! 

2. Detoxifies The Body

Certain yoga poses can help detoxify the body and help boost your  fertility. Yoga can also help relax tight muscles and connective  tissues. 

3. Increases Circulation

Many infertility issues arise due to blockages. With yoga, you can  increase your blood circulation and ensure that it reaches the  reproductive organs. This can help create a positive environment for a  pregnancy! 

4. Works On Your Immune System

Yoga is great way to boost your immunity. Practicing yoga helps you  find your inner calm, which in turn can help raise the number of white  blood cells in the body. This not just helps you keep common diseases at  bay but can also help you beat infertility. 

5. Helps Keep The Ovaries Healthy

Certain yoga poses reroute the blood flow to reach the ovaries. This  helps to provide these specific organs with more oxygen, making them  healthier. It is important to note that ovarian dysfunction is a common  cause of infertility in women. So, yoga can be a great tool for women  with ovary related issues. 

6. Helps Deal With Hormonal Treatment Better

If you are already struggling with infertility and undergoing  hormonal treatment, yoga can be of help. With all those hormones in the  body, it is easy to fall into the depths of physical and mental  distress. This negative energy in the body can reduce your chances of  conceiving. With yoga, you can minimize these side effects and increase  your chance of becoming pregnant. So, whether you are on Clomid, trying  IUI, or IVF, yoga can be of great help. 

What Kinds Of Yoga Are Beneficial For Conception?
Yoga is all about how you do it and not how much.  

• Hatha yoga is considered to be very ideal for fertility as it involves slower and flowing movements.
• The deep and slow breathing involved in this yoga calms your mind and allows for focus and concentration to set in.
• The various holding poses called Asanas will help improve blood circulation as your mind reaches a state of peace.
• While holding a certain pose, you have to imagine in your mind that a vital energy is flowing into your genital area.
• These productive mind associations actually trigger the feeling of well-being and energy to the affected area.

The Top 14 Fertility Yoga Poses

These simple yet powerful fertility yoga poses should be practiced on  a routine basis. Learning from a good yoga teacher is advised to get  the pose right. 

1. Paschimottanasana (Seated forward bend)

  The Paschimottanasana stimulates the ovaries and uterus. The  forward bend stretches the muscles at the lower back, hips and  hamstrings. This particular yoga for fertility relives stress,  depression and it will gradually improve fertility levels in you.  

2. Hastapadasana (Standing forward bend)

In Hastapadasana you have to bend forward touching the hand  to the feet. It stretches all the important muscles of the back and this  will improve the blood supply to the pelvic region and nervous system.  This bend helps relieve stress from the abdomen region and make the  spinal cord more flexible.  

3. Janu Shirasana (One-Legged Forward Bend)

  Janu Shirasana will be very useful during pregnancy as it  will strengthen your lower back muscles. When properly executed, this  yoga pose is very relaxing and releases tension from the lower back. It  effectively stretches the calves and the hamstrings, making them very  supple.  

4. Baddha Konasana (Butterfly Pose)

  The Baddha Konasana improves the flexibility in your private  part and hip regions, as it stretches the inner thighs, genital and  knees. It helps release any toxins and negative energy in the areas of  hip and groin. Your pelvis, abdomen and back are stimulated by plentiful  blood supply. The flapping of thighs also increases sperm count in men.  For women, coupled with Sarvangasana, it aids the  ovaries to function properly and removing irregular menses. This pose  not only increases fertility levels but also ensures a smoother  delivery, if practiced till late pregnancy.  

5. Viparita Karani (Legs Up The Wall Pose)

  This position, Viparita Karani,relieves backache and  improves the flow of blood to the pelvic region. As this pose stretches  the back of the neck, front torso and back of the legs, it easily helps  in relaxing your feet and tired legs. Even with a decent fertility rate,  you can increase the chances of conception by relaxing in this posture  after sex.  

6. Balasna (Child’s Pose)

  In this pose, the muscles of hips, thighs and ankles are stretched  and strengthened. It calms the brain and helps relieve stress and  fatigue, and in better alignment of pelvis and increase blood flow,  which is important to increase fertility rate in the body. 

7. Kapalbhati Pranayama (Rhythmic Rapid Breathing)

  Blood cells get purified with this Pranayama further enhancing the quality and quantity of reproductive cells.Kapalbhati cures  almost all diseases, as it balances hormone levels of the body. In the  process, your brain gets influenced in a good manner and hence your  whole body is cleansed.  

8. Nadi Shodhan pranayama (Alternate Nostril Breathing)

  This simple breathing technique helps calm your mind and body by releasing the accumulated stress. It also helps purify the nadis (subtle energy channels), thus enabling smooth flow of prana.  By de-stressing the mind and body, this pranayama lets you relax,  making the body more fertile and approach the process of conception with  a fresh perspective.  

9. Bhramari Pranayama (Bee breath)

The Bee breath  instantly relieves the body of tension, anger and anxiety. The chances  of conception are better with a more relaxed body and mind. The humming  vibrations of the Bhramari Pranayam activate the pituitary  gland, which is one of the major glands in the body. This is the master  gland that controls all major glands in the body, including those that  secrete sexual hormones.  

10. Supported Head Stand

  Also called as mother of all poses, this asana is one of the most  challenging poses. Inverting your body and balancing yourself on your  head will ease the pressure on your heart muscle. The stimulation of  head causes hypothalamus to release more hormones. Remember that this  pose requires intense concentration. Hold the asana for about 5 to 7  seconds as you breathe. 

11. Supported Shoulder Stand

  This pose requires balancing the body weight on your shoulders. The  pose is said to trigger your thyroid gland when the sternum presses on  the thyroid area. It is important to relax your tongue and throat as  much as you can. This pose also increases the blood flow to your uterus  after relaxing your pelvis. 

12. Bridge Pose

  This is a tough yogic pose. This asana requires you to lift your  pelvic region up while keeping your buttock muscles firm. When the  pelvic area is thrust upwards, both the energy and blood flow get  circulated to the uterus and ovaries. Try and stay in the pose for at  least 30 seconds before coming back into normal state. 

13. Cobra Pose

  This is an important asana that strengthens your back muscles while  stimulating hormone production in the uterus. Lie on your stomach.  Later, lift your upper body portion by putting your weight on your  hands. Raise the upper body and look up. Hold the pose for about few  seconds as you breathe. 

14. Shavasana (Yogic sleep)

Shavasana or corpse pose is helpful to induce a conscious yogic sleep called Yoga Nidra.  It aids in attaining equilibrium in the body and mind. This pose is  very simple yet powerful amongst other fertility yoga poses for women,  as it helps in uplifting the state of mind and making one more  optimistic in their approach. Since mental health is also equally  important, this meditative state of sleep does not improve the level of  fertility directly, but it certainly puts you at ease and is very useful  for couples who wish to start a family. Do Shavasana after finishing all the yoga poses for fertility recommended in this article. 

Tips for Doing Yoga Poses for Fertility

You need patience to practice Yoga and bring it to perfection. Along  with Yoga asanas it is recommended to practice meditation, additionally.  As Yoga asanas are exercises to the physical body, meditation is an  exercise to mind. When both mind and body are balanced, body hormones  will function well and then help maintain a healthy body. Studies have  shown that mediation can literally change our brain cells. The negative  thought pattern of infertility should be changed to ease the whole  process. Ayurveda too is also proven beneficial along with Yoga. But  first it is advised to practice Yoga alone for 3 to 4 months before  taking any Ayurvedic medicines. Yoga will cure Infertility for sure but  it takes time to get in alignment with nature. All the Best! Now that you know the importance of fertility yoga for women, hope you will start practicing them and have a safe pregnancy. 

Happy practicing!!!