Prenatal/Postnatal Sessions
We are pleased to offer specific pre and post natal session work for our clients who are expecting or are rebuilding post- birth. What makes these sessions special is that our pre and post natal sessions are not simply an adapted session to make the work comfortable for you, but they are a session crafted with the needs of various trimesters or post recovery in mind.
They are full of self- care tools that serve the needs of parents.
Our Prenatal/Postnatal Sessions are currently available by appointment.
Benefits to Prenatal Sessions:
Prepare your body for giving birth mentally, physically, and emotionally. This class focuses on what you can do to make the most of this time. Our goal is to help you become comfortable in your body and empower you to birth your baby.
Workouts include:
- Supporting the changes in your pelvis and spine
- Finding strength from your “inner body” to allow your body to relax and release.
- Maintaining flexibility throughout the entire body
- Total body integration to support needs of labor and delivery
- Breathing and focus
Benefits to Postnatal Sessions:
Workouts include:
- Bringing the pelvis back into correct positioning
- Building strength from the inside out by stabilizing muscles and allowing necessary time to regain inner organ and pelvic floor rehabilitation
- Regaining flexibility, balance and alignment
- Learning to accept changes and trusting that you can make your new body better than it was before
- Breathing, focus and the ability to relax and release
PRENATAL PILATES
Based on conversations with the teachers at the studio and listening to the needs of our clients, a focus on women’s health through movement has emerged here at the Pilates Center of Pittsburgh. We all recognize that becoming pregnant, experiencing many changes during pregnancy and post birth takes a different focus when working with clients.
Open to all types of body movement teachers, we are pleased to announce we hosted a Pre and Post Natal Health and Exercise Specialist Certification™ in Spring 2017. In partnership with The Center for Women’s Fitness, this 3-day course for our teachers offered a different way of looking at female physiology and the changes that occur during pregnancy, birth and beyond. When you work with one of our certified teachers, they can share with you the methods of exercise for optimal safety and benefit to each particular individual.
Please email us info@sparkmotionbody.com for more information.
Lesley’s story:
“In 2011 I gave birth to my son. He came after 2 miscarriages and a very painful and long ectopic pregnancy that resulted in emergency surgery. I had another miscarriage between the kids and then delivered my daughter in 2013. I have always used movement/taking class as a way to stay in touch with my internal strength as well as take care of my health needs.I was teaching and practicing Pilates full-time during all of this and throughout my journey I was struck again by how essential this work is for the demands of pregnancy, birth, and early parenting.
My birth stories resulted in C-sections. My son was simply not tolerating the birth process and my daughter was too dangerous to deliver naturally. As a health/movement teacher I went into the recovery of C sections with an open mind and heart and knew that I had a lot of work to do in the studio.
As I began to re-align my body and heal after the challenges of pregnancy/ C sections I started to look for more in depth information about the “hows” , “whys” things take so darn long, and exactly “whats” that would help. During this time I met women daily that had the same needs and could not find a good option to assist them. Everyone wants to be skinny again and just get their body strength back, so we run to cardio programs first. Usually this happens before our bodies internal strength is ready to support the strain on organs, pelvic floor muscles. Then later down the road we wonder why we are having issues with little things or more serious consequences.
After attending a Women’s Center for Fitness course, it was as if a light shined all weekend as I listened to the instructor. She provided us with information that was exactly what I was looking for! How to help ALL Pre and Post Natal women(not just those with experience in Pilates) take care of their bodies in a more effective way during pregnancy, post and the ever shifting demands of young family life.
It is from this experience that I cannot contain my excitement for this new program we are offering at the Pilates Center. There is nothing quite like it. The great benefits from Pilates work combined with the unique needs of a beautiful pregnant body. The instruction is now available in group class sessions not just privates as before.
Not to sound like a commercial, but this IS a special time in a woman’s life. I am honored to work with women during this time. Mommy’s health is a direct influence on raising healthy children and families. You are the nucleus of your family, as one of my favorite clients would say, please care for yourself wisely.”