Apr 26, 2013 7:00am

Yoga has long been praised for helping people improve their flexibility and core strength. But one Florida yoga instructor believes that the popular practice can also be used to help women conceive.

Sherry Longbottom, a registered nurse and yoga instructor, has developed fertility yoga. In her classes she is careful to avoid yoga poses that could strain the body; instead, she favors simple gentle poses that help lessen anxiety.

Our goal is to get blood flow in the pelvic area, said Longbottom. Im very excited to be helping these women, its so rewarding

While practicing fertility yoga is not exactly as beneficial as in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments or hormone therapy, Longbottom said yoga can help women trying to conceive by helping them take a moment to relax and calm down.

We live in fight or flight mode, said Longbottom. That kind of life goes completely against what were trying to look for in creating a fertile environment.

Many of the women attending Longbottoms class started after they were recommended by the Reproductive Medicine Group in Tampa, Fla., to help them cope. She estimates about half of the attendees are receiving some kind of fertility treatment.

[Yoga] still cant correct a tubal issue or necessarily correct an egg issue, Dr. Betsy McCormick of the Reproductive Medicine Group told ABCNews.com affiliate WFTS-TV. But what they can do is help someone get through that process.

Dr. James Goldfarb, the director of infertility and in-vitro fertilization at University Hospital Cleveland, said he approves of patients trying safe alternative therapies such as yoga or acupuncture as long as the patient feels better after a session.

The bottom line I always tell patients is, it certainly cant hurt, said Goldfarb. Were very encouraging [that they] try whatever they find relief through.

Read more:
Women Turn to Fertility Yoga