First of all, congratulations.
We're excited to welcome you and be a part of your fitness journey, especially during this special time.
We understand that staying active and maintaining strength during pregnancy is important, and Pilates can be a fantastic way to do that. We're committed to supporting you throughout your pregnancy and ensuring your safety and well-being in every class.
Benefits of Pilates during Pregnancy
Reformer Pilates during pregnancy offers a range of benefits, including improved posture, stability and core strength, all of which are essential for supporting the body through the physical changes of pregnancy. Pilates specifically helps target pelvic floor strength and your deeper abdominals (TVA) to better support you during labour and postpartum recovery. However, it's important to follow our guidance to ensure the exercises are done safely. Your health and well-being are our top priority and we want you and your baby to be as safe and as comfortable as possible, which is why we recommend following our guidance below.
What to avoid
Our INTENSE classes are designed to push you to your limits — so we definitely don't recommend attending. You will be challenged with long holds, more reps, and strong sequences that aim to build strength and endurance. While these workouts are effective, they are not recommended during pregnancy. It's important to listen to your body and avoid pushing yourself to the point of exhaustion, as this can place unnecessary stress on both you and your baby.
LEVELOUT Class Guidance
It is generally NOT recommended for pregnant students to START Reformer Pilates for the first time when they are pregnant. If you have already been attending classes throughout your pregnancy then please review the following guidance.
1st Trimester — continue if you are already moving your body.
2nd Trimester — Again, only attend class if you have already started your Pilates journey and no INTENSE classes. Try to stick with instructors who already know your body and can offer you modifications along your journey. If you are attending a new instructor for the first time (even if they are prenatally qualified) it is best to attend their Foundation class first so that they can get to know you, and your body. Although our instructors do their best to accommodate all bodies, it can be very difficult to give you what you need at an Intermediate/mixed ability level class.
3rd Trimester — Please attend Foundation classes with a qualified instructor unless your regular instructor has agreed with you that they are comfortable with you in their Intermediate class. Or 121.