Fertility Yoga vs. Fertility Exercise: What's the Difference
By Marta Han, co-founder of The Fertility Class, certified Aviva Method instructor, yoga teacher and health coach.
Last updated October 2026.
In short: Fertility yoga is general yoga adapted to be gentle and calming, which helps with stress. The Fertility Class is built on the Aviva Method, a set of rhythmic exercises designed specifically to increase blood flow to the ovaries and uterus and support the menstrual cycle. The two do different jobs, and they can work well together.
When women look for natural ways to support their fertility, fertility yoga is often one of the first options they find. As a yoga teacher myself, I know how much it can offer: it is calming, restorative and genuinely good for stress. But it was not created with reproductive health in mind.
Fertility exercise was. The Fertility Class is built on the Aviva Method, a system of movements designed from the start to support circulation to the reproductive organs, hormonal balance and a regular cycle. Here is how the two practices differ, and why the distinction matters.
1. Designed specifically for fertility
Fertility yoga is an adaptation of general yoga: gentle poses, restorative flows and breathing techniques. These can lower stress, which is an important factor in fertility, but yoga itself does not target the reproductive system.
The Fertility Class is built entirely around reproductive health. Every sequence is designed to improve blood flow to the pelvis, engage the muscles around the ovaries and uterus, and support hormonal balance. The exercises are purpose-built, not borrowed from a broader practice.
2. Rhythmic, functional movement rather than stretching
Most fertility yoga focuses on stretching, opening and calming. The Fertility Class uses short, rhythmic, repeated movements that create gentle pressure changes in the abdomen and pelvis. They are designed to improve circulation, and with it the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the reproductive organs. In a 2023 study, researchers measured improved uterine artery blood flow after Aviva Method exercise, an effect stretching is not designed to produce.
3. Guidance for every phase of your cycle
Most yoga classes are one-size-fits-all, with little attention to where you are in your cycle.
The Fertility Class is cycle-aware. Sequences are tailored to menstruation, ovulation and the luteal phase, and to fertility treatment such as IVF and IUI, so you always know which kind of movement best supports your body at that moment.
4. Grounded in evidence
Fertility yoga is supported mainly by research on relaxation and stress. The Aviva Method has decades of practice behind it and a growing body of clinical research of its own, including Hungarian studies on uterine blood flow and period pain.
Our work is guided by a Medical Advisor and a Scientific Advisor, and research into movement-based fertility support is ongoing. You can read the studies on our Studies page.
5. A structured program, not a single class
Yoga is a wellness practice. The Fertility Class is a structured online program that women follow at home, with video classes, cycle-based practice schedules and a supportive member community. It is designed to become part of daily life over months, not to be dipped into occasionally.
The bottom line
Fertility yoga calms the body. Fertility exercise works with it, using targeted movement to support circulation, hormonal balance and reproductive health. If you are looking for fertility support that goes beyond yoga, the Aviva Method, taught through The Fertility Class, is designed for exactly that purpose.
Common questions
Is fertility yoga good for getting pregnant?
Yoga can lower stress, which matters for hormones and ovulation. Most fertility yoga classes, however, are adapted general yoga, and they are not designed to target pelvic circulation or the reproductive system directly.
What is the difference between fertility yoga and fertility exercises?
Fertility yoga centers on gentle stretching, held poses and breathwork. Fertility exercises such as the Aviva Method use short, rhythmic, repeated movements of the pelvis, hips and core to stimulate blood flow to the ovaries and uterus.
Can I do both?
Yes. Many members keep a gentle yoga practice or a daily walk for stress, and add The Fertility Class two to three times a week for the targeted pelvic work.
Is The Fertility Class suitable during IVF or IUI?
Yes. The program includes phase-by-phase guidance for treatment cycles, reviewed by our Medical Advisor, Dr. Katherine VanHise. Read our IVF and IUI exercise guide and always check with your clinic.
Sources
- Kovács, Hegyi and Szőke, Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2023: Aviva Method exercise and uterine artery blood flow
- Kovács et al., Medicina, 2024: Aviva Method exercise and primary dysmenorrhea
- Moderate physical activity and reproductive outcomes
- Stress and reproductive hormone signalling
More research on our Studies page
