Hollywood moms popularise prenatal yoga

Numerous mums-to-be A-listers are now turning to prenatal yoga to make labour easier and to stay in shape.

Golden Globe-nominated pregnant January Jones (Mad Men) was reportedly spotted heading to yoga class in Los Angeles and Silver Lake (California) recently.

First time mom Alyssa Milano (Charmed) was seen going to yoga class in Calabasas (California) and Los Angeles sometime back.

Tori Spelling (Saved by the Bell), due with her third child in October, is said to be taking yoga lessons at home.

Golden Globe nominated Jessica Alba (Dark Angel), who recently gave birth to her second child, reportedly said that prenatal yoga really helped her maintain her figure.

She was also quoted as saying, “Prenatal yoga is really good,” and “it really prepares your body”.

Welcoming this prenatal yoga trend, distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) on Friday, said that yoga was a mental and physical discipline by means of which the human-soul (jivatman) united with universal-soul (parmatman).

He urged the celebrities to explore the spiritual dimension of yoga also besides its physical benefits.

Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, further said yoga was one of the six systems of orthodox Hindu philosophy and urged celebrities to take a look at the rest of the five schools also.

Some sages had described yoga as the silencing of all mental transformations, which lead to the total realization of the Supreme Self, he added.

Zed pointed out that according to Patanjali who codified it in Yoga Sutra, yoga was a methodical effort to attain perfection, through the control of the different elements of human nature, physical and psychical.

It is claimed that prenatal yoga keeps limbs toned, improves balance and circulation, helps learning to breathe deeply and relax, and is beneficial during labor and birth. Prenatal yoga is also quoted as “one of the best forms of exercise during pregnancy” and prepares for the birth “by focusing on relaxation and breathing techniques”.

According to the National Institutes of Health, yoga may help one to feel more relaxed, be more flexible, improve posture, breathe deeply, and get rid of stress. According to an estimate, about 16 million Americans, including many celebrities, now practice yoga.