Finding Core Stability During Pregnancy With Yoga & Chiropractic

Have you ever felt that one side of your body is tighter than the other?

Maybe you’ve noticed in the mirror that your left shoulder is higher than your right. Or your right leg is longer than your left. Or if you sit with your legs crossed, you always cross your right ankle behind your left.

If you’ve never paid attention to this before, now you will.

It’s not that any of this is wrong or bad. It’s simply just the observations of our own body.

Observation is something that many of us forget to do because we just get caught up in life.

I often notice that when people begin working with a chiropractor or are practicing yoga regularly they start observing more frequently. Which is so valuable!

But why? Because we are not taught to find counterbalance to our daily positioning. We’re not taught to stretch or exercise to help balance out our bodies from our daily repetitive movements. When we are observing, we can intentionally create new movements, and purposefully stretch or exercise to support our bodies to our own specific needs.

I specialize in pelvic stability, and core strength which brings many pregnant patients into my practice. I love working with women during pregnancy, but it makes me sad that I almost always hear the same thing from them: “I have low back pain/sciatica, but I was told there is nothing I can do about it. And it will just go away after pregnancy.”

How disempowering…

Let me break that misconception down. You don’t just have to deal with the pain. You can do something about it. You can start before pregnancy, during pregnancy, and even after pregnancy. I say after because just because you may no longer be pregnant, does not mean that your pain just goes away.

Through more observation, and learning personalized movements that your body benefits from will support you during your pregnancy and even after.

During pregnancy, there are hormonal changes in your body, and an increase in Relaxin that prepares your body for birth by increasing the flexibility of your soft tissues and joints. Your body is preparing you for a really amazing event.

Because of the increase of flexibility in your body during pregnancy, stretching is usually not the answer.

As a Webster certified Chiropractor & yoga instructor, I find that most women need more stability work and core strengthening exercises to help reduce their pain, but also to prepare your body for birthing and recovery postpartum.

The education through chiropractic care and functional movements of yoga help your body learn to respond better. To know when to strengthen, when to soften. When to tighten, and when to relax. When to push, and when to receive.

Not only can you find relief from these movements, but when you practice yoga, you also are training your mind. You are increasing your threshold for discomfort. For example, when you hold an uncomfortable pose in yoga, at first the discomfort might be extreme. But the longer you hold that pose, your mind can settle into that discomfort. This is important when you are preparing for the extremes of giving birth, and even the extremes of parenting. Training your mind and body to stay calm even in the discomfort.

To learn more about prenatal yoga, and the Webster technique for preparing and supporting your body before pregnancy, during pregnancy, and postpartum, you can schedule an appointment with Dr. Pierce by calling 269-588-0509 or sending an email to drkennedipiercedc@gmail.com. And don't forget to follow her on Instagram @drkennedipierce_yoga