Pilates is a great way to stay in shape and feel super. Pregnancy does not change this for most women. Despite the differences in your body, exercise is still important. Recent studies have suggested that Pilates during pregnancy will help with an easier and shorter labor and birth, fewer cesarean surgeries, a quicker recovery postpartum, a quicker return to your pre-pregnancy weight, not to mention a healthier feeling pregnancy.

Pilates also is very safe and effective at facilitating healing and helping us get back into shape after birth, but it is even more important for the new mother’s mindset.

Moms of infants are often sleep-deprived, stressed, and unsure of themselves, particularly first-time moms. They often feel pressured to immediately get back their pre-pregnancy bodies, look fabulous in their pre-birth jeans, or flawless in a bathing suit just weeks after giving birth. We see recently pregnant celebrities on magazine covers and on television appearing thin, svelte, and like they never gave birth, giving us an unrealistic view of what our bodies should look like post-pregnancy… Many mothers struggle with this. Some see it as an impossible goal, not even giving exercise a thought, while others may feel so “out of their bodies” that they lack the confidence to start working out again.

There is undoubtedly a direct correlation between Pilates and self-confidence. And when it comes to mothers, a meaningful Pilates practice can sometimes reset the confidence button in a woman who is struggling to accept, love and understand her changed body as she navigates her demanding and exciting role of being mom. Gaining better body balance, control, harmony, resilience and awareness, can translate into a new kind of self-acceptance, and an appreciation for the individuality and uniqueness of their body.

When they begin to truly rediscover and learn about their motherly body, they often become more accepting and proud of this new body; a boost in self-confidence emerges from participating in a Pilates practice that emphasizes the importance of feeling good first.

Pilates can not only change their bodies, but it can change their ways of thinking about their post-pregnancy bodies.

As mothers we often look into the faces of our children and see inspiration and motivation smiling back at us. But imagine this: When we live life with a steady sense of self-confidence we will see in our children’s faces a reflection of our own inspiration and motivation brightly smiling back at us, brimming with belief and appreciation.