Can Fertility Yoga Help You Conceive?

1. Reduce Stress & Anxiety

In yoga class, you will learn breathwork and relaxation techniques. Since the stress and anxiety associated with trying to conceive without success is often close to that of serious medical conditions like cancer, this is an important benefit.



2. Muscle Relaxation

The poses in yoga open the muscles around the hips and pelvis. These are necessary for a healthy pregnancy.

3. Hormone Balance

Hormones and stress are closely tied. When you release stress, your hormone levels balance. Regular yoga practice can be part of this picture.

4. Improve Blood Flow

Yoga improves circulation. This means that it increases blood flow to all of your body’s organs, including those associated with reproduction. Not only that, but the University of Washington indicates yoga increases hemoglobin levels in red blood cells.

5. Stimulate Reproductive System

Increased blood flow can stimulate the uterus and ovaries. These are the most important parts of the female reproductive system, and supporting their health is critical to conception.

6. Increases Assisted Reproductive Technology Success Rate

Women who are undergoing assisted reproductive processes, such as IVF, have a higher rate of success when they participate in low-impact yoga classes.

Benefits of Fertility Yoga for Men

Fertility is a two-way street. Not only do women need to be healthy in order to conceive, but so do men. Low sperm counts contribute to as many as 20% of couples experiencing fertility concerns, and yoga for fertility can help men, too. Here’s how:

1. Support Production of Sperm in Men

The conscious breathing techniques in yoga and the postures that increase blood circulation throughout the body can all improve sperm counts in men. A higher sperm count increases the likelihood of the couple conceiving.

2. Stress Relief

Stress hurts libido and sperm count, and both of these problems contribute to fertility issues. Yoga reduces stress through mental relaxation and meditation practices. This, in turn, positively affects male fertility.



3. Mood Booster

Yoga improves the mood. A better mood can improve libido. When men have improved libido, the couple is more likely to get pregnant.

4. Improved Blood Flow

Men also need blood flow to the reproductive organs to be fertile. Improved blood flow through yoga exercises is a benefit for men as well as women.

5. Partner Support

It takes two to tango. One-third of the time infertility is a female issue, one-third of the time it is a male issue, and one third of the time it is either both partners or unexplained. Doing all you can to improve your own fertility, can feel very supportive for female partners, particularly since they are the ones most likely to get pricked and prodded at the doctor’s office. 

5 Fertility Yoga Poses to Try



At Pulling Down the Moon, we offer fertility yoga classes designed to address the specific concerns couples with infertility face. This is part of our holistic fertility approach that focuses on the whole body and mind. Some specific yoga poses we recommend include:

1. Warrior II Pose

To achieve this pose, stand in the mountain pose and then take a big step back with the left leg. Press all four corners of the feet down, then raise the arms so they are parallel to the floor. Bend the right knee, keeping it over the ankle, and roll the thigh downward toward the floor. Draw in the abdominal muscles to engage the core, and stay in the pose for five breaths. Standing poses help to stretch and strengthen the lower body and spine. 

2. Goddess Pose

In the goddess pose, squat so that your thighs are parallel to the floor with the feet pointing outward. Raise your arms so your elbows are at a 90-degree angle, palms facing outward. Hold for five breaths. Squatting poses help send energy and blood flow down toward the groin and reproductive organs. 

3. Cobra Pose

For this pose, lay on your tummy on the mat. Put your hands flat on the floor, then push our torso up, reaching your chin to the sky, while your legs stay pressed to the mat from the hips down. Backbends can be mood elevators and heart openers. 

4. Legs Up the Wall Pose

This inversion pose is highly effective at improving blood flow to the reproductive organs, enhancing circulation and can causing positive changes in mental perspective. Lay on the floor and lift your legs so they are up against a wall. Push your hips until they are also touching the wall so your legs make a 90-degree angle. Extend your arms to the side.

5. Butterfly Pose

This is a simple but effective pose. Sit with your legs pointed inward, feet touching in front of you, and knees to the side. Grab your feet, then lean forward toward them. This stretches the hips allowing for greater blood flow in the pelvic organs, which is helpful for conception and pregnancy. It also improves nerve transmission to the nerve plexuses of the lower sacrum. From a yoga anatomy perspective, the hips are where we store a lot of emotion and disappointment. 

Safety While Doing Fertility Yoga

If you’re new to yoga, make sure you start slow and don’t push too hard into poses. This could lead to injury. Intensity also won’t help your stress levels, which you need to control while trying to conceive. Also, in the luteal phase, which is the time between ovulation and confirmation of pregnancy or the time after embryo transfer, avoid yoga poses that put pressure on the lower abdomen.

Where to Start Doing Yoga for Fertility



If you are looking for fertility yoga classes, Pulling Down the Moon has them. By participating in our classes, you not only receive fertility-specific yoga instruction, but you also have access to all of our fertility treatment options, including fertility nutrition counseling, fertility enhancing massage (FEM), fertility life coaching, and acupuncture for fertility. Once you successfully conceive, we offer prenatal yoga classes and postpartum treatments to help you throughout your pregnancy and birth journey. This is why our holistic approach to fertility, conception, and pregnancy makes sense. If you are ready to get started and get to know our team, our six-week yoga for fertility class could be a good starting point. Book your appointment today!