Pre/Post Natal

Description:

Pre and post natal Pilates focuses on strengthening your deep pelvic floor and abdominal muscles to account for the changes your body will be going through. Pilates during this time will aim to keep you as strong, mobile and comfortable as possible in preparation for the exciting time ahead.

Who is this class for?

For pregnant ladies in their 2nd and 3rd trimester (12 weeks onwards). Post natal ladies at least 6 weeks after birth.

In both cases consult your doctor/ midwife.

What can the Kendra Pre / Post natal class offer me?

Rachael is qualified through Body Control Pilates to teach ‘Pilates in Pregnancy’ Pre and post natal Pilates will encourage better posture and core strength during a time when your body goes through many changes. Throughout this period it is vital to maintain a strong core to avoid injury and to stay as fit as possible.

Pilates in Pregnancy

As Pilates teachers we have a unique and privileged opportunity to work closely with pregnant and post natal women to ensure that, during and after the pregnancy itself, they remain healthy and comfortable, preparing them for the birth and for the demands of early motherhood.

During pregnancy, your abdominal muscles are stretched over your growing baby and may weaken as a result. Your pelvic floor muscles are also placed under great stress and tend to stretch and move lower down into the pelvis under the weight of the baby. As a result, you may find it harder to contract these muscles and to hold them for very long. If your pelvic floor muscles are very weak, you may find that you are leaking urine when you cough or sneeze. If your tummy muscles are weak, you may have back or pelvic pain. During pregnancy, the hormone relaxin causes your ligaments to stretch more than normal and if you overload them further you may cause an injury.

Goals of a Pilates pre/post programme:

•Promote improvement in posture

•Increase body awareness of how to move in order to correct body mechanics (muscle recruitment)

•Prevent problems caused by joint instability, e.g. Back pain, sacroiliac joint pain, pubic symphysis pain

•Prepare body for demands of increased weight bearing and circulatory compromise

•Prepare pelvic floor for increased weight to carry, for the birth itself and other benefits

•Maintain abdominal function

•Improve relaxation skills for comfort during pregnancy and labour

•Improve awareness on use of breath control for labour

•Improve body image

•Encourage some moderate cardiovascular work

•Prepare the upper body for demands of infant care and breast feeding