Yoga to support your mind, body, and spirit, pre- and post-IVF transfer

Many have turned to yoga as a method of support for mind, body and spiritual wellness. As we know that the benefits of yoga can really be supportive to our whole self. We also know that the fertility journey with the baby announcements, strangers asking when we are going to have kids… like it is any of their business, then we have the endless appointments and sneaking off during lunch hour to the lab, this is just a tiny piece of all the exhausting and draining things that occur. Some might turn to yoga as a supportive way to get some peace in your day.

You may be asking, “Is it ok to practice yoga poses right before and  after an IVF Transfer?”

I recommend that you check in with your doctor if they are ok with you participating in gentle yoga before participating in or starting an exercise routine.

I (Darrien Minnie) am not liable for any injury if participating in this yoga series.

If you are doing well and there are no concerns and your doctor and health care team say it is ok, then I highly suggest a super soft and gentle yoga practice. Also, they may caution you not to participate in yoga during STIMS or after retrieval. In these cases, you might enjoy easy seated meditations and mindfulness. A practice that allows you to go deeper into yourself and connect with your body, mind and spirit.

Anything to bring your mind at ease since after a transfer you may feel many thoughts and emotions or look for symptoms before your beta test. Also, please allow yourself to manifest and visualize what you are desiring and giving that order fully to the higher source to help you bring that to your truth.

Incorporating some yoga in the two-week wait can be very serving.

• Connecting your mind and body together
• Getting in tune with your body
• Enjoy your Zen Den
• Reduce the temptation of googling in the rabbit hole
• Time to process your journey
• Support sleep
• Increasing oxygen to the cells in the body
• Calming the mind and can help you from spiralling down the rabbit hole (we have all been there)

In the days leading up to your transfer, this list of yoga poses are excellent to build a warm womb, circulation, fresh blood and cleansing stagnant blood and energy and help with the implantation of your sweet, amazing embryo!

Easy seated position - connect and breathe

Cat pose

Cow pose

Reclined butterfly pose

Legs up the wall pose

Savasana

Other great suggestions are: Child’s Pose and wide-legged pose.

On the day of your transfer take a couple of rest days (3 days) or you may try some of these very restorative poses:

• Savasana with bolsters and props. After those 3 days, gentle nurturing poses are where you can focus.
• Belly breathing- placing your hands on your womb, focusing on how the belly rises and falls with the breath
• Butterfly pose
• Savasana

After 3 days of rest, you can slowly begin to incorporate the gentle yoga poses I share below.

Yoga Poses to Practice after the 3 Rest Days:

• Easy Seated position - connect and breathe
• Cat / Cow Pose
• Child’s Pose
• Easy Seated (switch the cross of your legs)
• Wide-legged pose
• Legs Up the Wall
• Reclined Butterfly
• Savasana

Things to avoid

Shelf these types of movements after a transfer and while PUPO (pregnant until proven otherwise) and pregnancy.

• No twists in the abdominal area
• No pressure on the belly - laying on the belly
• If a yoga posture is feeling uncomfortable ease out of the pose or stop the pose
• Listen to your body

*These rules are also to be continued when you have a positive beta and onwards.

You may enjoy writing in your journal on how these practices make you feel. How do you feel physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Or if any insights came up for you.

Sending you hugs and baby dust! Please get yourself love and kindness in this time. Trust yourself, trust the process and trust your body.

Xoxo Darrien Minnie