Prenatal Yoga has its roots in the traditional teachings of Hatha Yoga, but has developed as a distinct discipline to meet the specific needs of pregnant women. Although yoga practices have always included elements aimed at harmonizing body and mind, Prenatal Yoga was structured in the 20th century in response to a better understanding of women's physiological and emotional needs during pregnancy.

The origins of yoga in India go back thousands of years, and have always centered on the idea ofbalancing the body'senergies to achieve a state of health and well-being. At the heart of this practice is the idea that the body is a sacred temple and must be prepared to support important transitions such as pregnancy and childbirth. In ancient texts such as the Vedas and Upanishads, mention is made of preparing the body for reproduction and the creation of life, although it was not until much later that Prenatal Yoga was formalized as a specific branch of the practice.

The evolution of modern Prenatal Yoga can be attributed to the emergence of the global wellness movement in the 1960s and 1970s, when health professionals and yoga instructors began to recognize the potential benefits of yoga for pregnant women. In the U.S. and Europe, prenatal wellness pioneers such as Geeta Iyengar, daughter of B.K.S. Iyengar, played a key role in developing yoga sequences suitable for pregnant women. In her book "Yoga: A Gem for Women", Geeta Iyengar introduced adaptations of Iyengar yoga to help women manage the physical and emotional changes during pregnancy, focusing on safe postures that promote the well-being of both fetus and mother.

The 1970s saw an explosion of interest in alternative medical practices and more natural childbirth preparation methods, in which yoga began to occupy a central place. Influential figures such as Ina May Gaskin, a famous midwife, advocated the use of prenatal yoga as part of birth preparation, for its effect on relaxation, breath control, andemotional balance.

Modern prenatal yoga is also influenced by the growing recognition of the benefits of Pranayama (breathing techniques) to help prepare the body for childbirth. The importance of breath control during pregnancy, a fundamental principle of traditional yoga, has been adopted in childbirth preparation classes around the world. Techniques such as Ujjayi breathing, practiced in Hatha Yoga, have proved beneficial in helping women remain calm and centered during labor and delivery.

Prenatal Yoga has therefore gradually evolved into a set of practices designed to strengthen the pregnant woman's body, improve flexibility and prepare the mind for thetransformative experience of motherhood. Its adapted postures, breathing exercises and deep relaxation techniques are designed to help reduce pregnancy-related discomforts such as back pain, edema and fatigue, while stimulating a deep connection with the developing baby.

In contemporary Western culture, prenatal yoga has become firmly established in the prenatal care landscape. Modern medical institutions now regularly recommend prenatal yoga as a means of managing the physical and emotional stresses associated with pregnancy. Many hospitals and clinics integrate prenatal yoga classes into their birth preparation programs, emphasizing its role in promoting physical health, mental well-being andemotional balance.

At the same time, Prenatal Yoga also draws on ancient spiritual practices. In the yogic tradition, motherhood is seen as a sacred process, part of the larger cycle of life and creation. In India, for example, the goddess Shakti represents the feminine creative force and the ability to give birth to life. Prenatal Yoga integrates this notion by recognizing the unique creative energy of pregnant women, and offering practices designed to honor and nourish this energy throughout pregnancy.

In this way, Prenatal Yoga combines ancient knowledge with modern approaches to support women on their journey into motherhood, promoting both physical health andemotional fulfillment. It embodies the idea that pregnancy is not just a bodily experience, but also a moment of spiritual transformation and deep connection with life.