On Fertile Ground: Yoga for Fertility

 A woman’s hormonal system is her “stress-sensitive” system [1]. Stress can adversely affect the delicate balance of hormones necessary for optimal health and fertility. A woman who is trying to conceive should therefore try to minimise the levels of stress in her life as much as possible, in order to give her body the best chance. However, the irony is infertility causes more stress!  According to a famous study by Dr Alice Domar from the Harvard Medical School, the anxiety and depression levels of a woman suffering infertility is on par with someone diagnosed with a terminal disease.[2] This can set off a vicious cycle: the more stressed we become the more this may affect our ability to get pregnant, and then we become even more stressed!

It’s clear then that yoga for fertility needs to focus first and foremost on managing and reducing a woman’s stress levels.[3] The relaxation and stress management tools of yoga can provide a wonderful antidote to stress - particularly, the right kind of fertility-focused yoga. 

Fertility Focused Yoga

In addition to practising relaxation and meditation techniques to calm the mind and nervous system which will help bring a woman’s hormonal system into greater health and balance, yoga for fertility focuses on postures that promote the circulation of blood and energy in the lower abdominal area. One reason is because the stress hormone epinephrine can cause the constriction of the blood vessels in the uterus which may, according to Dr Rahul Sachdev, specialist in Reproductive Endrocrinology and Infertility at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, impede a woman’s fertility.[4] Yoga for fertility therefore includes postures that create space and softness in the lower belly such as Supta Baddha Konasana (Reclining Butterfly pose).

Womb and heart centering

Bliss Baby Yoga’s Fertility and Conscious Conception specialist, Rosie Matheson, says that in addition to including poses that bring oxygen, nutrients and healing to the reproductive organs, it’s important that a woman cultivates a positive connection with her body, especially her womb. 

“For me the most astounding and influential part of this practice is found in the relationship between a woman’s heart and her womb,” explains Rosie. “I focus on fostering a camaraderie and connection between women and their wombs. The results I see from this are always relief and trust. When this connection is made women trust their bodies and their journeys, and this ultimately leads to greater fertility.”

Rosie has been working with women to support their fertility for the last nine years and has developed her own unique approach to this beautiful feminine-focused yoga. She recalls the very first woman she worked with had been trying to conceive for almost two years. “When we started she was doing everything right. She had the perfect fertility diet full of helpful nutrition; she did regular gentle exercise; was tracking her ovulation; she had a supportive husband, and had cut back on work and stress,” says Rosie. “The thing that was missing was a connection to her womb. She was so worried each month that her womb would disappoint her yet again that she withheld hope, love or warmth from that part of her body.” 

Rosie started to work with this woman, offering her a ‘womb meditation’. Her client became pregnant less than two months later. “I have seen this time and again and have been genuinely shocked over the years to see how much of an impact this connection has on a woman’s fertility,” enthuses Rosie.

References:

[1] “..the menstrual cycle is the stress sensitive system in women. So think of menstrual symptoms as an early warning sign for your overall health.” - Alexandra Pope, “The Wild Genie”, p. 144

[2] Here’s a synopsis of this study by Dr Alice Domar: http://www.mindbodyinfertility.com/supporting-research.html#group

[3] Research by Dr Alice Domar points to the potential efficacy of mind-body stress management techniques, which include yoga, as being beneficial for fertility: http://www.mindbodyinfertility.com/supporting-research.html

[4] Cited by Judith Hanson Lasater in her article in the Yoga Journal, “When you want to have a baby .. But Can’t” –http://www.yogajournal.com/article/lifestyle/when-you-want-to-have-a-baby-but-can-t/