Pregnancy is the time when you may feel low in energy and that the baby is taking it all up, without giving a thought to how that little bundle of cells is clinging to you for all his life support. The mother in turn, may just be busy in her normal routine - she gets up from bed with a jerk, calls, throws up, goes to office, drinks tea, throws up, picks up children, has lunch, throws up, cleans the house, has another tea, throws up and so on…….what a day for the poor baby!!

Its time to realize that looking after yourself when pregnant is very important. Do not try to prove yourself, or be a super - mom. Now is the time when you and your baby are a team; you share energies. The baby's nervous system physiology is derived from the mother - implying that if a mother is too hyper or nervous type, then, the child will also be very likely be of that type.

A healthy pattern of energies is required, so as not to imbalance the child before, during or after birth. One can obtain the balance, manipulate energies and effect a gradual change in their constitutional and habitual energy patterns.

What are these energies?

We commonly describe our energies as love energy, hate energy, happy energy, crazy energy and what not. We usually blame (as has become the fashion) our hormones for every undesirable mood and physical discomfort. Hormonal changes do take place in us but all for a reason. Energy system according to Yoga is governed by the 7 energy centers (chakras) within our body. These chakras are the vortex of energy, each having its corresponding energy system.

The 7 chakras are placed along the spinal cord - Mooldhara (located at perineum); Swadhisthana (just above anus); Manipura (Navel center); Anahata (heart center); Vishuddhi (throat); Ajna (space behind forehead) and Sahasrana (position of fontanels).

If any of the above chakras are afflicted (either too low in energy or high) they create an imbalance. This imbalance can manifest itself mentally, physically or emotionally. It would be in the form of ailment, fear, greed, restlessness, introversion/extroversion, etc.; everything depending on which chakra is afflicted.

Remember, the imbalance of the mother's chakra energy during pregnancy has a corresponding effect on the child - both on a day-to-day basis, as well as imprinting a constitutional legacy for the rest of his life.

All this energy can be managed by various yoga techniques - breathing techniques (Pranayama), exercises (Asanas) and relaxation (Yoga Nidra) - or a combination of these.

Women's Health and Pregnancy Manual is a very effective guide in familiarizing yourself with these important yoga tools including meditation and relaxation. These will hold you in good stead during pregnancy and provide you that all-important anchor. To read more on this manual, click here.

If you are the exercising sort, and would like to embark on a suitable prenatal yoga exercise routine, the YogaFit Prenatal Video would be worth exploring during your pregnancy.