Yoga for Womens' Problems http://www.yogasite.com/pms.htm

Can kaosikii be done through out the period of pregnancy?

A: If Kaoshikii is done reguarly during pregnancy it will ensure an easy birth. Obviously, the last few months the mother has to be careful as her center of gravity is way off.

Also, carya carya provides a general rule that asanas should be avoided during pregnancy, menstruation and with in one month of delivery. There may be some other guidelines. You are welcome to post what you know here.

Ac.Cirasmita reports: Most ananda marga designated asanas are ok to practice during the first three months, then the 'three sisters asanas' (yoga mudra, cobra and diirgha pranam) for the next two. After the fifth month no asanas should be praciticed but the mother should be encouraged to stretch and walk.

I'm not qualified to comment on pre-natal or post natal yoga. but taking my own experience into account as a mother, in general the first trimester (3 months of pregnancy) women are not advised to do strenuous or start a new exercise regime. some women experience acute nausea/ morning sickness, irregular blood pressure, gestational diabetes, unpredictable fainting spells among other things. All these symptoms may also prevent them to perform kaoshikii. i would imagine kaoshikii, padahastasana, karmasana would be uncomfortable for them to do. Pre-natal yoga usually focus on floor exercises that strengthen the lowerback, open the hipjoints, without pressing/ lying down on the stomach. so the poses will be limited to squat, yogamudra, gentle forward bend (maybe with props like a chair), gentle seated twist, side stretch, and a lot of joint loosening exercise like Pawanmuktasana series. (Krishnapriya, Singapore)

There’s very little proven science that I know of on these subjects. Intuitively one avoids most asanas the more pregnant one becomes, because it is dangerous to the baby and to the mother to do much twisting and bending. Children do have undeveloped glands, and the AM asanas are aimed at these glands. So it doesn’t make sense that they do much in the way of asanas except simple ones for flexibility and balance and calmness. (Dr. Steven Landau)

why children cannot do a'sanas. I heard this: 'because their glands are growing and are not completely developed' this is an explanation I always say to parents. Could it generate some disequilibria glandular function, for some time or a long time?. How can, this hasty asanas practice, get implicated in the normal glandular development? Could it interfere or obstruct the function of the nervous system? Which other consequences could it bring about? Because many people are ignorant about this subtle effects. And they think that yoga (asanas) are a healthy skill they can apply/use as they like. (Nityavanii, Argentina)

Usually the asanas should better be prescribed only after 16 years of age. The effects of asanas can be immediately felt at that age. Certain asanas or warm-ups or selected asanas where there is no restriction of nostrils may be prescribed for children before 16 years. Usually many glandular changes occur between 12-16 years. Cakrasana , for example, can be done even after 5 years. Dhya'na-asanas can be done by anyone including children. Anandamurtiiji prescribes that asanas be better recommend by knowledgeable persons like acaryas and based on individual needs. Asanas have benefits for alleviating problems due to specific dis-eases as well for removing obstacles for deep spiritual practices. Yoga is not gymnastics. Breathing is a crucial factor in yoga-asanas. That is why, one should be careful in prescribing yoga asanas to children whose mind is not yet naturally calm and controlled.