Thank you, Leah! I am a BASI trained instructor experiencing my first pregnancy. This class made me FEEL great!

I thought supinus position with no legs on floor was unrecomened for pregnant.??

Love love love Leah!

Any chance Pilates Anytime can add more to the prenatal series?

Kerry ~ Courtney Miller has three new prenatal classes on our site. She will be back next month to film a few more classes, and those will be added shortly. I hope you enjoy them!

Hi ,my first baby just celebrate his 1.Birthday and here we go second on the way 4weeks pregnant I would like to know what classes would you suggest me to go thru I am pretty fit and love Pilates anytime used to work out three times at least a week level 3 finally got back in my shape and now I wonder if I should continue with same classes or switch it to yours.I will appreciate your help.Thank you.

Jana,

Thank you for your question, it is a common one. And congratulations on your pregnancy and how fun to celebrate your son's first birthday. I won't be able to give you a straight answer simply because it really is a case by case situation. Some women can workout per usual, and some need to make modifications within the first trimester. In saying that, here are a couple of guidelines to keep in mind: The first trimester is really about a large host of physiological changes in the body that can effect the way a woman feels and what she feels she can do physically. The ligaments around the pelvis are already loosening in the first trimester as the uterus begins to grow, so although the joints around the pelvis are not as unstable as they will be toward the end of pregnancy, being aware of the beginning of change is important to take into consideration.

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2. Many aspects of your past pregnancy and postpartum recovery play a big role as well. Many of the modifications that we see in prenatal Pilates generally begin to be implemented during the second trimester because that is when the anatomical changes become more apparent - shifts in pelvis, expanding of the abdominal wall, instability, shifts in overall posture resulting in muscular imbalances, etc. So.....practicing the general no nos of prenatal Pilates like loaded forward flexion, challenging single leg or balance work, prone exercises, etc can still be done during the first trimester if all the conditions in your body are right. For some women, they need modifications straight away because their abdominal wall or pelvic floor is weak or their posture is already deviated (possibly from previous pregnancies or other experiences). For some women, these modifications can be delayed a bit further into pregnancy.

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3. In my experience and opinion, the prenatal exercise modification guidelines look a bit different for each woman. The most important element is for you listen to your body and respect your changing needs and movement limitations, because during pregnancy they change quickly as the pregnancy progresses. You may find that a class you felt strong and controlled in doing the precious week you may feel a bit vulnerable in now. That would be a great time to perhaps perform some of the modifications you know will continue to keep you challenged but also safe, feeling confident and controlled in your movement while you continue to enjoy the class.

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I hope this all makes sense, Jana. It really is a yes and no answer. The wonderful thing about all of the prenatal classes on Pilates Anytime from myself and the other wonderful teachers, is that there is plenty of great challenging work that can keep even the most athletic pregnant Pilates practitioner feeling like she is able to still enjoy the Pilates work she knows and loves.

Thank you again for trusting me with your thoughts, and I hope my answer can provide a bit of guidance for you during this exciting time.