Pilates for Pre and PostNatal

For most women Pilates is the perfect exercise before, through your pregnancy and after. I did Pilates through out my entire pregnancy. I taught 6:00 class on that Monday night and by 2:30am Tuesday I was in the hospital 7 centimeters dilated and just hanging out with no pain. I gave birth to an 8 pound 5 oz baby girl at 10:45 that morning. I also only gained 18 extra pounds in the 9 months and left the hospital in my pre-pregnancy jeans. Prenatal Pilates teaches you how to breath, how to center yourself, how to use your core muscles, and it helps you stay flexible. All which help with labor, the birth of your baby, and your recovery. Postnatal will help you regain control and strength of your transverse muscle (the muscle under your belly button, most women call their pouch). It will help you regain flexibility and strength, increase your stamina, it can make you feel better, and in 20 minutes you can get the benefits of Pilates- now that your schedule has become tighter and busier with your new arrival! Check with your OB to make sure you are having a healthy pregnancy and having no complications before trying Pilates. Most doctors will approve Pilates for Prenatal if you're already active or have done Pilates. Always be sure to be cleared by your doctor before starting ANY exercise regime before and after your pregnancy.

Beat the Blizzard with Pilates

You would think with all this crazy weather and being stuck inside, I could actually keep up on my blog. But between the desperate runs for toilet paper, wine, and baby food, the extra time for shoveling, and of course an 8-month old that never wants to sleep. These precious days with all this so called extra time just slips away. For the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast these past 3 weeks have pummeled us with multiple feet of snow, keeping us house bound and stir crazy with cabin fever. What's the best way to beat the blizzard blues??? Why not try Pilates? If you've never have, now is the perfect time. With U-tube, the Internet, and even on-line book ordering you can have a DVD, book or demo right before your eyes. Sometimes if you have On-Demand you can go through the guide and find a Pilates class for free to order right off your TV! And for those of us that are familiar with Pilates. All you have to do is grab your towel or mat. Lie on the floor and do mat exercises for 20-30 minutes or put in one of your DVDs. In that little bit of time you'll get rid of the flat butt you've now earned from watching too much TV, flatten your abs from all the food we've shoved down our throats out of complete boredom, even take away those aches and pains from your stiff body from shoveling the mounds of snow from your driveway. I think I might take my own advice as I gaze out the window at the snow covered pine trees that continue to bend in the 50 mph winds and continue to leave me trapped in this house. Oh Well at least the baby is asleep.