At one time, pregnant women thought nothing about going out and plowing the field.
Yet, these days, it’s not uncommon for pregnancy to be treated as a medical condition. Of course for some pregnant women who are on required bedrest, this is certainly the case.
For most, however, a healthy pregnancy includes some form of regular exercise. In particular, Pilates is recommended for pregnancy.
Why Pilates Is Recommended for Pregnancy
Pilates has a wide variety of proven benefits that are uniquely aligned with the physical and mental challenges that come with pregnancy. Pilates has been shown to help with the following:
1. Preparing for Labor and Recovery
There’s no arguing that giving birth to a baby is physically demanding. Fortunately, three major components of the Pilates practice are building stamina, increasing strength, and promoting body awareness. All three of these will be helpful during both labor, as well as postpartum recovery.
2. Boosting Circulation
If you’re further along in your pregnancy, you may be noticing swelling, leg cramps, and edema. As you probably know, these are fairly common. By performing the regular movements in Pilates, you’ll improve blood circulation. And with better venous return, you’ll experience less swelling and the discomfort that comes with these conditions.
3. Improving Core Strength and Stability
Your pelvic floor and deep abdominal muscles are heavily in play during pregnancy. So your pregnancy is going to go more easily if you go into it with core strength and stability. And this is where Pilates really shines.
With a heavy focus on the core, Pilates exercises will keep you strong so you can support your baby, reduce strain on your lower back, and help with posture which can become challenging as your body’s center of gravity shifts.
4. Reducing Risk/Severity of Diastasis Recti
Pregnancy places undue pressure on your rectus abdominis muscles which run from the chest to the pelvis. As a result, women can experience a separation of these muscles during pregnancy that don’t come back together later. This condition is called diastasis recti and along with causing pain, it leaves a pooch in the belly that can make a woman appear pregnant even when she’s not.
Since Pilates focuses on controlled core exercises and encourages proper engagement of the deep abdominal muscles, it can help prevent or at least reduce the severity of diastasis recti.
5. Maintaining Pelvic Floor Health
Unlike a lot of other forms of exercise, Pilates movements include specific exercises that focus on strengthening the pelvic floor muscles. As mentioned above, these are crucial during labor and delivery. But keeping them strong can also reduce the chance of incontinence during and after pregnancy.
6. Enhancing Mobility and Flexibility
A woman’s body experiences major changes during pregnancy. Accommodating those changes can be challenging. The gentle stretching and mobility movements in Pilates can help pregnant women maintain or improve flexibility. This can lead to better posture and less muscular discomfort.
7. Encouraging Breathing and Relaxation
You’ve seen it in every movie; the pregnant woman being instructed to breathe once she goes into labor. But breath is key in reducing stress during delivery. Especially when the breathing is controlled. Such techniques, like those taught in Pilates, provide better oxygen flow while aiding in stress reduction by fostering relaxation. That’s a serious benefit!
Find Out How Pilates Can Make Your Pregnancy Easier
With so many benefits, it’s obvious why Pilates is recommended for pregnancy.
So if you’re expecting and are looking for a way to stay strong – both physically and mentally – through your pregnancy and beyond, contact us today.
With our range of classes as well as Pilates-based physical therapy, we can help you manage your pregnancy while promoting a smooth delivery and eventually easing you into postpartum recovery.