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Fertility Yoga
is Here!
by Monica Morell, Ph.D.
Hello and welcome to a new monthly column, Fertility Yoga
Musings! Each month, I will bring you a mindful piece about
fertility yoga, which will feature a yoga pose especially
beneficial for fertility. As we know, the practice of yoga,
which has been around for thousands of years, can help us
in many aspects of our lives, including infertility. But
did you know that yoga is fast becoming an important holistic
complement for an increasing number of women and couples
experiencing infertility? It seems like more women and couples
are turning to the yoga mat than ever before.
What is fertility yoga? Fertility yoga is a specialized
sequence of yoga poses designed to help women who are trying
to conceive. There are thousands of yoga poses and indeed,
there are several yoga poses that are likely to be especially
beneficial for fertility—those that help us on a physical
level with our reproductive and hormonal wellness; on an
emotional level with our sense of calm and control; and
on a spiritual level with a developed sense of knowing and
accepting. Let's now take a look at one of those poses (excerpted
from Fertility Yoga with Monica Morell, Ph.D. video).
Fish Pose (Matsyasana). How does the fish pose help? On
a physical level, the fish pose can help us improve our
posture, and redirect the blood flow through the thyroid
and parathyroid glands, thus helping our hormonal balance.
It also strengthens the muscles of the upper back and back
of the neck.
*How to do the fish pose: Come into a seated position with
your legs extended in front of you. Take your hands and
place them underneath your buttocks. Finger tips pointing
toward your toes. Come back on your elbows as you arch your
back upward. Slide back until the crown of your head is
resting on the floor. Pull your shoulders away from your
ears. Point your toes toward the floor. Keep your legs together.
Deepen your breath as you gaze behind you.
Until next month, be well, practice your yoga and think
fertile thoughts!
Blessings, Monica Morellwww.fertilityoga.
com
Monica has an excellent fertility
yoga video. Bloggers can go to: infertility.
adoptionblogs.com.
Global
Yoga Community
Philadelphia
Complementary Care Consortium
*Disclaimer: The fish pose is not recommend for those who
have high or low blood pressure, suffer from migraines,
have insomnia or serious low back or neck injury. Keep in
mind that yoga exercises may not be appropriate for everyone.
Consult your doctor before trying this or other yoga poses.
The exercise, instructions and advice presented here are
in no way intended as a substitute for medical treatment
or counseling. There are no guarantees that by practicing
yoga will result in pregnancy.
"I know someone who would love to read this" ... we make
forwarding this newsletter
very easy! |
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Greetings!
This newsletter is designed to provide you with the latest
fertility news and research so that you can make the most
informed decisions. We carefully select items that are of
special interest for those dealing with infertility issues
and who want to know more about complementary care methods.
It is sincerely hoped that this letter will be of great
use to you.
Sincerely,
Gayle D. Crespy, Psy.D.
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| Mind
Body News |
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Can
acupuncture help you conceive? (2/14/06, IC-Wales)
Steps
to boost one's fertility (2/8/06, The Hindu - India)
A
mind-body approach to infertility (1/30/06, Scottsdale
Republic)
Acupuncture:
can it really help make you pregnant? (1/24/06, Scotsman.com)
Herbs
Not Supplemental to Fertility (1/20/06, Fashion Monitor,
Toronto)
Program
To Reduce Accutane Use by Pregnant Women Begins (1/04/06,
Kaiser Network News)
Use
of Nicotine Patches, Gum in First 12 Weeks of Pregnancy
Can Increase Risk of Birth Defects, Study Says (1/04/06,
Kaiser Network News)
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View
More News Items... |
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Mind
Body
Program Updates |
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The list of providers that follow Dr. Alice Domar's "The
Mind/Body Program for Infertility" is growing. Find a program
near you!
Alice Domar, Ph.D., originator
of "The Mind/Body Program for Infertility has a new facility
in Waltham, MA - read a recent
news account of it - and visit her new website at www.domarcent
er.com.
Dr. Gayle Crespy has moved her office to Spring House, PA
(Philadelphia suburb) and is starting a 10-session group
on April 17, 2006 -
register today! Also, see the Philadelphia, PA, Infertility
Complementary Care Provider
List.
Dr. Linda Stamm, Atlanta,
GA, authored a children's book, Phoebe's
Family: A Story About Egg Donation, to help patients
who are considering egg donation, but are unsure how to
tell their existing children. |
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| Mind
Body Research |
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Available
This Month (March 2006)
Role of diet in the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome
(Douglas CC, et. al.; Fertility & Sterility Journal)
The
relationship between coping and depression in men and women
referred for in vitro fertilization (Peterson BD, et.
al.; Fertility & Sterility Journal)
Upcoming
Fertility & Sterility Journal Articles
Acupuncture and infertility: We need to stick to good science
(Alice Domar).
Acupuncture as adjunctive therapy in assisted reproduction:
remaining uncertainties (Evan Myers).
Acupuncture on the day of embryo transfer significantly
improves the reproductive outcome in infertile women. A
prospective, randomized study. (Lars Grabow Westergaard).
Invitation to an international multi-center study on the
effect of acupuncture on the outcome of in vitro fertilization
and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (Stefan Dieterle).
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| Fertility
Recipe |
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The ovaries, uterus and breasts are important female organs
regulated by hormones. Too little estrogen is a common problem
with reproductive hormones.The regulation of these hormones
by the endocrine system is of vital importance to the reproductive
health of women.
The years leading up to menopause show a decrease in estrogen
levels. Estrogen deficiencies also arise when estrogen is
leached from the body via a diet too rich in wheat fiber,
or if not enough estrogen is recycled by the bowels or liver.
It may also be caused by low body weight, vitamin A deficiency,
too much exercise, smoking, taking antibiotics, or being
on the contraceptive pill for too long.
Eating phytoestrogen rich foods such as legumes and soy
stimulate the pituitary to produce estrogen. Here is a recipe
rich in phytoestrogens and protein.
Bean Salad
Ingredients: 1 package extra firm tofu, cubed; 1 cup dried
lentils; 1 cup dried garbanzo beans; 1 small can sliced
olives; 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley; 2 tablespoons olive
oil; 1 tablespoon lemon juice or cider vinegar; pepper to
taste.
Directions: Wash and drain garbanzo beans and lentils. Place
beans and lentils in a pot and cover with water. Bring to
a boil, cover, remove from heat and let stand for 2 hours.
Put all ingredients into a bowl and mix well. Chill for
a few hours and serve.
Maria Biasucci- Vianna, MS is a Registered Dietitian and
a Certified Dietitian-Nutritionist. |
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| Mind
Body Store |
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After receiving many requests over the past few years to
recommend Mind Body books, relaxation tapes, and videos,
we decided to put together our Mind Body Store.
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Visit
the Mind Body Store... |
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