First things first. In case you are reading this and have recently become a mother, then congratulations!
Becoming a mother can be one of the surreal experience for a woman. Getting to finally see and hold your tiny bundle of joy after carrying and nourishing him/her for 9 months is indeed a very precious occasion.
Motherhood has its own perks and worries, and it’s not always easy to take care of your newborn. Initially, you might experience both physical as well as mental fatigue and might find it difficult to cater to your child in the best possible way. You might consider taking medicines and other substances to deal with this problem, but that might pose the risk of transferring unwanted substances to your baby while breastfeeding.
A good exercise might come to your rescue here, and what better exercise is there to do than Pilates!
BENEFITS OF PILATES
Pilates for new moms can work both on the muscles as well as the core to a great extent. This involves strengthening and toning your abdomen and lower back areas which can be the most vulnerable areas after delivery. It can help improve the flexibility of your body which ultimately leads to higher levels of energy and lower chances of fatigue.
A group of researchers conducted a study on 80 women who had just come out of there pregnancy. Out of these, 40 were made to attend a 30 minutes Pilates exercise session five times a week for eight consecutive weeks, while the second group performed no exercise at all. The study, which has been published in the Singapore Medical Journal found that the women who were made to do the Pilates exercises reported significantly lower levels of mental as well as physical fatigue. They were also much more energetic and motivated in general.
The Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies recently published a study by almost all of the same researchers and 80 women. This study found that besides improving the energy levels, Pilates also helped improve the quality of sleep in first-time mothers.
Now that it has been well established (both in this article as well as researchers in particular) that Pilates for new moms is highly beneficial, you can easily go for it. The PAD Fitness is one studio that has trained instructors who can individually assist expectant mothers so that they don’t overexert themselves.
But make sure you talk to your doctor or therapist first to assess your health and body conditions. Even as little as 15 or 30 minutes of Pilates a day can produce significantly higher energy levels and improved sleep, two things every new mother would want.