Pregnancy
Is exercise during pregnancy safe? Yes!
An easier path through childbirth for your body - and your baby
Pregnancy exercise at home
There are many benefits to exercising consistently during pregnancy, but it’s extremely important to work with a trainer who is knowledgeable about your changing body. My Pilates sessions are heavily focused on anatomy and functional movements. They will guide you physically through the changes your body will experience in a safe and enjoyable way.
Breathing techniques and pelvic floor health are very important for childbirth. Learning how to find a proper balance between strength and flexibility in your pelvic floor can make childbirth easier. You will learn how the diaphragm and pelvic floor work in synergy to keep your core intact as the surrounding muscles adapt and stretch to accommodate the growing baby.
I teach my clients what their abdominal muscles are supposed to do during pregnancy and only give exercises that support those changes. This can prevent diastasis recti, a very common separation of the connective tissue in the rectus abdominus that can keep your body from healing properly after giving birth. There are specific stretches and exercises during each stage of pregnancy that will allow your abdominal wall to stretch appropriately while maintaining support for your spine.
Another reason to try Prenatal Pilates? There are many common aches and pains during pregnancy, like sciatica and low back pain that can be relieved through proper movement training. These aches and pains which are commonly referred to as “part of the pregnancy experience” don’t need to affect you very much at all. I will teach you how to feel your muscles and listen to your body during your daily activities. This mindfulness will help you prevent a lot of discomforts, and it will give you the tools you need to work through things that arise.
Exercise for pregnancy first trimester to birth
Also, each trimester needs to be addressed differently, especially if there are other physical activities you want to continue doing. Hormone fluctuations change the mobility of your joints, so it’s important to learn how to listen to your body and adapt as you progress.
There are physical restrictions as the weeks go on as well, so finding an expert to guide you is the best way to stay healthy and safe. It is possible, and usually doctor-approved, to continue any physical activity level to which your body is accustomed.
There are plenty of athletes and dancers who continue to train through pregnancy, which is great, but having expert guidance on when to adapt and make small modifications is always a good idea. So is adding a mindful movement activity and with over 500 exercises, each with variations and modifications, Pilates is an excellent choice.