Baby on board? Just keep tucking.
Even when it is absolutely the last thing you want to do.
A nice picture of me next to the toilet... fitting.
Here I am, 28 weeks pregnant with my second daughter. My second trimester, (the
golden trimester) just ended and the start of the third. You’re
over the extreme fatigue and some of us are over the morning sickness, and you
can still take your shoes on and off yourself.
I’ve been doing 2 to 4 pure barre classes a week throughout my
pregnancy. I told myself I would
continue taking classes as long as I physically able to. I might be one of those woman who takes a
class the day before her delivery, or I might get put on bed rest. I just don’t know.
Not only are you gaining physical strength from Pure Barre, but
the most important aspect, for me, is mental strength. Many days, I feel nauseous, and it would be
so easy for me to lay on the couch, and wallow in my sorrow, but I push myself
to come to class. I do it to escape my
brain for that precious hour. It’s
the only workout that I’ve found where I can enter the
classroom, and leave everything at the door. There is so much going on and so
much to focus on, that I have no other choice.
I’m one of those extremely lucky women to be nauseous
throughout my entire pregnancies. This
is round two, which admittedly is not nearly as bad as round one, but equally
as draining. As a teacher, there were so many days that I thought I would throw
up in the middle of teaching. It’s
never happened, and that largely has to do with the amount of mental strength
that it takes to teach.
I also am someone who will always take the harder option. I always am trying to push myself to
improve. It was really hard for me to
accept modifications during class as a part of pregnancy. For me modifications
started around 17 weeks, when I just couldn’t lay on my stomach
any more. Back extension was the first
part I modified. There are many ways to modify class so you can still take
throughout your pregnancy.
Warm Up
First and foremost, before I walk in the door, I say, "You is kind, you is smart, you is important" then proceed. Warm up can be tricky because there is a lot of ab work
involved. I find that if I just hold on
to the outside of my thighs, I can keep a contraction in my abdominal and
still feel some work with out it being to strenuous. I also will just rest my head for a moment
if I become a little overwhelmed. During
roll ups, you can always keep your feet on the floor and grab on to the outside
of your thighs to roll up. Planking can
be done from your knees, both center and side planks. I try not to take this
option. Planking is so amazing for your
entire core, not just the front part of your abdominal wall. Eventually, gravity will take it’s
pull, and it will become too strenuous for your back, but in the mean time I
try to stay on my toes. This goes the
same for push ups.
Thigh and Seat Work
Pure Barre doesn’t have any specific modifications for
thigh or seat work. The obvious one is
laying on your stomach with your forehead resting on you hands. I just do this one from a semi-pushup
position stand at the barre. Foldover
can be strenuous on your back, but you can fold your forearms on to the barre,
coming to a semi fold over position.
Otherwise, I find that I have to really focus on tucking my hips under
at all times, to take the pressure out of my lower back.
Roundback
For me this has become really difficult. I feel like all of my organs and baby and
putting pressure on my lungs in this position.
I have to bring my leg about a foot away from my chest, and rarely can
do “L” position. That’s ok, just keep your foot planted on
the floor, and use this moment for a stretch for the back of your leg. Sometimes, this is too much for me. That’s when I put both feet on the floor
and just press up into the barre and breath.
Flatback
I call this section of class, labor practice. It’s all about engaging your core to move
your legs. Mostly that work comes from
your lower abdominal wall. It’s
also important in this position not to float your feet off the floor. If all else fails, I find it a good time to
do some kegels. (TMI?)
Knowing how to isolate my abs in this position, I swear to you,
is how I pushed my daughter out in just five pushes.
Abs
This part of class is the most difficult. I now always have to put the ball behind my
lower back and hold on to the outside of my thighs throughout. When we round back on to our back, you can
stay holding on, which I generally have to do, plant your feet on the floor, or
place the ball behind your head. The
last part of this section is for your lower abs, just do whatever feels comfortable
for you. Thus far, I’ve
been ok in this section. But that might
change as my pregnancy progresses. I
know some people who just flip over and stretch for this section.
Back Extension
The modification for this is to life opposite arm and legs on all
fours and switch halfway through.
Sometimes, I just stretch during this part as well.
Back Dancing
During back dancing, I find my lungs feeling way too
squished. I’ve tried a few
things, lowering my hips, having a wider stance. But, it never feels quite right to me. I do as many as I can, take breaks, and try
to finish. But mostly, I use this moment
for some me time. Where I think about
how great the class was, and how happy I am that I took class, and how much I
feel better.
Most importantly, it’s all about how you feel. Some days are going to be easier than
others. Some days more breaks are going
to be taken. Sometimes you get through
and feel like super woman. I’ve
never left class regretting that I took, and that’s really what keeps
me coming back each time.
I personally am someone who hates being pregnant. Pure Barre is one of the only things that
lets me escape myself for an hour. Takes
me somewhere else, and helps me hold it together. The workout itself, the music, the other
teachers, the other clients it such an amazing environment to be in, especially
while pregnant.
