
Member Reviews

This is a very easy-to-follow book full of simple mindfulness and meditation exercises. It goes into a bit of detail about the practices in general and then explains how they can benefit during pregnancy specifically.
I doubt this would be a revelation book for someone who practices mindfulness all the time or has an ongoing meditation and self-care routine, but it can be a great first resource for those curious about the practice. I think picking up this book and trying some of these exercises during pregnancy specifically can be very beneficial. Less stress, more zen is definitely what I needed during my pregnancy.
Thank you, NetGalley and Callisto Publishing, for sharing an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

📚 A Resource Worth Sharing
If you've read my reviews for books in this category before, you know I often try to answer the question:
"Is this an added value to me as a professional but still beneficial and easy to share with non-professionals?"
The short answer: yes.
Since you can never give everything in a training or a session, resources like this are always of high need and importance. I'm constantly on the hunt for ones I can share with colleagues and participants and this one checks a lot of boxes.
This is a beautiful, practical, and inclusive mindfulness book tailored to the pregnancy journey.
Whether you're a professional looking for resources, a pregnant person building a mindful routine, or a friend hunting for a meaningful gift, this is a great pick for the beginning of any pregnancy journey.
🌬️ Mindfulness Beyond the Breath
One of the things I liked most is that this book showcases several types of mindfulness.
Not everyone can adapt to breathwork in the same way, and unfortunately, breathwork is often shoved in as the main ingredient in mindfulness practices. While it is essential, this book treats mindfulness as something more adaptable and that makes a big difference.
Extra points for the inclusivity! This book is considerate of the LGBTQ+ and nonbinary community, a rare and very welcome touch.
🧘♂️ Mindfulness 101
The introductions to mindfulness are concise and clear, while still informative and holistic.
You get:
• essential background,
• an overview of types and benefits,
• recognition of the common challenges.
It feels grounding and makes the reader feel seen and understood, which is not always the case in mindfulness books. You even get tips if you’re struggling with mindfulness, all broken down into a manageable and realistic 5-minute daily habit.
🤰 Enter Pregnancy
The bridge between general mindfulness and pregnancy is clear and relatable.
I appreciated how the structure and layout of the book flow seamlessly. Each chapter ends with a key takeaways section that recaps and a highlighted topics and deepens the message.
Each exercise clearly states which period of pregnancy it’s most suited for.
Instructions are:
• bullet-pointed and simple,
• paired with a short paragraph for clarity,
• and topped off with titles that make the purpose immediately obvious.
🎯 Exercises With Intention
Each chapter centres exercises around a particular focus area:
• Calming yourself
• Empowering your body
• Connecting with your baby
• Making peace with difficult emotions
• Embracing the unknown
• Cultivating a community of support
• Elevating simple daily habits
• Morning movements & evening wind-downs
And the best part? The book ends with a trimester index that connects each exercise to its trimester and page number. The intentional titling makes it easy to pick exercises based on the current need or feeling.
🤲 A Space for Support (But Room for More)
I love that there’s an entire section dedicated to cultivating community support.
My only small wish? I would have liked a footnote or additional reflection on how a partner could join in, either through some of the exercises or as an emotional support presence. Some journaling prompts could be done with a partner, yes, but it would’ve been amazing to have this part written out more explicitly for those who want to involve a loved one in the process.

As someone who is pregnant and also anxious, this was extremely helpful. This is a great must have books for anyone who wants to add tools to their pregnancy toolbox.

This book is filled with helpful information for your pregnancy and beyond. I can see myself using several of her techniques while not pregnant. The authors writing is reassuring and validating which we can all use in our daily loves.

Calming exercises for Pregnancy: 95 simple ways to find peace in only 5 minutes by Josephine Atluri is a useful book for those looking to find inner peace and calm pregnant or not.
Part one, which consists of chapters one and two, is an introduction to mindfulness. Chapter one titled practicing mindfulness 101 goes over the different types of mindfulness: meditation, visualization, breath work, gentle movement, journaling and awareness. Chapter two looks into how mindfulness during pregnancy is especially helpful.
Section two, which consists of chapters three to ten, focuses on five-minute practices that you can try to implement in your life. These chapters focus on calming your mind, empowering your body, connecting with your baby, making peace with difficult emotions, embracing the unknown, cultivating a community for support, how to elevate simple daily habits, morning movements and evening wind downs. This section is the one that includes the 95 exercises, some of them written, some breath work and some gentle physical exercise. I thought it was especially useful that each exercise has a legend at the top on when in pregnancy would each of these exercises be most beneficial.
This book also includes a final note, resources, references and a trimester index.
Thank you to The School for Life for partnering with NetGalley. I received an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion and review.
This book hits stores March 4th 2025

Calming Exercises for Pregnancy by Josephine Atluri is a soothing and accessible guide that helps expectant mothers embrace mindfulness throughout their pregnancy journey. With over 90 brief, 5-minute exercises, the book offers simple practices such as yoga poses, meditation, and journaling prompts designed to support emotional and physical well-being. Organized by trimester, this book allows women to easily find exercises that align with their needs at different stages. Perfect for those seeking to feel more positive, calm, and connected during pregnancy, it’s a gentle and empowering resource for self-care.