Easy Introduction To Exercise During Pregnancy

Maintaining fitness whilst you’re pregnant helps both physically and psychologically, helping to reduce many common complaints such as tiredness, varicose veins and swollen ankles. Regular exercise can help alleviate discomfort such as lower back pain and heartburn as well as preparing your body for the birth.

Even a modest amount of exercise during pregnancy will release those feel good endorphins, lift your mood and make it easier to sleep, reducing stress, anxiety and depression.

Check out FittaMamma fitness expert Lucie Brand’s Mini workout – it’s a lovely, gentle way to get moving. 

·         These easy warm up exercises are great before you start any cardio activity and work equally well to cool down afterwards:

Legs and ankles:  Stand on leg, raise your other foot off the floor and rotate your ankle. Raise your knee higher flexing back and forwards.  Repeat with the other leg

Hip and body:  With your feet hip distance apart and hands on hips,  rotate in both directions.  Put your hands on your head and gently swing your body from side to side.

Warm up your arms:  Spread your arms wide, flex your wrists before circling backwards and forwards, crossing your arms in front of your body. Shrug your shoulders to loosen, reach up to the sky with each hand in turn stretching over to the side.

·         Increase the pace:

Get stepping from side to side, adding in a knee lift or curl with the opposite leg.  March on the spot, lifting your knees and swinging your arms.

Lunge to each side, pushing alternate arms across your body.

Half jacks, with your arms coming in and out as you step each leg in turn.

Tap your heels forward alternately, bending the other knee and swinging your arms forward.

Jog on the spot, bringing your knees up – alternate with jogging with your heels to bottom

For full workout routines click on www.fittamamma.com– there’s loads of useful info about exercising in pregnancy as well as recipes and nutrition advice.
Also, make sure to check out my total body prenatal workout!

And check out my guest post on the Fitta Mamma blog!

Leading pregnancy activewear specialists FittaMamma are keen to inspire women that exercise during pregnancy is not only safe but beneficial.  They’ve recently launched a range of stylish and supportive fitness and leisurewear so mums-to-be can look great and feel comfortable whilst they exercise.