It's been long overdue, but today we finally got around to publishing our expert review on the Prenatal Yoga by Shiva Rea.
Does the good reputation hold up or not? Let’s find out!
Pros:
- Physical and emotional benefits
- Easy to follow practice
- Strong emphasis on alignment
- Sequences can be easily modified
- Specific advice for common physical symptoms of pregnancy
- Variety of practice options
Cons:
- 5-week practice can be long for some
- No modifications for those who have had a c-section or diastasis recti
Prenatal Yoga by Shiva Rea is an excellent yoga guide for expectant women. Shiva Rea has a lot of experience understanding women through the stages of pregnancy, childbirth, and early motherhood. This book is chockfull of information about yoga postures for each stage of pregnancy. I am a certified Prenatal Yoga Teacher and I found this book to be very accurate in defining the postures and describing their adjustments.
The book is broken down into 3 sections: Pregnancy (basically the first trimester till in between 36th and 40th week), Childbirth, and Beyond. Each section is divided into subsections by the development of the child.
The book includes 3 DVDs of prenatal yoga practice sequences. Each section ends with a resource section that provides restorative, gentle stretching, and relaxation exercises. The second DVD includes the sauna sequence that will help you cleanse your body. It includes a DVD for each section.
Overall, this is a great resource for pregnant women. I found the illustrations to be very accurate and easy to understand. The resources section will help you find a yoga teacher who might be helpful with your individual needs.
I would recommend this book and would definitely buy it if I were pregnant again.
Not what you’re looking for? Read our roundup review: Best Pregnancy Yoga DVD’s Of 2022; 10 Best Prenatal Yoga DVD