When she’s not appearing in TV shows, we often see Erika Padilla reporting from the sidelines of PBA games. But not a lot of people know that she’s also a yoga enthusiast.
Now that she’s expecting her first child with fiancé Jeffrey Cariaso of the Alaska Aces, she’s still as active as ever.
In an interview with GMA news, the 30-year-old shared that yoga is “absolutely” safe for expectant moms. “But please do it with care or with an instructor to assist you. Always feel your body out first before endeavoring something unfamiliar,” she said.
Late last year, she explained more about her passion for the practice and discipline of yoga.
“In my study and practice of yoga, breath is a pillar that supports the practice’s very existence. A fundamental that separates yoga from mere exercise,” she wrote on facebook. “As it happens with every movement, and as it partners with the mind and the body, breath reconnects us to our soul, to our being, to our true self. Eventually, we realize that we are led to a meditation that transforms to stillness and peace.
Continuing, she wrote, “In time you will realize, breath is not simply to keep us alive, it goes deeper, making us feel alive. And when we are, theres no way but to add on to making this world a better, happier place. Make every breath count. Breathe so that through you, others too may live to make a difference.”
Here are some more benefits of prenatal Yoga for your overall health during pregnancy, according to yoga instructor Love Torralba.
1. Prenatal Yoga helps center moms-to be, physically and emotionally
“When we’re pregnant, the belly grows and this changes the stance and center of gravity,” yoga instructor Love Torralba, who’s also a mom of two, told theAsianparent Philippines in a previous interview. “Most women compensate by arching their backs and so they experience back pain.”
2. Prenatal yoga prepares moms-to-be for labor and delivery
Practicing yoga when you’re expecting helps strengthen ligaments and increases pelvic floor awareness. It lessens stress through proper breathing and it can even allow babies to position themselves naturally.
3. It encourages family bonding and prepares women for motherhood
“The practice of Yoga is physically rewarding: it prepares you for the weight gain body changes, prevents off balance, lessens dizziness, less pressure on bladder and swelling,” shared Love, adding that it helps moms-to-be work around pain and discomfort, while easing anxiety and promoting a good disposition.
“Yoga helps moms enjoy the pregnancy,” she says, “It’s a wonderful journey!”
READ: 5 Awesome benefits of prenatal Yoga for a blissful pregnancy journey
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