Exercise during pregnancy in general can help with fatigue, can maintain or improve muscle strength and can also help improve mood and reduce postpartum depression.
WHY DO PILATES DURING PREGNANCY?
Exercise during pregnancy in general can help with fatigue, can maintain or improve muscle strength and can also help improve mood and reduce postpartum depression. Pilates in particular is a great method to choose because it's easily adaptable to the individual and their needs. This allows for a program that is specialized to each individual's pregnancy journey - during each stage of pregnancy and postpartum.
In addition to helping with fatigue, exercise during pregnancy can help women feel like they have a sense of control over their bodies during a time of change and can also help improve mood and can reduce postpartum depression. Pilates pairs very well with these exercise goals, especially when working one-on-one with an instructor to help build a personalized program to fit the individual’s fitness level and needs.
TIPS FOR WHAT TO DO DURING DIFFERENT STAGES OF PREGNANCY
Tip #1: Breathwork throughout the Pilates pregnancy journey can not only help with control of movement but can also help with stress relief. It is a good idea to incorporate breathwork into all your sessions during each stage of your pregnancy.
Tip #2: Feet and ankles tend to start swelling during the second trimester. There Is a series of footwork exercises on the reformer that can help with ankle mobility and circulation.
Tip #3: During the third trimester, a pregnant person tends to fatigue faster and can overheat more easily. Because of this, a full 60-minute session may feel overwhelming or difficult. Splitting the session up into two 30-minute periods over one week can be more manageable and I highly recommend it for pregnant women who are struggling with longer sessions.
HOW CAN PILATES HELP POSTPARTUM?
Pilates offers a supportive environment that allows individuals to take the appropriate time needed to build their strength back up, particularly in one-one-one sessions which can be a more calming experience than fitness classes/facilities targeted at larger groups.
Pilates is known to help with posture, and this can be an important area to target postpartum. In general, a good posture will help ease tension and pain, but this is especially relevant to offset common posture compensations from feeding the baby.
Mothers can often feel out of sync with their bodies during and after pregnancy, as their normal routines and lifestyle are greatly affected by the later trimesters of pregnancy. Pilates can help individuals reconnect with their body, helping to add a feeling of regaining control over their body and aiding in the regaining of strength.
Interested in Pilates during or after your pregnancy? Book with Lecia
