Yoga helps my body feel better: Aashka Goradia Goble

Dressed in a flowy Kaftan, striding into a quaint restaurant in Anjuna, her baby bump and pregnancy glow quite visible, Aashka Goradia exudes confidence. Accompanied by her husband Brent Goble, the actress spared time for a chat with Goa Times, ahead of her travel to Ahmedabad
‘Yoga helps immensely while you’re pregnant’
Aashka is a staunch believer in the power of yoga (as evident from her social media feed). Even while she is heavily pregnant, the actor-turned-entrepreneur continues her practice. “In the west, women are now recommended prenatal yoga. Yoga and meditation help immensely while you’re pregnant, it even helps when aiming for natural deliveries,” adds Aashka, who was most noted for her work in he TV show Kkusum. As Brent helps Aashka onto the yoga mat, she says, “I practice yoga on and off now. But before pregnancy, I would be on the mat every single day. With pregnancy there are other challenges and the motivation is minimal, as the body keeps changing. Luckily people are aware of
Brent’s expertise, so we don’t get preached at.”

Every pregnancy and trimester are different, Aashka is well aware of that. She thus says that women should go with the flow and not push their limits. “There is no thumb rule as such. It’s just about how yoga can make your body feel better. In my first trimester, doctors recommended that I take it
easy with exercise. Here you can try breath work, and be careful to avoid cramping your abdomen. The second trimester is usually comfortable and easier, and you can do yoga that helps your hips; and in the third trimester mostly focus on the hips for an easy delivery.” She takes one day at a time
she says, and in accordance with how she is feeling in the moment, “But some kind of movement is important,” she quips.
Brent chips in, saying, “Yoga is a holistic way to keep your body moving, your joints and circulation mobile, so that the changes in your body can be better dealt with. We are keeping it safe, but not staying too safe, that she is bored. We don’t do a four-hour practice now, but a good 35-minute
session is advisable.”

I got a lot more done being pregnant

With too much information out there, pregnancy can be daunting, but Aashka knows when to take it easy. “I read a lot on how you get tired during pregnancy. However, I had more energy and got a lot more done being pregnant. Though earlier, I would wake up very early, now, I don’t put pressure on my body to wake up. My heart goes out to those who have difficult pregnancies with nausea, mood swings and cravings,” she says. Luckily, Aashka says she did not have much trouble. “In the first trimester I did have a bit of nausea, but never any cravings. I love coffee, but since my pregnancy I
have completely stopped having it. I do sometimes sip Brent’s coffee though,” she shares with a smile.
Will deliver the baby in AhmedabadAashka is headed home to Ahmedabad, to be with her family. “My doctors are in Ahmedabad, and I 'l be delivering and staying there with my family for a few months after,” she says. So, do her relatives dole out pregnancy advice? “I do have people giving me tips, but it’s very rare. They all know I have it sorted!” And a name for her baby? “We have a few shortlisted, but haven’t rounded on one name yet...”