Yoga is a form of body and mind fitness. It is derived from the Sanskrit word Yuj signifying union, or to join that is to concentrate one’s attention.
It is a 3000-year-old tradition of ancient India, that is not bound by religion or any particular culture. It is not regarded as a holistic approach to spiritual, mental and physical well-being. It is considered as Complementary & Alternative Medicine (CAM).
It creates an awareness of self, the breath and energy.
Before we see the benefits of yoga on fertility, let us understand the four basic principles of yoga.
1) The Human body has interrelated dimensions that are inseparable from one another, & the health or illness of one dimension affects the other.
2) Individuals and their needs are unique.
3) Yoga is self-empowering. Each person practicing yoga is their own healer.
4) The quality & state of a person’s mind are crucial to healing.
If there is a positive state of mind, healing happens more quickly.
Yoga philosophy and practice was first described by Patanjali in the classic text Yoga Sutras. So, Asanas are only one of the many tools used for healing the mind and body. Other components are conscious breathing, meditation, lifestyle changes, and diet changes.
Physical Benefits
1. Increased flexibility of body
2. Increased muscle strength and tone
3. Better respiration, improved oxygenation and energy
4. Balanced metabolism
5. Weight reduction
6. Heart and circulatory health
7. Improved athletic performance
8. Improved sexual health and desire
9. Healing from injury and inflammation
Mental benefits
1. Yoga can develop coping skills and create a more positive outlook.
2. Regular yoga leads to mental clarity, and calmness.
3. Relieves chronic stress patterns.
4. Relaxes mind, increases concentration and attention.
So these benefits help to reduce inflammation in arthritis, reduce blood pressure, improve sleep patterns, fight depression by reducing cortisol levels, therefore reducing the levels of serotonin and relieve migraine headaches.
The above problems are all due to stress, which can reveal itself in many ways, like back or neck pain, sleeping disorders, headaches, drug abuse and inability to concentrate.
This forms the basis of yoga’s impact on fertility.
The link between stress and infertility is complex. Increased cortisol levels due to stress can interfere with ovulation in women and sperm production in men due to an imbalance of hormones.
1. Yoga stimulates ovaries to ovulate.
2. Strengthens and stretches back muscles.
3. Purifies energy channels, flushing out toxins from the body.
4. Makes the groin and hip muscles more flexible.
5. Improves erection by improving blood flow.
6. Improves sexual urge in both the partners.
7. It increases blood flow to the uterus, improving the endometrial receptivity to receive the human embryo and increasing the chances of conception.
8. Reduces stress and mood swings.
9. Yoga and meditation increase clarity of mind, maintain healthy body chemistry, and sustain people undergoing fertility treatments by helping in the decision-making and creating a positive mindset to undergo the rigors of fertility treatment.
10. Relaxation helps in the synchronization of the body & mind.
11. Core alignment of the body brings peace and satisfaction and removes the guilt in so many childless couples.
12. Yoga helps people undergoing fertility treatments and those trying to conceive naturally, as yoga combines healthy eating and lifestyle.
13. Yoga reduces addiction to substances, alcohol, and smoking and even reduces food cravings. All these indirectly boost fertility.
A few asanas which can help fertility are,
a. Paschimottanasana (seated forward bend.
b. Hastapadasana (standing forward bend)
c. Janu Shirasasana (one-legged forward bend)
d. Baddha Konasana (butterfly pose)
e. Viparita Karini (legs up the wall pose)
d. Shavasana (corpse pose)
The American Journal for Reproductive Medicine (Fertility and Sterility) strongly recommends yoga as an alternative treatment for fertility. It insists that fertility support groups should include yoga in their schedule.
