10 Ways Yoga Boosted My Fertility & Helped Me Get Pregnant Twice

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For most of my life, I've been a gym junkie. It was about running and lifting heavy. I thought yoga was merely stretching and I just didn't have time for it. 

But then eight years ago, my husband and I started trying for a family. I knew about the benefits of yoga on fertility and decided to try it out. I was dedicated to the mat for three months and I became pregnant. But then, after our first was born, I stopped. 

When we started trying for our second, getting pregnant was taking much longer. So I went back to the practice and became pregnant with our second shortly after. 

Although this was something that worked for me, I'm not advising that this is the solution for anyone trying to get pregnant. Yoga has many health benefits that are unrelated to fertility but for me, it helped my chances of conceiving. Here are 10 ways yoga helped me get pregnant.

1. I Prioritized Self-Care

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Life is busy and what we've learned from the pandemic is that self-care isn't something we should put on the back burner. It should be at the front and center of our priorities. Yoga is portable and doesn't require equipment or even a change of shoes.

It was easy to embed yoga into my daily routine. The practice helped me prioritize self-care and appreciate everything my body does for me, especially during the disappointing months.

2. Reduction of Stress & Anxiety

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The amazing thing about yoga is that it kills many birds with one stone. Trying to conceive was an overwhelming process that created a lot of stress and anxiety. A half hour on the mat gave me the opportunity to meditate, practice deep breathing, get a good workout in, and feel centered.

3. I Gained Strength

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After a month, I felt stronger and more connected and in tune with my body. Poses felt easier and I was able to hold them for longer. I wasn't struggling to stay in a downward dog position and my shoulders no longer ached for a child's pose. It helped shift my focus on loving my body and away from the frustrations of feeling like it wasn't doing what I wanted to do.

4. I Increased My Hip Flexibility

For work, I sit for most of the day, which causes a lot of tightness in my hips. There are various yoga positions such as Warrior 1 lunge, Malasana squat and Pigeon pose that help open the hip joint and increase mobility. Looser hips also meant I could physically get more creative in the bedroom, which made the baby-making process more fun and exciting!

5. My Immunity Improved

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Yoga may help reduce inflammation in the body, which protects the immune system. I've noticed that I haven't been sick as often since starting my yoga practice. Besides, no one wants to get under the sheets when they're sick.

6. My Self-Esteem Saw a Boost

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Yoga helped me work through challenges and experience positive changes in my body. In the beginning, I struggled with breathing properly. My body felt awkward and tight in all of the poses. 

But as I consistently put effort into my practice, I felt better and better about myself. I was connecting my body sensations with my thoughts and feelings. Feeling good about myself boosted my self-esteem and helped reduce my insecurities about struggling to get pregnant.

7. I Increased Circulation to My Pelvic Area

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There are many yoga poses that place your heart above your head. There is a focus on the breath that aligns with movement. This may help improve circulation, increasing oxygenated blood flow to the pelvic region and releasing tension that can create blockages in fertility.

8. I Slept Better

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Yoga is mentally calming and restorative. Incorporating a few yoga poses before bed helped put away those ruminating thoughts and worries about getting pregnant. As a result, I was able to fall asleep faster, stay asleep for longer, and wake up feeling refreshed.

9. I Got an Energy Boost

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From scheduling sex and tracking ovulation, trying to conceive took a lot of effort and energy. It was a project all in itself. Yoga has been shown to improve mental and physical energy and reduce negative emotions. In my experience, I felt the most alert after yoga compared to other types of exercises.

10. I Was Motivated To Set Holistic Health Goals

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Every month that I wasn't pregnant made me feel like my body was a failure. But through yoga, I learned to accept that the purpose of my body isn't merely to carry a baby. I have a mind, heart, and spirit that need tender love and care. 

Doing yoga helped me set holistic goals in taking care of myself including feeding my body with the right nutrients and plenty of fluids, giving it sufficient rest and doing movements that improved my physical and mental health.