Posted September 15, 2021
Pregnancy can be an exciting and scary time for an expectant mother. The changes, aches and pains that your body endures during pregnancy can be overwhelming and exhausting. This is why Pilates is the perfect workout for any mother-to-be! The benefits of prenatal Pilates make it the ultimate exercise method during pregnancy – and after!
Read on to learn about the benefits of prenatal Pilates.
Most pregnant women will deal with some degree of back pain during their pregnancy. This is because, as the baby grows, it puts added pressure on your back as you carry more weight. Your lower back, or lumbar spine region, is most at risk as your uterus and the baby get larger – so much so that it can even increase the curvature of your spine.
Pilates focuses on building and strengthening your core muscles, which makes it perfect to combat the extra pressure put on your spine during pregnancy. Pilates exercises help to build your back and abdominal muscles which can improve your posture, reduce the curve induced by your pregnancy and reduce any back pain you experience.
During pregnancy, your uterus will grow and can begin putting pressure on your diaphragm, creating a frustrating feeling of breathlessness. Combined with the additional weight you are carrying around, battling breathlessness can make everything feel overwhelming.
One of the six principles of Pilates is breathing. When used in conjunction with movement and motion, Pilates can help teach you how to use the diaphragm correctly through breathing techniques. Proper breathing can help calm the nervous system and reduce stress and is a useful technique in childbirth.
Your sense of balance may be impacted during pregnancy, especially as your belly grows bigger. You may even lose your center of gravity, increasing your chances of accidentally falling over or losing your balance.
Pilates provides a great opportunity to learn how to balance and to practice balancing. By training your muscles during slow, concise movements, as well as becoming accustomed to the additional weight you are carrying, you can improve your sense of balance and reduce your chances of falling during your pregnancy.
During pregnancy, your body will undergo many weird and wonderful changes – including putting on weight. It’s important to remember that, even though putting on weight may be stressful or upsetting, it is normal. Pregnancy is not the time to diet or undergo any extensive fitness or weight loss programs. It’s more important to look after your body and help it to deal with the extra pressures it faces.
Pilates is a great way to keep your body physically healthy during pregnancy. As a low-impact workout, it doesn’t place any additional stress on your body. Instead, it uses your body as a workout tool, touching on all the important places – which, in the case of pregnancy, can be areas like your back, abdomen or even pelvis. Mindfulness is important when practising Pilates as well, ensuring that you’ll also reap all of the mental health benefits Pilates has to offer!
Club Pilates is a forward-thinking, passionate and growing Pilates franchise with several locations in Queensland, including Noosa, North Lakes and Sippy Downs, as well as up and coming locations in Innaloo and Unley. Our Pilates instructors are highly trained professionals that are fully equipped to help you get into an exercise regime that will work for you!
If you want to start your Pilates journey, head to one of our local Pilates studios to begin!