Lamaze class in Shenzhen or Shekou?

Pre and Post-natal Yoga classes: Our Centre in Futian now offers Pre and Post-natal yoga classes for Shenzhen mothers. Our qualified Yoga Instructor Rebecca, who has many years of experience teaching Yoga, including pre and post-natal Yoga, has given a summary of some of the similarities between Yoga and Lamaze, and some of the benefits that Yoga offers to Mums. Please see below. If you would like to give Yoga a try please contact us! We offer classes in the evenings from 8-10pm. Our address is: Room 307a/b/c, 3rd Floor, East Pacific Square, Corner of Hongli Rd and Nongyuan Rd, Futian District, Shenzhen. Our address in Chinese is: 深圳市福田区红荔西路和农园路交界，东海城市广场三楼307a/b/c. Please call us on 83390166 or 13632966348 for more information.

The similarities between Pre-natal Yoga and Lamaze:

Both practices are focused on breathing exercises and mood regulation, which helps assist the mother to perform a natural labor.

Pre-natal yoga not only helps for better breathing, but can also target a range of physical reactions a mother will experience during pregnancy. Yoga exercises can assist a mother to maintain physical comfort, mental comfort and good health, whilst also being conducive to postpartum recovery, ie helping you get your figure back, and reducing any possible childbirth complications.

Lamaze tends to pay more attention to women’s physical and mental relaxation. Apart from breathing exercises Lamaze focuses on the interaction between mother and father during the birth, and teaching the husband how to provide emotional care to the mother and creating a relaxing environment to allow the mother to be more confident (less afraid) about giving birth naturally.

The benefits of yoga for pregnant mothers:

The benefits of yoga to women in late stage pregnancy

Yoga can allow pregnant women to enhance their strength and muscle tone, increase balance, flexibility and agility. Yoga helps to protect the spine and joints, and balance out the added stress to joints that comes with the additional weight gain that pregnancy brings.

The stretching and extension movements in yoga not only relieve tension and pain in the muscles, but also help to open the pelvis before labor. Yoga can help to prepare and adjust the pelvic floor so that the mother can have better control during delivery, whilst also reducing complications during delivery and accelerating postpartum recovery. The abdominal exercises especially help a mother to be conscious of the muscles in her waist, back and pelvic floor, which can help to reduce the pain during labor and promote a smooth delivery.

The practice of yoga can also help alleviate the different reactions pregnant women experience, such as: nausea, vomiting, constipation, flatulence, edema. Yoga breathing can help to relax the mother, stretching the ribs, chest and back muscles to enhance flexibility, so that during childbirth the mother can maintain deep and regular breathing, which will help her to stay calm. The practice of yoga also helps to relax muscles, regulate blood pressure and reduce pain.

Benefits of yoga to the baby

Because the fetus and the maternal blood vessels are connected, the mother’s blood will circulate more quickly, which also increases the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the fetus, promoting fetal brain and body development. Mothers who spend some activity time outdoors will also help the fetal bone growth and development. A mother who practices yoga is more likely to keep herself in a good frame of mind, which will also be beneficial to her child. Her child will be more likely to form a positive and cheerful personality.

孕妇瑜伽的益处：

孕妇瑜伽与Lamaze的共同点

都非常注重孕妇呼吸的练习以及情绪的调节，有助于孕妇自然分娩。

 孕妇瑜伽不但练习呼吸还会针对不同孕期的身体反应做针对性的动作练习，可以有效的缓解孕期的各种身体反应，使孕妇在孕期保持身心舒适、健康，并非常有利于产后快速修复，减少由于怀孕分娩遗留下来的并发症。

而Lamaze比较注重孕妇身体与心理的放松。除呼吸训练之外更注重夫妻之间的互动练习，结合丈夫的情感关爱和使人放松的环境来使孕妇在心理上更放松减少对自然分娩的恐惧与疼痛，比较少针对孕妇个体以及不同时期的身体变化的动作练习。

 益于准妈妈

孕妇练习瑜伽可以增强体力和肌肉张力，增强肌肉组织的平衡感、柔韧度和灵活度。保护脊柱与关节，平衡怀孕期间体重对背部与关节的压力。

 瑜伽的延展动作，不但可舒缓紧张而疼痛的肌肉，有助于分娩前打开骨盆，通过对盆底的调整可以更好的控制分娩，减少并发症并加速产后恢复，特别是有意识地锻炼腹部、腰部、背部和骨盆的肌肉，可以助于减轻临产时的阵痛，促进顺利地自然分娩。

 瑜伽的体式练习，可以缓解孕妇不同孕期的身体反应，例如：恶心、呕吐、便秘、胀气、浮肿，帮助孕妈妈适应身体重心的转移和体重的增加。瑜伽呼吸法也能帮助放松情绪，伸展肋骨及加强胸腔及背部肌肉的弹性，让准妈妈在分娩时可以做深长、规律的呼吸来情绪稳定、放松肌肉、调节血压、减少疼痛。

 益于宝宝：

　　由于胎儿与母体血脉相连，母体血液循环的增强，也增加了对胎儿的氧气和营养供给，促进胎儿大脑和身体的发育。准妈妈们在户外活动时晒晒太阳，还有利于胎儿的骨骼生长发育。而且，母亲经常保持良好的心理状态，对孩子将来形成乐观开朗的性格有一定的作用。