| Reading Unit 7 includes IX Pregnancy Asanas and Pranayama & X Advanced Asanas |
In this part, Geeta focuses on two specialized areas of practice: pregnancy yoga and advanced āsanas. The pregnancy section addresses practice with sensitivity and precision, beginning with an acknowledgment of common fears while providing reassurance that selected poses are “simple to perform” and safe.
Geeta acknowledges that “Individual problems and constitutions vary from person to person” and encourages practitioners to use discretion. Her instructions maintain careful attention to creating space for the fetus’s movement while maintaining the mother’s strength and flexibility. Geeta also provides comprehensive guidance for different stages of pregnancy and levels of experience, differentiating between practitioners who began yoga before pregnancy and those who start during pregnancy. The section concludes with carefully structured practice sequences for different stages of pregnancy, emphasizing the importance of listening to one’s body and adjusting practice accordingly.
Focus questions:
1. What is the criteria to differentiate practices for those who began yoga before pregnancy versus those who start during pregnancy?
2. What is the significance of the advanced āsanas presented, and how do they contribute to women’s overall development?
3. How does Geeta adapt traditional practice principles for the specific needs of pregnancy?
