It is becoming more and more common to hear about the benefits of Pilates classes for pregnant women.

But do we know the real motives?

Do we know what specific improvements the method has during this particular stage?

To solve these and other doubts on the subject, in Estudio Pilates Malaga we have interviewed Gaia Della Savia, one of our trainers, who recently gave birth.

Gaia has not stopped practicing Pilates during pregnancy and now she tells us all the details about it.

Read on!

During pregnancy, posture is altered, morphology is accentuated and the center of gravity changes due to the increase in volume and weight. Here are the main benefits of Pilates classes for pregnant women:

• Improves body alignment to avoid suffering ailments and/or pathologies normally associated with pregnant women, such as low back pain or cervical pain. Maintaining correct alignment is one of the basic principles of the Pilates method.
• The Pilates method always seeks body stability. Improving lumbopelvic stability reduces the risk of lumbar problems, pyramidal syndrome or sciatica.
• It strengthens the pelvic floor, helping to prevent urogynecological dysfunctions, such as urinary incontinence, and improving expulsive strength, which allows for a shorter natural delivery.
• Helps prepare the upper body (upper limbs, neck, etc.) for the demands of newborn care: breastfeeding, diaper changing, baby transportation, etc. A newborn baby needs many hours of continuous care, and these hours translate into physical exercise that only a properly trained back can overcome.
• It helps maintain abdominal functions and prevent diastasis, or separation of the rectus abdominis.
• It works on flexibility and thoracic expansion in order to increase lung capacity, reduced by abdominal volume.
• It favors a much faster postpartum recovery.

These are the benefits of Pilates during pregnancy, now let’s learn first hand how its practice has helped our trainer Gaia Della Savia.

Gaia has been practicing Pilates since 2009. Before practicing Pilates, she used to go to massage sessions to relieve those pains, but soon after starting Pilates classes, she managed to eliminate them: “I no longer needed the massages, I felt my body much more toned and the pains were gone,” Gaia tells us. Later, fascinated by its effects, she became a teacher.

This is the second time Gaia has become pregnant, and at eight months pregnant she did not stop practicing Pilates during her pregnancy: “The Pilates method has helped me to enjoy my pregnancy without discomfort, feeling physically and emotionally energetic”.

After each Pilates class, you feel all the tensions in your back relieved, you breathe better and have more vitality. He especially emphasizes the exercises with the barrels, as they help to improve his breathing.

When we asked her what differences she noticed in comparison with friends and acquaintances who do not practice Pilates and who have gone through pregnancy, Gaia tells us: “Above all, they tell me about the pain caused by sciatica, cervical pain, back pain, etc….

Thanks to Pilates, I have not suffered from any ailments during my pregnancy. Of course, Pilates classes must be personalized, since each person is totally different and has very different needs.

In the case of practicing Pilates during pregnancy, the trimester in which the pregnant woman is, her physical condition, her volume, ailments, pathologies (if any), etc. should be taken into account.

Gaia, as a Pilates trainer, tells us that if you are well trained in the method you will know which movements are, or are not, suitable for a pregnant woman.

In Estudio Pilates Malaga we have had the pleasure of sharing the experience of one of our teachers, Gaia Della Savia, so you can know more directly the benefits of our Pilates classes for pregnant women.

Do you want to know how to correct posture with Pilates classes? Enter here.