Congratulations! After months of watching and waiting, you’ve become a mother! You have every right to be proud of yourself and revel in the joy of your new baby. Chances are you are busier than you’ve ever been in your life just trying to keep ahead of the sharp learning curve of motherhood.
Sooner or later though, you’ll come up for air and have an opportunity to take stock of how your pregnancy has affected your body. As pregnancy changes your body inside and out (obvious, we know), it also affects your old habits of working out, your movement, and range of motion, all of which can be frustrating when you’re trying to get back in shape. Postnatal Pilates can help reintegrate you back into fitness (no crash diets or intense workouts here!), while keeping you in stable health for you and your baby now and forever.
Pacing Your Postnatal Pilates Workouts & Recovery
The first thing to keep in mind when considering getting back in shape after pregnancy is not to push yourself too fast too quickly. Though a perfectly natural and healthy part of life, pregnancy takes a major toll on your figure and your balance. It’s important to listen to what your doctor has to say about recovering and take things at your own pace without sliding back into old habits. At Firehaus Pilates, our team of Pilates instructors will help design a Pilates workout that takes your overall condition in mind. We’ll keep careful tabs of your progress and set attainable fitness goals that will start to get you back into the rhythm of postnatal life.
Postnatal Pilates workouts naturally focus on the abdomen and back. The change in shape around your belly is an obvious priority. The muscles in your core will have been stretched and strained to their utmost limit during pregnancy and childbirth and it’s important to get them back into shape as soon as possible. Combined with a healthy diet, a customized Pilates workout will show significant results for your tummy after a few months.
Likewise, postnatal back problems are very common and can cause you months of discomfort if not properly addressed. Since you are no longer carrying around a bump, your balance will be affected dramatically, which can be very stressful on your lower back and stabilizing muscles. Getting your back used to the new weight dispersion will be an important part of your postnatal recovery. Thankfully, Pilates specializes in identifying and correcting imbalances in your physical condition.
Getting in Shape Both Mentally and Physically
It’s hard to get enough exercise during pregnancy. Combined with the fact that your body will have been retaining calories like mad for the last nine months, you may find yourself feeling lethargic and a little blue after your pregnancy. Studies have shown that a regular exercise is one of the most effective ways of improving your mood. At Firehaus Pilates, we like to look at fitness as it relates to health of the whole person, body and mind.
Getting back into great shape after having your baby is not the only reason to consider postnatal Pilates. For the last nine months you’ve been at the beck and call of your pregnancy. While your newborn still needs lots of attention, the moment is right to start taking back some time for yourself. Stretch out, de-stress, and take reconnect with your healthy, active self. Part of getting back into shape after your pregnancy is deciding what kind of person you want to be.
Finally, it’s important to get back into shape with postnatal Pilates because you are going to need all of your strength and flexibility in the months and years ahead. Before long you’ll be hauling around a diaper bag, chasing after your toddler, and scrambling to juggle work, preschool, and raising your new child. Stay active, stay strong, and you’ll set a great precedent for yourself and a great example for your baby.