“Yoga is incredibly good for expectant mothers!” – Interview with yoga therapist Jeanette Luft

"Yoga has many facets and is simply incredibly good for you. In addition to the physical exercises, it offers women a range of different breathing techniques, relaxation methods and meditation exercises. It is very valuable both as a preventative and curative measure for pregnancy problems or for mental and physical preparation for birth. And yoga doesn't have to be complicated." The yoga trainer and mother of two Jeanette Luft , author of the guide " Yoga during pregnancy. Strengthened - loved - protected ", has recognized both from countless inquiries from her course participants and from personal experience how enriching an exchange between women during pregnancy is and what helpful support yoga is for expectant mothers.

As a yoga therapist, you have accompanied well over 2,000 women during pregnancy and have published numerous articles in relevant print and online media. What inspired you to write your new book “ Yoga in Pregnancy ”?

Jeanette Luft: When I was pregnant with my first child, I was sitting in a café with a good friend. She was pregnant too, and we talked about everything that was bothering us during pregnancy: sleepless nights, various aches and pains, fear of giving birth... We exchanged ideas, shared our experiences, and a few hours went by like this. At the end, we both left the conversation feeling empowered and enriched. I wish that feeling for every pregnant woman! At that time, I was already a yoga teacher and had worked with many women in this special phase of life. At the end of the course, the same question kept coming up: "Can you recommend a good book to me? I'd also like to do a few exercises for myself at home and read what you've told us again." Both of these things, the demand from my course participants and the awareness that women should share their knowledge more, laid the foundation for the idea of ​​a relaxed yoga guide from woman to woman. But as is sometimes the case with ideas, several more years had to pass before the book was finally finished.

Yoga is a holistic philosophy of life and probably the oldest exercise system in the world, which is now practiced by around 300 million people. Why is yoga so suitable for pregnancy support and birth preparation?

Jeanette Luft: Yoga has many facets and is simply incredibly good for you. In addition to physical exercises, it offers women a range of different breathing techniques, relaxation methods and meditation exercises. It is very valuable both as a preventative and curative measure for pregnancy problems or for mental and physical preparation for birth. Yoga does not have to be complicated. Consciously guided breathing or special visualization techniques give new strength and serenity. Many studies have now proven this.

Pregnancy is probably the most important phase of a woman's life and requires special attention. Despite this, many expectant mothers feel emotionally stressed, alone and misunderstood. Why is this and how can yoga help?

Jeanette Luft: The social image of a pregnant woman is often very positive and "rosy". But that's not how I feel during my pregnancy. I'm suffering from constipation, lack of sleep or worry about my child's development. And so it happens that my partner is open to me, but then can't really put himself in my shoes and tells me for the 100th time: "It'll be OK." Or my own mother is there to support me, but has a completely different understanding of the issues involved in pregnancy. And so many women feel alone and misunderstood. Simple yoga exercises can slow down the carousel of thoughts and enable the expectant mother to reflect on herself. A mindfulness meditation, for example, quickly helps to calm down and be in the present moment.

Every pregnancy involves constant ups and downs and a few aches and pains, because the pregnant body is constantly changing. What can we learn from yoga regarding pregnancy problems?

Jeanette Luft: Good and not so good days are part of pregnancy. On particularly difficult days, it might help to realize what an incredible miracle is happening. Pure magic! On other days, however, that probably won't work and the mother will just think: Please get me out of here! In yoga therapy, many complaints are seen as valuable signs from the body. Signs to rethink habits, to integrate more and proper exercise into everyday life, or to allow yourself rest and time out. A complaint is not a burden, but a signal from the body - it is asking for support.

Being pregnant means not only developing a human body, but also receiving a new soul and accompanying it into the world. How should we understand this and how can this bond with the baby be strengthened?

Jeanette Luft: In yoga, it is assumed that the soul of a baby enters the mother's body around the 120th day of pregnancy. Before that, it is loosely connected to the mother and moves back and forth between the two worlds. From the 120th day onwards, the soul then binds itself to the parents. In yoga and in many other cultures, this special time of soul bonding is celebrated. The expectant mother in particular is honored in all her beauty and as the guardian of the soul. There is singing, dancing, laughter, poetry and gifts. A celebration in honor of wonderful femininity and the new soul.

When you hear the word yoga, you often think of complicated contortions or hours of meditation. What do you recommend to expectant mothers who don't feel very flexible to start with?

Jeanette Luft: Yoga should and can always be easy and carefree for women. Anything that makes the expectant mother feel better is good. For example, relaxed abdominal breathing: lie or sit quietly for a moment, breathe in and out into your stomach and feel your own body and the baby.

Book tip:
Jeanette Luft: Yoga during pregnancy . Strengthened – loved – protected. Incl. first postnatal quickies and large color poster. Mankau Verlag, 1st edition May 2023, paperback, 16 x 22 cm, color, 190 pages, with A2 poster. 22.00 euros (D) | 22.70 euros (A), ISBN 978-3-86374-685-8

Link recommendations:
More information about the book “Yoga during pregnancy. Strengthened – loved – protected”
To the reading sample in PDF format
More about author Jeanette Luft
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