Yoga for Infertility 2022: Best Asanas to Boost Fertility in Both Men and Women

The heaping healing benefits yoga has in store helps you sail smoothly through various health issues. Yoga is practiced bodily postures with breath control and meditation for good health and relaxation. The yoga guru, Sadhguru says, Yoga to be “A complete path by itself.” This article focuses on various yoga asanas taking us on the path that naturally helps enhance fertility.

Stress has been a part of modernization and urbanization, overwhelmed by almost every individual. Under such circumstances, relieving oneself from psychological stress and physical tension is vital. Yoga is a highly researched ancient science known to reduce stress, harmonize hormones, promote healthy organ functions, and improve mental being. Overall, it can increase your ability to conceive.  

Before we dive into the beneficial yoga asanas for fertility, let’s understand the benefits of yoga for infertility problems. 

Also Read: How to Increase Sperm Count: 9 Best and Natural Ways to Boost Male Fertility and Sperm Count

Potential Fertility benefits of Yoga

As per the World Health Organization (WHO), In India, approximately 16-17% of the reproductive-aged population are experiencing infertility. And according to Mayo Clinic, one-third of the infertility cases are due to female fertility factors, another one-third are because of fertility problems in men, and the rest of one-third are either unknown or a result of combined reasons.   

Here are some of the researched benefits of yoga addressing to improve male and female infertility. 

Help reduce extra weight

Having more weight makes it difficult to get pregnant. A healthy diet and regular exercise is essential part of the weight loss journey. 

Yoga can be an amicable way to introduce your body to exercise and weight loss. It can help increase flexibility and muscle strengthening with less pressure on the joints. 

Reduces psychological stress, anxiety, and depression

Evidence suggests that people experiencing infertility deal with distress, anxiety, or depression. Even people undergoing fertility treatments face the emotional turmoil of psychological stress. Yoga, deep breathing exercises, and meditation can help improve the body’s immune functions and reduce psychological stress, anxiety, and depression.  

Balances the hormones

Infertility hampers the neuroendocrine axis, the basis of structural and functional interaction between the brain, hormones, and gonads. Regular yoga helps improve these interactions creating a hormonal balance within the system. In turn increases sexual desire, libido, and reproductive function in both men and women. 

Supports spermatogenesis

Men having reproductive health issues like low sperm count, or sperm abnormalities are rising globally. These sperm factors are majorly attributed to lifestyle or environmental factors, such as smoking, alcohol, exposure to chemicals, pesticides, etc. Including yoga in daily routine can improve male reproductive health while supporting sperm production.

Benefits people undergoing ART 

IVF and other Assisted Reproduction Techniques (ART) are extensive procedures and can get stressful. If you are undergoing IVF or any other ART procedures, yoga can help you improve your chances of getting pregnant. Yoga works by boosting the physiological and psychological health of men and women. Yoga asanas along with ART reduce pain, depression, anxiety and elevate reproductive health, widening the way for a more likely pregnancy possibility. 

Supports a healthy pregnancy

Women practicing yoga during pregnancy promotes healthy child growth, development, improves blood circulation, and decreases the chances of obstetric complications. 

Yoga Asanas for infertility problems

Yoga is a proven effective and safe practicing module. The postures or asanas must be proper, as improper asanas can lead to injuries. Yoga instructors can best guide you with rhythmic breathing postures or asanas. 

A word of caution: These asanas are required to be performed under the strict guidance of certified yoga instructors. Consult a yoga specialist or doctor to know the correct asanas and understand when to perform these asanas for optimum results. 

Some of the yoga asanas known to improve fertility are as below.

Yoga asana	Posture	Benefits
Supta baddha Konasana		Stimulates pelvic organs like the ovaries and prostate gland, bladder, kidneys. Improves blood circulation. Stretches the inner thighs, groins, and knees. Relieves symptoms of stress, depression, menstruation and menopause.
Sarvangasana		Stretches the shoulders and neck. Decreases fluid retention in the legs and feet.  Regulates the thyroid glands. Reduces weakness, fatigue and improves sleep. Improves digestion and blood flow to the hips and heart Relieves stress and anxiety
Virabhadrasana or Warrior pose		Stretches and strengthens hips, groin, shoulders, and limbs. Widens chest and lungs. Stimulates the organs of the abdomen. Improves internal stability and body balance. Improves blood circulation.
Utkata Konasana or Goddess pose		Stretches the hips, legs, and opens the chest. Strengthens the legs, thighs, calves, abdomen, and knees. Stimulates the reproductive and urinary system. Stretches and strengthens the shoulder joint.
Uttana Shishosana		Stretches the arms, hips, shoulder, and upper back. Calms the mind while energizing the body Improves flexibility, especially in the spine Relieves symptoms of stress, tension, and insomnia.  Strengthens the upper body, shoulders, arms, and back.
Setu Bandhasana		Strengthens back, legs, abdomen, and ankles. Strengthens glutes to support hip health.  Opens and stretches the chest, heart, back, neck, and shoulders. Calms the body, reducing stress and depression. Stimulates the abdominal organs, lungs, and thyroid. Rejuvenates the weak legs Improves digestion.
Savasana		Calms the mind and central nervous system. Alleviates fatigue, stress, anxiety, and headaches. Improves mental health.  Helps lower blood pressure and relaxes the body
Dhanurasana		An effective weight loss asana and digestion improving posture. Increases blood circulation. Strengthens the back, thighs, and shoulders. For men, it is one of the best yoga asanas for sperm count increase.
Viprita Karani		Alleviates menstrual cramps and pelvic problems. A yogasana for conceiving smoothly. Relieves lower-back aches.

Conclusion/ Take-Away

India, the yoga capital, has showcased the innumerable healing powers of Yoga on the world stage. Every yogasana, when done correctly, scientifically works with the body organs, hormones to regulate, relax from strain and tension. Incorporating yoga can be wondrous when you begin your regular practice with initial warm-up stretches and end it with calming savasana. Connect with a certified yoga expert or doctor to get embroiled in the cumulative benefits of yoga for your infertility problems. 

References:

Overview | https://www.healthline.com/health/infertility/fertility-yoga

Asana Images | dimensions.com, Yogapedia.com