Prenatal Yoga - Garbha Samskara
- anjikamca
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
"Garbha Samskara" directly translates to "impressions from the womb". In yoga, the practice always extends beyond the muscles and exercise - and this couldn't be more evident in the case of Prenatal Yoga.
On a basic level , each stage of pregnancy creates deep impacts on the womb. The mother's surroundings, mental state, and emotional state create impressions on the baby. This is why moms who cultivate a strong mindset, willpower, and internal peace are doing much more than self-care - they are creating a strong child as well.
What is the Garbha Upanishad?:
For practitioners who learn from traditions and texts, the whole basis of our prenatal yoga practice stems from the Garbha Upanishad - a core piece of Vedic Literature dating back as early as 600 to 200 BCE. The Garbha Upanishad speaks with "clarity and accuracy on how life is conceived, grows, and develops within the mother’s womb. It explains the process of fertilization, the formation of the embryo, and its progression through various stages of development"(Markandeya, 2024). Not only does the text outline the development of an embryo month by month, it also details the development of the fetus' awareness throughout the pregnancy. Therefore, this is a crucial scientific - yet spiritual guide for the creation of life.
How does this impact our practice of Garbha Samskara / Prenatal Yoga? :
As the text shares the fetus' awareness and month by month development - it further helps us understand how delicate and beautiful each birth and each individual soul is.
Prenatal yoga is a mindful practice and method for moms to understand the impact they have on their growing child - and how this can empower and lighten their journey. The conscious practice of yoga is a tool to experience and understand Garbha Samskara - the impressions on the baby that begin in the womb.
Practice with Guidance
Yoga is also a great way to address your individual needs throughout pregnancy. Whether you are experiencing back pain, shortness of breath, anxiety, swollen ankles, and more - there are specific and simple techniques to provide relief.
Practice with guidance so that you can learn how to adapt the movements according to the trimester you are in and to ensure a safe practice.
Here are some common techniques we apply in our classes:
AUM chanting - universal vibrations that even your child can connect to, brings immediate clarity and peace
Brahmi Pranayam - chanting like a humming bee, leaves your sense refreshed and the mind deeply relaxed and peaceful.
Deviasana - builds strength and endurance, physically and mentally.
Bhadda Konasana - Opens the hip and strengthens your pelvic muscles to prepare for delivery day
A simple practice with repeated application, carries deep impacts for the mom's pregnancy journey and creates conscious impressions on the baby in the womb.
Thank you for reading and see you in class!
Sources
Bharatha Yoga
Hatha Yoga Pradipika
Garbha Upanishad - We have only briefly applied this for us ( yoga students and practitioners)
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