There are benefits for all women to be found through exercising during pregnancy. As a specialist in this field, I will provide you with and guide you though exercises that are applicable to daily life and completely safe for you at this time.
I can help you with:
- Effective, safe and functional exercises which strengthen you for normal daily activities
- Postural and corrective exercises through all trimesters including hands-on soft tissue release, realignment and mobilisation
- Functional approach to pelvic floor exercises
- Exercise adaptation as your pregnancy progresses
- Pelvic mobility strategies in third trimester (e.g. optimal repositioning of baby if breech)
- Stress reduction strategies with breathing, relaxation and visualisation
- Birth planing guidance
- Tasks for your partner throughout pregnancy and during birth
Birth is a beautiful event to cherish, and as a specialist in pregnancy fitness I firmly believe that through exercise and physical activity you can build a strong mental attitude and prepare yourself for the joy that pregnancy and birth can bring to you and your family.
Functional Approach to Pelvic Floor Exercises
Pelvic floor muscles play an incredible role during pregnancy and in the postnatal period. This group of muscles forms a hammock-like structure at the base of your pelvis, and are the ones responsible for supporting your womb, bowls and bladder. It’s no surprise then, that as your baby grows there is additional pressure bearing down on these muscles.
Many women, pregnant or not, can suffer with stress incontinence or urine leakage during exercise and when sneezing or laughing. Traditional pelvic floor/Kegel exercises are useful, but there are other specific strategies to become more in tune with these muscles. I teach you how to increase their strength functionally, so that your body is strong and ready for the increased weight of your growing baby. The techniques you will learn can also help to improve your bladder function and reduce the risk of other potential health issues in the postnatal period.
Being fit, healthy and in tune with your body will give you the confidence to go about your daily activities feeling strong.
Hands-on Treatment
Touch and human contact are incredibly important and never more so than during pregnancy. The feeling of ease and relaxation which you experience with hands-on massage is priceless. I have over six years massage experience and a sound level of physiological knowledge which I apply in my treatments. This means that I provide you with explanations and reasoning behind any discomfort you are experience – this gives you a superb treatment with long term benefits, rather than a quick fix one hour chill-out.
Massage not only seeks to counterbalance the physiological changes that happen in pregnancy but it provides you with quality ‘me time’, where you are allowed the space to breathe in peace. You will be able to switch off from the distractions of daily life while I release muscle tension and show you how to carry forward the feeling of ease into your daily life. At Global Therapies we are passionate about educating you. We feel it is important that you understand about how your body works and the reasons why behind our treatments, therefore, expect some education as well as a thoroughly good massage.
During treatments I ensure you are positioned safely, and are relaxed, comfortable and warm. Treatments are beneficial by:
- Easing backache, shoulder and neck tension caused by postural changes
- Addressing muscle imbalances and promoting correct postural alignment
- Reducing joint pain caused by muscle tension or swelling and fluid retention
- Relieving discomfort caused by special circumstances such as Carpal Tunnel, Sciatica and Piriformis Syndrome
- Promoting rest, recuperation and healthy sleep
Birth preparation for body & mind
I will provide you with the knowledge you need to plan a positive and empowering birth experience. With the correct physiological knowledge and reassurance you will be in control and many of your fears surrounding birth will be allayed.
- Advice on physiological, non-intervention birth and home births
- Stress reduction strategies with breathing, relaxation and visualisation
- Birth planning guidance
- Tasks for your partner throughout pregnancy and during birth
