Why ballet is a great pre-natal exercise

When you’re pregnant, there are so many unknowns, including questions around what types of exercises are safe. No matter what activity you choose, staying active during pregnancy may help physically prepare you for labour and delivery and can shorten postnatal recovery.

That’s why it’s important to maintain an exercise regime for you and the baby (if you are able to) and a dance fusion class is great for any trimester - with your doctor’s OK. Barre workouts involve small, isolated movements helping to strengthen and tone, making it an ideal workout for most expecting women.

The main benefits are:

Pelvic floor strengthening:

During your pregnancy, your pelvic floor muscles will loosen due to hormonal changes. This loosening, along with the baby’s pressure on your bladder may cause you to leak urine so regular strengthening exercises are recommended.

Strengthening key muscle groups:

Being pregnant has been linked to the type of physical exertion athletes endure in a marathon so it’s important to be physically strong, especially for the delivery.

Improved breathing:

The lungs get increasingly compressed as the baby grows so knowing how to breathe fully is key. Not only will it help calm the nervous system during labour, but it will help keep the blood properly oxygenated, thus giving more strength and endurance.

Natural mood booster:

Exercise is known for its positive mental health benefits but with ballet, there’s an added element of mindfulness as you focus on the movements and music helping you to naturally relax and destress.

Read our blog post for 10 easy and effective postnatal exercises >>