Taking a yoga class once a week can reduce stress during pregnancy and decrease anxiety about childbirth, a new study finds.

A weekly yoga class reduces stress during pregnancy and the fear of childbirth by as much as a third, according to a study from the University of Manchester. That reports the Daily Mail.

The researchers followed two groups of women who were 22 weeks pregnant. One group attended a weekly yoga class for two months, the other group attended pregnancy gymnastics weekly during the same period. The yoga classes were adapted to pregnancy.
The participating women who took a weekly yoga class had it after two months less stress hormones and indicated that they were less afraid of childbirth† Even after one lesson, the women were already more relaxed, the study shows.

Stress

The women learned techniques to stay calm. It also turned out that the amount of stress was even lower than in women who relaxed at home.
“We already knew that yoga during pregnancy improves health and makes women stronger,” said Jacqui Clinton of the Tommy charity, which funded the research. “However, this research proves that yoga also has a positive effect on the mental health of pregnant women.”