Pilates for Pregnancy & New Motherhood

with Patty

Becoming a mother is a time when a woman’s body is subjected to big changes, both physical and emotional. This courses aims to ensure that you remain healthy, fit and confident in your body during pregnancy.

Practicing Pilates regularly can help to avoid many of the aches and pains associated with pregnancy, and help to prepare you for labour and delivery of the baby. Not to mention the demands of looking after a baby and recovering from pregnancy and birthing.

Expect to start in a standing position with stretches to warm up your body, before moving down on to the mat for the main body of the class. To finish we will stand and stretch, and leave ready to enjoy the rest of your day.

We will use small equipment such as resistance bands and over balls, foam bricks etc to add challenge and fun.

The teacher will take into consideration each participant's stage of pregnancy to design each class according to your needs (or medical conditions) and will give you an alternative exercise if a position is uncomfortable for you to perform. Please speak to the teacher if you have any concerns or have any questions.

Course dates

  1. Saturday 2nd November

  2. Saturday 9th November

  3. Saturday 16th November

  4. Saturday 23rd November

  5. Saturday 30th November

  6. Saturday 7th December

Book 6 week course below

Below, you'll find the class schedule. If you don't see any classes listed, it could mean that the course has already begun or its fully booked. In that case, please call our reception at 0208 314 5535 to inquire about joining mid-course or to be placed on the waiting list.

Week 1

Range of Movement, Breathing and Alignment

In the first week we will learn about physical changes of the body, and the impact of hormones on ligaments and other tissues in the body. We will learn to move within a safe range of movements and avoid overstretching of the joints. We will be practicing and following a variety of exercises in different positions. The teacher will give alternative sequences if anybody requires this.

Week 2

Postural Changes and Back Care

We will recap the safe range of movement explored during the previous week and concentrate on the changes to your posture, learning exercises that will release tension in the upper back and decompression in the lower back. This will help you to release tension due to the increased curvature of the lower back, and mediate the effect of the shift of the centre of gravity on your sense of balance and posture.

Week 3

Lumbo-Pelvic Stability

This week we will focus on strengthening the muscles and ligaments that support your pelvis and the lower back, encouraging them to be in perfect tension and length to ensure a good stability to prepare for labour, whilst putting in practice all the previous knowledge learnt in the exercise repertoire.

Week 4

Breathing and Core Connection

We will include more challenging exercises this week, focusing on breathing to control movement and to release tension, whilst learning to re-route your deeper abdominal muscles to strengthen the muscles that support your back, pelvic floor, pelvis and hips.

Week 5

Pelvic Floor Education

With the continued focus on reinforcing previously taught exercises and knowledge, this week we will focus on Pelvic Floor education and routines. These exercises will focus on the pelvic floor connection, control and release. We will learn slow and fast twitch exercises.

Week 6

Release of Tension and Upper body Strength

In this final week, the exercises will help you to relax your muscles in your upper back and neck whilst utilising breathing techniques and adequate core connection. We will continue decompressing the lower back and will feel more confident practicing more challenging exercises to increase upper body strength including arms and spine.

  • Patty has been practicing Pilates since 2003 and qualified as a Level 3 Body Control Pilates Teacher in 2016. She is also qualified in pre- and post-natal Pilates, older adult Pilates and is a bone health specialist.

    She is a very enthusiastic and encouraging teacher. She ensures each class is planned to maximise the benefits to everybody and to help her students to achieve their fitness goals. She brings all her years of practical Pilates experience to tailor each session carefully and seeks her students' feedback. Patty is very kind and caring. Her priority is the safety and wellbeing of her students whilst ensuring a happy and fun environment and her classes are popular.

Pricing

These sessions are each 60 minutes in length, and the course is priced at £100 for 6 weeks. However, you can take advantage of the early bird deal at £85 for 6 weeks if you book 4 weeks before the course starts. Please bring your own mat if you have one, and a medium-sized towel for head support.

  • We have a strict latecomers policy. Latecomers will not be admitted any later than 5 minutes after the commencement of the session. Past this point, it will be disruptive for you to enter the room, and since you will not have warmed up properly, heading into class this late may also be damaging for your body. We recommend you arrive 5-10 minutes early so the class and your day can run on time.

  • Cancellations within 72 hours of the course starting will not be refunded.

    Cancellations outside of 72 hours of the course start will be refunded upon request, otherwise, the passes can be transferred to another course (or a later cohort of the cancelled course).

    There is no refund offered for missed sessions within the course.

    If we are required to cancel a class due to teacher illness, we will offer a make-up session the week following the last session of the course.

    The teacher may choose to cancel a course if a low number of people sign up. Please book in as early as you can to stop this from happening! Your pass will automatically be returned to your Mindbody account in this incidence. You can request a refund if you want one, otherwise, the passes can be transferred to another course (or a later cohort of the cancelled course).