Prenatal Pilates

Widely regarded as one of the best forms of exercise for pregnancy, prenatal Pilates is specifically designed to improve your physical and mental health during your pregnancy. Because Pilates focuses on increasing stability, in addition to strengthening the entire body, it can help alleviate many common conditions caused during pregnancy. Thanks to the focus on better posture, alignment and body awareness, Pilates is known for helping to relieve back, hip pain and sciatica while helping to alleviate symptoms of pubic synthesis, a common pregnancy condition.

During each trimester, the body undergoes a rapid succession of physical and hormonal adjustments. Pregnancy can feel a little overwhelming and pretty intense at times which is why it's so important to look after yourself and your body. Regular Pilates practice is a great way to help you prepare for, and navigate the changes pregnancy brings through each trimester as well as helping to aid recovery after birth.

Regular Pilates workouts can help you develop:

• Awareness of your pelvic floor and its role in supporting you during pregnancy, birth and beyond
• Increased strength in your pelvic floor, which will help to support your bowel, bladder and uterus as your baby grows and moves down. This will help to prevent you from experiencing incontinence
• Core strength in the front and rear abdominal muscles which help to equip your body to cope with the strains caused by the weight of your growing baby. This will help to reduce backache as your baby gets bigger and heavier
• Good postural habits and muscular strength which not only help you throughout pregnancy but also benefit you during labour and post-birth
• Increased positivity and confidence; Pilates builds trust in your own body and develops a positive mental outlook
• Increased energy levels that benefit both you and the baby
• Control over your breathing – techniques that will definitely be helpful during labour
• Improved balance - Pilates exercises strengthen your core and may make you more stable when you walk as your bump grows.
• Maintenance of circulation
  

Postnatal Pilates

What are the benefits of Pilates after pregnancy?

Whether it’s your first baby or your fourth, nothing quite prepares you for life after childbirth. And that’s ok! It’s definitely a whirlwind! Studies show that taking regular Pilates classes throughout your pregnancy will help set you up for a speedier postnatal recovery, and that continuing classes after the birth of your baby can also be a great way to aid recovery. It’s also a chance to escape for a little bit of 'you time’ which is so important as a new Mum.

Strengthening exercises like those offered in my post natal pilates classes are important to help rehabilitate the abdominal and pelvic floor muscles that have been stretched during your pregnancy and potentially damaged during the delivery. The appropriate rehabilitation exercises can also address any injuries or conditions sustained during pregnancy or in the early postnatal period (sacroiliac or pelvic stress, low back pain, diastasis recti abdominus and pelvic floor issues) as well as aches and pains associated with being a new mum like upper back pain from carrying or breastfeeding your baby. A safe tailored pilates exercise program will be put together by myself to get you on your way back to good health and fitness and ease you back into physical activity in a safe, supervised environment.

Postnatal classes will focus on recovery and can help with:

• Increased general fitness
• Recovery from diastasis rectus abdominus and strengthening the abdominals
• Recovery from pelvic girdle pain
• Prevents or helps aid recovery from incontinence
• Muscle tone and strength
• Improved upper back, neck and shoulder posture and strength
• Improved mobility and flexibility
• Improved postural awareness
• Psychological well being and helps to reduced anxiety

1:1 postnatal Pilates sessions are a great option as you don’t have to find a babysitter or even leave the house (a great option in those early weeks!). I have 9 nieces and nephews, a degree in Education and having recently just given up my role as a Teaching Assistant, it's safe to say I'm used to children so can entertain them as much as needed whilst you get back to feeling more like you!

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