Pull up a mat and find your centre. This meditative wonder is your friend in more ways than one
Pilates is a saviour for pregnancy in so many ways. It works wonders on your rapidly-changing body as it prepares it for the ultimate task.
As your bump grows, you’re back will be one of the first things to cause discomfort. Pilates reduces back pain by exercising the deepest tummy muscles that stabilise your back and pelvis. It also strengthens your stomach muscles, which will come in handy when it comes to carrying your newborn around.
Now, how can we put this delicately? Leaking can be a problem during pregnancy and pilates has an amazing way of strengthening your pelvic floor, which will help to support (and control) your bladder, bowel and uterus as your baby moves perilously closer to the exit.
Perhaps one of the most important benefits of pilates is its ability to relax you and help you control your breathing. This skill is a keeper, throughout pregnancy right through to labour and even beyond.
There are tonnes of pregnancy pilates classes out there that cover various skill stages, so pop into your local gym and see what’s on offer.
