Introduction

American Geographer Ellen Semple said, “The humans are solely the product of their environment.” Today we can say that “We are what our atmosphere is.”

We can take corrective action to eliminate the root cause of polluted environments and also increase our immunity, for our benefit and future generations.

COVID 19 is a virus that has arrived in the atmosphere and challenged the existence of all human life. It has become a life-threatening epidemic and disrupted social, cultural and economic systems. Therefore, we need to be more aware and consciously protect to be born children before conception and during pregnancy.

Ancient science & Vedic scriptures believes the power of creation in the womb is unique and sacred. Garbhaupanishad (written in 17th century by Sage Pippalada) explains the science of conception and evolution of life from subtle to grosser forms. It gives details about embryo formation, growth and developments of life in the womb. Ayurveda, being a health science, described a month wise diet and discipline to be followed by pregnant women and evolution of life step by step in the womb. This was done hundreds of years ago.

Ayurvedic wisdom states that the psychosomatic architecture or personality of an individual is shaped at the time of conception and it remains lifelong. We call it prakruti (an individual’s constitution). In fact it is a blue print of a person’s life. This is the foundation for understanding physical, mental, emotional, intellectual and spiritual health of an individual. 

Therefore, if a couple ensures the healthy state of their dhatus specifically “shukra dhatu” (ovum and sperms both) well in advance and thereafter they can plan their child. If we take care of the first Rasa dhatu and its transportation to each further dhatus leading to healthy state of Shukra dhatu too. Hence, diet and digestions are an important part of Garbhasanskar. Instead of being dependent on external vaccines and tonics focusing on healthy state of dhatus can lay a strong foundation of health and happiness.

Prevention is always better than Cure. Therefore, it is for the couple to seek adequate advice. A woman needs to pay attention to her own health before, during and after conception. According to Samkhya Darshan the cosmos is an amalgamation of Purusha and Prakruti. Women can be related analogically with the principle of Prakruti and so as a co-creator of the universe. Therefore, safeguarding her health is essential for procreation.

Ayurveda and Yoga, both traditional sciences, provide holistic solutions that women require at various stages in life. If she pays attention to these regime from time to time, then it facilitates creating ‘Supraja” (Immune and healthy child).

The life of woman is marked by various milestones starts from birth, puberty, marriage, conception and finally ends at menopause. The standing of women has changed with times, sometimes naturally and most of the times through “sheer will power”. Now women have to manage work and home.  

Pregnancy brings additional responsibility for women where Ayurveda and Yoga can help. PREGNANCY ie one of the important milestones in a woman’s life. It brings about an incredible transformation in a woman’s life. It changes her perspective towards self and family.

Garbhasanskar the systematic process of conscious conception. This is a special pregnancy care described in the ancient scriptures. This can be advised before conception to create Supraja (healthy /immune child).

Every couple needs to educate themselves for the betterment of moms to be and normal childbirth. It enables the child to acquire best qualities during its stays inside mother’s womb. Moms to be need to adapt the modified changes in her diet and activities. Ayurveda explains these holistic guidelines in systematic ways. This also helps mother and child to get rid of gestational (during pregnancy) disorders like gestational high blood pressure or diabetes etc.

Disease and Disequilibrium

The   imbalance between inner and outer environment of an individual is the main cause of various diseases. To maintain this equilibrium, Ayurveda and Yoga connects you with yourself by linking the inner and outer using various remedies and techniques.

Definition of Health

“Sama dosha Samagnisch samdhaumalakriya I

Prasannatmendriyamana swasth ityabhidhiyate II

Ayurveda defines health as the balanced state of “Tridosha” (Vata, Pitta and Kapha), Agni (Fire), Dhatu (tissue), Mala (waste material) and their function which establishes the pleasant state of soul, mind and senses denoting the health of the human being.

Ancient scriptures specifically Kashyap Samhita speaks about mother and child wellness. Ayurveda, Vedas and Puranas have various kinds of descriptions about marriage, rajaswala paricharya means menstrual women's codes of conduct - how to observe the menstrual blood and self-analyzed its purity, adopting the resilience, following cleanliness and austerity etc. All this helps a women to develop endurance and health.

Yoga is one of the strong tools to enable women's wellness before, during and after pregnancy. The physical and mental health of pregnant women is very important for healthy growth and development of child in the womb. There is a profound belief that preventive and therapeutic techniques of Yoga can help women lay positive foundation of her spiritual, emotional, intellectual, physical developments. 

‘Saumanasya Garbhadharana’ - It means happy state of body and mind is responsible to stabilize the new life in the womb.

After teaching this science to yoga teachers, I have developed the 3S yoga module in pregnancy for each trimester to focus on the main goal of the trimester. All trimester one should follow few thumb rules –  

1. Avoid prone postures and abdominal pressure.

2. Avoid extreme heat creating practices like suryabhedan, bhastrika etc.

3. Each pregnancy is different so every mother needs customized yoga practices under the expert guidance.

Yoga for stability of new life in the womb during 1st trimester (1-3 months) -: 1^st trimester is challenging time for the couple starting from confirmation of conception till the establishment of fertilized egg inside the uterus.

This module brings peaceful and stable environments to welcome the child in the womb and adapt the new lifestyle in a slow and steady manner. Pregnant woman can practice relaxing asana like shavasana, pranayama and specific prayer for helping the establishment of new life without miscarriage or any complications in mother. Woman can pay attention to new signs consciously and take prompt help.

More concentration practices to be include under the guidance of prenatal yoga teacher. To cope up with signs and symptoms of pregnancy she needs exceptional support from her husband, family and doctor.

Swami Muktananda said, “Doing Yoga together, especially pranayama and meditation will help to create spirituality positive vibes for the baby, especially when done collectively by both parents.”

Yoga for strength building in - 2nd trimester (3-6 months) -: 2^nd trimester brings the stability of child in the womb and hence stability in pregnant woman too. However, this is crucial time for babies for its development of heart, sense organs and brain. Babies starts communicating with its environment and mother. Hence, mother can feel these manifestation through some kicks or some desires and cravings predominately. Therefore, she needs to take out the time to observe those activities. She can even develop the habit of talking with baby along with her husband.

This module creates strength and immunity in pregnant woman and facilitates stronger emotional and intellectual development inside the baby. Reading, gardening or listening to soothing music and fulfilling the specific desires if it arrives in fourth month.

Other than these specific activities, regular yoga practices for eg she may increase modified version of cultural asana like parvatasana, ardha chakrasana, ushtrasana like in addition to earlier trimester’s asana and add confidence boosting pranayama like ujjayi.

Yoga for space creation - 3rd trimester (6-9month)-: In 3rd trimester mother and baby both have been trying to adjust each other and enhancing for space. Most of the organs has already been developed now it’s a refinement stage.

Therefore in this trimester pregnant woman can lay emphasis on space creating practices which expands the chest, abdomen pelvic and vaginal region. This module aims to create required space, facilitate normal childbirth and post-natal wellbeing.

In this module, Asanas included are mainly malasana, veerbhadrasana, baddhakonasana, gomukasana etc. Both the legs can be kept rested on the sofa up as per capacity to reduce the edema feet and prevent varicosity.

In this month particular prayer and visualization of normal childbirth can be practiced more to magnify psychological space and stamina. In Ayurveda it is advised to avoid strenuous activities like travel etc. In the 8^th month of gestation due to instability of energy in both child and mother women needs to practice pause and resilience practices like pranayama –bhramari, ujjayi and sheetali. 

Finally, pregnancy brings natural obligation and major shifts in her life at the level of physical, psychological and spiritual level.

In fact, Ayurveda and Yoga can be two wings for moms to enjoy the journey of motherhood and look after her own health and baby’s health too. In a broader sense it provides optimal care before, during and after childbirth and can reduce mother and child mortality rates. Thus, it helps achieve WHO’s sustainable development goals. 

References

Ayurveda kaumarbhritya, Charak Samhita, Sushrut Samhita, Kashyap Samhita, Harita Samhita, Garbhaupsnishad, Patanjali Yoga sutra,Sankhya Yoga darshan.

Author is B.A.M.S, MSc in Yoga, Qualified Assistant Professor and Counsellor, Founder and director of Dr.Nutan’s Ayurveda Yoga Garbhasanskar Academy, Mumbai.

Dr.Nutan has designed the teachers training course on Prenatal Postnatal Yoga and Garbhasanskar and conducts regular courses for training teachers.             Site www.drnutan.com