QuestionHi. I have a question. Is it ok for women to do pilates, on a mat or reformer, while pregnant? Does it really provide benefits? Thanks
AnswerPilates is an excellent form of physical conditioning, but it certainly was not designed with pregnancy in mind.
If you've been doing Pilates before you became pregnant, then you can continue with all of the exercises that are within your technical control until your belly pops out (or maybe a bit earlier, depending on your body). At this point your abdominal musculature will be too stretched to provide adequate support for your pelvis and spine.
Many of the Pilates exercises, both reformer and mat need to be modified to meet the needs of pregnancy. Many of exercises utilize the "head float" position, which flexes the upper spine. These types of movements should either eliminated or drastically reduced in pregnancy.
The structural alterations of pregnancy cause an increase in the upper spine (kyphosis) and to counterbalance this change, all modalities of pregnancy exercise should work to extend the upper spine instead, and also perform exercises where the upper spine is stabilized in the neutral position.
Much of the mat work and reformer work is performed in the supine position, and it is recommended that this exercise position be avoided from about the 4th month onward. Look for an experienced Pilates instructor, who has additional specialty training in pre and post natal exercise physiology.
