Can I do Barre while pregnant?

I swear there must be something in the water fountains at the gyms and workplaces that I teach! In the last year, I have had 25 Barre Babes deliver adorable Barre Babies! Pre/Postnatal fitness has become such a passion for me and I am always so inspired by women who continue their fitness journey whilst pregnant. I often get asked, “Can I do Barre while pregnant?” The short answer to that is YES, but there is a much more in-depth conversation that you need to have with your Barre Instructor if you are expecting!

Barre, and exercise in general, is very beneficial for expecting moms-to-be. It can assist you in childbirth, help keep you in high spirits and aid in getting your postpartum back to pre-baby much faster! Because Barre is naturally low-impact, low-risk and still helps maintain muscle tone, it is quickly becoming a favorite way to keep active among the prenatal community. As long as you have been given the all-clear from your Doctor to continue exercising, here are a few other factors you need to keep in mind:

1.) Let you instructor know ASAP that you are pregnant. Your body and needs will start changing fairly quickly, and change daily, so it’s important that you share the exciting news with your instructor as soon as you find out. I always recommend my prenatal clients to come to class a few minutes early so that I can check-in with how they are feeling and offer any modifications that they can use that day.

2.) Know your body and what feels right. Not every pregnancy is the same, so it’s not safe to think that every modification is going to work for everyone. If something doesn’t feel comfortable, let your Instructor know so that she can offer something else.

3.) Drink plenty of water. You are drinking for two now! Be sure to drink plenty of water before, during and after class to stay hydrated. Even if you don’t necessarily feel thirsty, it is important to drink lots of water to help replenish any fluids you have lost.

Again, not two pregnancies are alike and you first need to be given permission from your Doctor to continue exercising. But the proof is in the pudding when it comes to the healthy benefits that physical activity has on moms-to-be, the delivery, the baby and the postpartum process. Want more tips and modifications for doing Barre while pregnant? This month, we have added a Pre/Postnatal video to our Online Barre Workouts Library that you can check out here.

Hope to see you at the barre soon!

Cheers,

Heather McCreight