abdominal massage, 20, 22, 225, 257–258
accept and respect, yoga principles, 23
aerobic exercise, 251
affirmations for fertility support, 238–239
alternate nostril breath, 230
ART, See assisted reproductive technology
Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Therapy™, 257
asanas, 225
assisted reproductive technology (ART), 206, 255, 258–260
clomid/IUI, 259
collaborative reproduction/donor egg, 259–260
IUI with injectable drugs, 259
IVF, 259
avidya, 14
Ayurveda, 245
basal body temperature (BBT), 21
belly breath, 38, 80, 126, 162, 181, 208, 229
bent knee twist, 43, 109–110, 134–135, 186, 194, 218
bloodstream, reducing stress hormones levels in, 6–7
BMI, See Body Mass Index
body
life-force energy, 12
mind and, 9
regulation of, 3
Body Mass Index (BMI), optimal range of, 249
body-to-mind communication, during yoga, 23
bow pose, 101
breathing practices, 24, 228–230
supported bridge pose, 207, 215
calming/centering breath, See centering/calming breath
calming effect, 139
cat-cow, 45, 83, 136, 166, 196, 210
circles, 46, 84, 137, 167, 197, 211
centering/calming breath, 38, 80, 126, 162, 192
cervical mucus, 22
chakras, 5
chant, to support fertility, 241
“chicken wing” shoulder stretch, 35, 62, 123, 148, 199, 213
child’s pose, 31–32, 47, 50, 72, 86–87, 120, 121, 138, 156, 169, 198
restorative, 212
approach, 244
fertility-supporting practices from, 257
Clear Passage Therapy™, 272
clomid/IUI, fertility treatments, 259
with heart opener, 36, 63, 150, 182, 214
cobra, moving, 31, 51, 75, 100
collaborative reproduction/donor egg, fertility treatments, 258–259
coming up, 44, 61, 82, 110, 135, 195
conscious breathing practice for fertility support, 226–228
conscious mind, 9
corpse pose, 37, 39, 125, 153, 161, 189, 221
counseling and life coaching, 258
counted breath, 229
dharana, 225
dhyana, 225
digestive energy in the body, 11
downward facing dog, 31, 49, 50, 71, 85, 91, 121, 140, 156, 168, 170
eagle arms, warrior 2 pose with, 74, 72
early pregnancy, legs up the couch pose, 204–205
eight limbs of yoga, 225
emotional patterning, 14, 84, 137, 167, 197
emotional stresses, 5
endocrine systems, 50, 60, 68, 85, 99, 112, 129, 141, 152, 168, 179, 215
rebalancing, 14
endometriosis
diagnosis of, 14
energy
feminine, 9
essence, concept of, 253
feminine energy, 9
fertility abdominal massage, 20, 22, 255, 257–258
fertility “altar,” 239–240, 274
fertility issues, 256
for hypnotherapy, 258
fertility nutrition
ayurvedic approach, 245
food sensitivities approach, 244–245
lifestyle changes for, 243
traditional Chinese medicine approach, 244
Western dietician approach, 244
“whole foods” approach, 245
fertility support
conscious breathing practice for, 226–228
meditations and visualizations for, 231
practices from Chinese medicine, 257
usefulness of yoga for, 11
“fight-or-flight” response, physiological changes associated with, 6
follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), 259, 267, 271, 274, 275
forward bend over one leg, 159, 180–181
FSH, See follicle stimulating hormone
gentle seated twist, 202
groin stretch/lizard lunge, 73, 89
half-moon balance pose, 75, 96–97, 158, 174–175
hand and knee poses, 83–91, 136–142, 145–150, 166–170, 196–198, 210–214
happiness and the mind, 7
happy baby pose, 118, 132, 155, 165
heart-to-uterus visualization, 237
hormonal system, imbalances in, 13–14, 16
hormone levels, impact on, 251
immune booster, wide standing forward bend with, 75, 98, 158, 178–179
infertility
facts, 261
Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), 259
intrauterine insemination (IUI)
with injectable drugs, 259
in vitro fertilization (IVF), 259, 273–274
process, 271
IUI, See intrauterine insemination
IVF, See in vitro fertilization
jing, 253
knee-down lunge, 33, 55, 72, 88, 121, 142
knee poses, hand and, 83–91, 136–142, 145–150, 166–170, 196–198, 210–214
knees to chest, 70, 81, 116, 127, 216
legs up the wall pose, 5, 20, 67–68, 79, 111–112, 124, 151–152, 161, 187–188, 206, 207, 226, 237
less strenuous exercise program, 252
life coaching, counseling and, 258
L-methylfolate, 249
lying on back, 39–44, 127, 128, 163–165
mala beads for meditation, 240
male fertility
challenges, 16
pose for, 223
meditation, 7
benefits of, 231
elements of, 232
mala beads for, 240
mindful walking, 235
passage, 236
practices, 277
seated, See seated meditation
methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), 248–249, 276
heterozygous for, 270
middle pain, See mittelschmerz
mind-body
awareness, 19
communication channel, 9
Mind-Body Fertility Connection, The (Schwarz), 238
mind/body program at fertility clinic, 267, 271
mind/body techniques, 17
mindful walking meditation, 235
miscarriage, 15
mittelschmerz, 22
monthly cycle, yoga routine, 19–20
mountain pose, 33, 56–58, 122, 143–144
moving bridge, 127, 128, 133, 154, 163
MTHFR, See methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase
nadis, 4
negative thinking, reduction of, 8–9
niyamas, 225
normal-weight women, pregnancy in, 250
nutritional deficiencies, 247–249
nutrition, fertility, See fertility nutrition
outer hip stretch, 29, 41, 42, 118, 131, 217
predictor kit, 22
oxytocin, 223
pancreas, 14
passage meditation, 236
pelvic areas, yoga for fertility increases, 4
pelvic floor contractions, 36, 64–65
bridge pose prep with, 104
pelvic tension, 4
pelvic tilts, 29, 40, 77, 104, 118, 133, 160, 184
physiological changes, associated with
“fight-or-flight” response, 6
relaxation response, 7
pigeon pose, 73, 90–91, 157, 170
polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), 14
practitioners, long-term yoga, 3
effects of, 228
for fertility support, 226–228
prayer pose, 31–33, 47–48, 50, 54, 72, 76, 86–87, 103, 120, 121, 138–139, 141, 156, 169, 198
pregnancy, 15
mind/body techniques, 17
in normal-weight women, 250
problem, 256
progression, 277
test, 267
pre-relaxation poses on the back, 184–186
Qi, acupuncture, 256
reclined cobbler pose, 42, 113, 203
regular yoga practice, 3
relaxation poses, 67–69, 111–113, 151–153, 187–189
relaxation response, physiological changes associated with, 7
reproductive energy center, sacrum, 39
RESOLVE, national infertility organization, 258
restorative child’s pose, 212
rest, yoga principles and, 24
sacrum circles, 28, 39, 117, 130, 154, 164, 193
samadhi, 225
seated deep breathing, 228
seated meditation
for calming, 234
to clear the mind, 233
seated poses, 148–150, 180–181, 199–202
seated wide-leg straddle, 149, 183, 200
standing poses, 56–61, 143–147, 181–179
stress hormones, reducing levels of, 6–7
stress reduction, 24, 206, 208
massage and, 269
exercise for, 252
subconscious messages, affect fertility, 238
subconscious mind, 9
suggestions, fertility, 260–263
supported bridge pose, 207, 215
tension
release from muscles, 41
release by circling motion, 46
3-part abdominal breathing, 229
toxicity in body, 256
ujayii (audible) breath, 228
uncomfortable feel in yoga practice, 24, 95, 173, 239
unexplained infertility, factors of, 13–14
uterus
endometriosis and, 14
thickened lining of, 7, 21, 154
vigorous exercise, 250
for stress reduction, 252
vision boards and fertility alerts, 239–240
visualizations
for fertility support, 231
heart-to-uterus, 237
vitamin B12, 248
warrior 2 pose with eagle arms, 92
weight and fertility, optimal range for, 249
wide standing forward bend, 59
with immune booster, 98–99, 178–179
with twist, 60
yamas, 225
yoga for fertility benefits, 3–4
yoga practice
advantage of, 9
basic principles of, 25
for early pregnancy, 204
recommendations for, 222
uncomfortable feel in, 24, 95, 173, 239
yogurt, 246