Pre Natal and Post Natal Pilates Classes
A woman’s body goes through many changes during pregnancy and exercise must be adapted and modified as the pregnancy progresses. The beauty of Pilates is that it can be individualized for anyone’s ability. Over the course of the pregnancy the demand on the abdominal muscles should be decreased. During the second trimester these muscles become stretched out, and some women experience diastasis recti (separation of the abdominal muscles).
With reduced abdominal support there is a greater risk of injuring the lower back.Due to hormonal changes during pregnancy, the ligaments surrounding the pelvis become lax, leaving them loose and more vulnerable to injury and stress. For this reason, you should be careful not to overstretch. It is important to continue strengthening and rebalancing the muscles around the joints – supporting the body as it goes through postural changes related to pregnancy.
Pre-natal:
Pilates is commenced in the second trimester. Pilates is helpful at this stage to contract the pelvic floor musculature and transverse abdominal, which help in stabilising the pelvis and lower back. Pilates also focuses on breathing, circulation, posture and relaxation in pregnancy. It is recommended that clients have 1:1 sessions so that the programme can be developed to the specific needs of the client. The use of the fit ball can be incorporated in some of these programmes. This may be important in the later stages when it becomes more difficult to get down to the mat.
Post-natal:
Pilates classes can commence 6 weeks post-natal in clients who have had a normal delivery.
