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18 May 2015

Freestyle Step and Pregnancy

Freestyle Step and Pregnancy

PLEASE NOTE - I AM NO DOCTOR. This blog article is only my personal view, and in no way I suggest to do or not to do any sort of exercise. Your personal doctor, your professional Obstetric doctor, who is specialised in the subject of pregnancy, should be the only ones providing you with guidance in this matter. 

The article here is addressed to everyone that may want to discuss exercise with your doctor.

PLEASE SEE YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE ANY EXERCISE!!

Congratulations! You're expecting a baby. This is going to be one of the biggest adventures of your life, but also one of the biggest challenges. Don't expect to get much sleep over the next 18 years, either. There's no doubt that having a child takes a huge toll on your body, so it's important to get your strength up in advance. Even giving birth itself is pretty taxing, so if you get yourself fit and healthy now your body will bounce back much more quickly.

That said, when you're carrying around a whole extra person, finding the energy to keep fit can be easier said than done. No doubt your doctor or midwife has given you suggestions of what's safe to get involved in and what isn't, so follow their advice. They are the experts, after all! Luckily for you, Freestyle Step is a really good way to keep fit throughout your pregnancy. Let's take a look at some of the reasons why - and why Les Mills BodyStep is much less suitable.

In case you're not sure of what it is, Freestyle Step is an aerobics routine which involves moving onto, over, around and off a small step, stretching and lunging the whole time. It's different from other step aerobic classes because of the 'freestyle' element - there are no set routines, so each instructor can come up with their own set of moves to build up a routine. That's right: this is a fitness class that's built around you, the members. I know, it's pretty awesome.

Freestyle Step can be modified to be pretty low-impact activity which makes it ideal for pregnancy. All the stepping can put extra pressure on joints such as the knees and ankles, but take it easy and use that as an excuse to put your feet up and be pampered at the end of the day - as if you needed an excuse! This class will give you a good cardio workout which is great for getting your strength up, but otherwise there's little that could pose a risk to your baby. There's no strenuous activity; there's no heavy lifting. In fact, you'll be hard pushed to find a way of working out that's quite so suitable for a pregnant lady.

Benefits of exercise during pregnancy

You might be wondering how this kind of exercise can benefit you during the pregnancy itself. Well, for starters, it's no secret that exercise is a great mood booster. It releases endorphins into your body, which give you the same feeling as the activity that got you in this situation in the first place! This is a time when you might be feeling uncomfortable, tired, and just generally not yourself, so having such a good pick-me-up will make you feel so much better. As it happens, you won't be the only one benefitting from an improvement in your mood. Studies have shown that babies whose mothers experienced a lot of stress during their pregnancies suffer from more problems during their childhoods, while mothers who are relaxed and stress-free end up having babies who are relaxed and stress-free, too. Looks like Freestyle Step can cheer you up, as well as your baby.

As if that wasn't reason enough to give it a go, there are a number of physical health benefits for you both, as well. Freestyle Step will give you a great cardio workout; you'll be breathing hard and your heart will be racing. This will seriously improve your circulation; in turn, more oxygen-rich blood will get pumped to your baby. This can only be a good thing when it comes to your baby's growth and development!

How is Les Mills any different?

Les Mills BodyStep is another type of step aerobics class – well, actually, not “another type” but a brand. I've been spouting on about Freestyle Step, but how are they different? Why is Freestyle Step so good during pregnancy, while Les Mills isn't?

The main difference is that Les Mills BodyStep classes generally stick to a set routine. The instructors have no flexibility in the moves that they teach or the routines that they arrange. You learn the steps, you do the routine, and you go home. That's it.

Freestyle Step, on the other hand, can be adapted to suit any class or individual as the instructors are pretty much given free reign in the routines. If you can't pull off a move for whatever reason (whether it's pregnancy or something else), that's not a problem. If the routine is too challenging, that's not a problem either. Your instructor will be able to fit the moves around you. It might sound cheesy to say that this is an exercise for anyone and everyone regardless of ability, but it really is true!

Freestyle Step vs Les Mills in pregnancy

Freestyle Step is generally a better option for most people in society because of its flexibility, but that's even more true for those who are pregnant.

As your baby grows (along with your belly!) you'll soon discover that there are certain positions that you can't quite get into like you could before. With Les Mills BodyStep that would be a problem, because you wouldn't be able to complete the routine. However, with Freestyle Step the routine will mould to your and your body, so you'll still be able to enjoy it no matter what your stage of pregnancy!

That's another important point: Freestyle Step is a great way of keeping fit throughout your pregnancy (and beyond). Les Mills classes are very fixed, so once you're too big or too tired to take part in the routines, there's little that can be done. You'll have to stop altogether. Not so with Freestyle Step! The classes are continually changing, adapting and morphing, so you'll see that as time goes on they will change with your body. The routines you participate in at the start of your pregnancy will be very different from those when you're heavily pregnant, but they'll be the right routines for you. No matter how pregnant you are, Freestyle Step will remain suitable, appropriate, achievable and enjoyable. Told you it was awesome!

In case you're still unsure of how Freestyle Step can adapt to your needs, there is one other thing you can do to make it even more practical. Being flexible is in the job description, so all the instructors are pretty reasonable guys and girls when it comes to exercising when you're pregnant. Have a word with them; chances are they won't even mind if you remove the step altogether and perform an entire Freestyle Step routine...without the step!

Before, during and after pregnancy

If you haven't noticed by now, Freestyle Step is a fantastic way of keeping fit while you're pregnant. It has so many benefits for both you and your baby: what else could you possibly ask for?

If you've already enjoyed Freestyle Step prior to getting pregnant then you can just carry on attending classes, although make sure you tell your instructor about your condition as soon as possible. However, if you're new to the world of Freestyle Step then you can rest assured that it's a great class to continue with after you've given birth, as well. You'll enjoy it so much that you'll probably be hooked by then anyway!

That was our article for May 2015. Remember to feel free to comment, or contact me via email to FreestyleStepXTRVGNZ@gmail.com, and comment on what you think of this article, or any article you have read, or just any improvements you may want to see happening.

In June 2015 article... I concentrate on what Gyms are doing or not doing to help with Freestyle Step. Is Freestyle Step being replaced by LesMills because of Gym's choice, or is Freestyle Step dying of a slow death due to its lack of direction. Next month article has some interesting and strong points discussed.

Bruno Jimenez
May 2015
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Location: Australia
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