Dance is Very Beneficial as an Exercise during Pregnancy

Dancing during pregnancy is a fun way of staying fit. According to the founder and director of Dancing Thru Pregnancy (DTP), Ann Cowlin, a well-being program under the guidance of trained professionals can offer numerous benefits to the mom and baby.

Dancing, walking and yoga are good for pregnant women. Some of the benefits of dancing during pregnancy include:

• relief from discomforts related to pregnancy.
• improved stamina before, during, and after labour.
• short postpartum recovery period.
• improved stamina and overall fitness during pregnancy.
• aerobic exercises prevent and reduce severity of gestational diabetes.
• dancing reduces the need of medical intervention during birth as well as labour.
• during pregnancy, aerobic dancing reduces risk of hypertensive disorders.

Precautions to Take

Pregnant women must choose exercises according to their comfort level. You must make sure that your trainer is certified to work with post-natal population for a certified trainer is who will understand physiology of pregnancy and instruct you in the desired manner.  

Dancing Tips for First Trimester

Women who were habitual dancers before pregnancy can safely continue doing so throughout their first trimester. but must try to avoid movements that require jumping. Make sure that you warm up before exercising to prepare your body and joints for exercise. By skipping warm up sessions, you may strain your joints and muscles.

You may keep the intensity of your workout low by keeping one leg on the floor all the time. The intensity of your dancing session must be comfortable. You must be aware of your body’s limitations and listen to the cues.

Dancing Tips for Second and Third Trimester

By the second trimester, your center of gravity will shift. So, you need to be extremely cautious while dancing or exercising. Tracey Mallett, a certified personal trainer in California suggests that irrespective of the kind of dance you are doing, it is essential to eliminate jerky movements, jumping, backbends and quick rotations. Doing such movements can put unwanted stress on your ligaments and even lead to injury.

Read more articles on Pregnancy Exercises.