Yoga For Pregnancy by Sandra Jordan

This book is great if you need a first introduction to Yoga (and oh yeah, if you happen to be pregnant). It demonstrates 92 yoga poses that are safe an beneficial for the kind of strains and stresses you and your body are likely to encounter through pregancy and labour. Jordan even throws in post-delivery poses to assist in recovery and the return of your pre-pregnant bod. The author's text is very brief, instructional and to the point. Each section focuses on a set of poses concentrating on specific body areas - the hamstring stretches just about killed me. Each pose is illustrated with a photo and comes with a step-by-step explanation of the process by which you acheive it, and release it. She also clearly indicates whether the pose is recommended for all trimesters or just the first one or two. And if all this is easy and sensible enough for you, the book is wire-bound, so it lays open nice and flat on the floor while you struggle to coordinate your inhaling and exhaling with the step-by-step instructions.

It's worth noting that the spiritual and meditative side of yoga is only slightly touched on in this book. But as a beginner, I actually found that quite okay. Jordan does make clear the importance of proper breathing and she emphasizes the notion of holding a pose, as opposed to "stretching" or "doing exercises". Just by following the steps - even as I was half-reading from the book - I did feel amazingly meditative and relaxed... oh, except with the hamstring poses.

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