HEALTH AND WELLBEING
WHAT'S THE BEST EXERCISE TO DO AT HOME IF YOU'RE
Pregnant
By Lauren Taylor
Pilates, yoga and home-based weights exercises can all be good ways for mums-to-be to keep fit at home. It's important to keep active during pregnancy, generally speaking, but the current Covid-19 situation has made that more difficult for everyone. With gyms, pools and classes off the menu, what can mums-to-be do to keep fit safely at home? We asked experts in different disciplines about what pregnant women who are isolating or social distancing need to know. Remember, always make sure you've been given the go ahead from your GP or midwife before undertaking any new exercise while pregnant. YOGA Prenatal yoga - and videos are aplenty online - can help keep the body strong and mobile, which yoga instructor Hannah Barrett says will help both throughout pregnancy and for birth. As it's low impact, it's especially suitable for mums-to-be and can be modified to suit your level and needs. "The mindfulness element of a yoga practice is incredible to help improve sleep, reduce stress and anxiety and to promote a connection and bond with your unborn baby," says Barrett. "I fell in love with yoga during my first pregnancy and found it not only gave me so much physical strength, but mentally helped me a huge amount. I felt so much more in control of the birth. "The most important thing to remember is to move mindfully, cultivating an inner awareness of how your body is feeling and the changes within. If anything causes pain or doesn't feel right, ease out of the pose or stop." Aside from not lying on your front or back, she advises against holding your breath or doing vigorous pumping breaths. Due to the extra hormone relaxin in your body during pregnancy, Barrett says when stretching to "come back to about 70% of your full range to protect your joint and ligaments". She adds: "Transition slowly through poses, avoid jumping and deep twists (like a revolved side angle pose or half lord of the fish pose).
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For poses where you would be lying on your belly (for example, cobra), modify with a seated pose like a seated heart opener." Don't do anything where there's a risk of falling - like inversions even if you could do them pre-pregnancy. Find Barrett's Strength Through Yoga e-guide at hannahbarrettyoga.com.
