By Gabrielle Saran
Why Pilates is the Best Exercise During Pregnancy
Pilates, with a few modifications, is not only safe during pregnancy but also one of the most beneficial exercises you can do. Here’s why:
1. It’s Low-Impact
One of the standout benefits of Pilates is its low-impact nature, making it an ideal exercise for the prenatal period. Low-impact workouts gently elevate your heart rate without placing excessive strain on your joints. During pregnancy, your body undergoes significant changes:
- The added weight of a growing baby, uterus, and increased fluid volume can leave you feeling winded more quickly.
- The baby’s position can create awkward pressure on your organs and ribs.
- Your joints bear additional stress due to the extra weight.
Pilates allows you to stay active while minimizing these challenges. Its gentle approach ensures you can exercise safely and effectively.
2. It Protects and Supports Your Joints
During pregnancy, the joints in your spine, hips, and legs are under increased stress. To maintain joint health and reduce discomfort, it’s essential to:
- Strengthen the muscles surrounding these joints for added support.
- Enhance flexibility to maintain a full range of motion.
Pilates emphasizes both muscle strengthening and joint mobility, providing a balanced approach to keeping your body feeling strong and limber.
3. It Prepares You for Childbirth and Beyond
Pilates’ focus on core strength is a game-changer during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. Here’s how:
- Stronger Core Muscles: Pilates strengthens your deep core muscles, which can shorten the pushing stage of labor.
- Postpartum Benefits: A strong core makes standing, walking, and holding your baby much easier after birth.
- Pelvic Floor Health: Pilates also targets the pelvic floor—a crucial component of the core. By balancing strength and flexibility, you can prevent and heal issues like incontinence, which affects over 35% of women after childbirth.
Discover Prenatal and Postnatal Pilates with Saran Pilates
At Saran Pilates, we offer a variety of prenatal and postnatal mat and Reformer classes designed to meet the unique needs of moms and moms-to-be. With our on-demand videos, you can exercise anytime, anywhere.
Not sure where to start? Check out our tutorial on prenatal modifications for Reformer classes to feel confident before joining a group class.
Stay strong, flexible, and supported throughout your pregnancy journey with Saran Pilates!
