Yoga can help with gestational diabetes by regulating hormones that affect blood sugar levels, cortisol and adrenaline levels, and emotional well being by stimulating the relaxation response in the body. Yoga also brings the practitioner into deeper awareness of her body so that she accurately monitors her energy level, blood sugar level, and appetite.
In this video:
Seated spinal circles: Practitioners will sit cross-legged with hands on the knees. Begin to rotate the torso in a big circle, using the arms to help guide the spine. Inhale as you flow forward, exhale as you round back. Close your eyes and listen deeply to your body and your breath as you flow in circles. Engage your abdominal muscles to the degree that it is comfortable and helpful with the movement. Switch directions after 10 cycles and rotate the other way for 10 cycles.
Bharadvajasana: Practitioners will sit on the floor with both knees bent on the ground, both feet to one side. Inhale to sit tall, exhale to gently twist the opposite direction of the feet. Use the front hand on your knee to help twist, use the back hand on the floor for support in sitting tall. Breathe and gently twist, using your abdominal muscles as is comfortable and maintain a deep awareness on your body. Switch sides after 5 breaths.
Practice these two poses daily, ideally before you’ve eaten.
Caution:
Be careful not to twist too deeply during pregnancy. Always be mindful of the body and use pain as your guide.
Scientific research has found that mind-body practices such as yoga are very helpful in improving the health and wellness of pregnant women. By increasing physical activity, yoga can help prevent gestational diabetes, which is often a result of inactivity.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3424788/
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