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Working Out During Your 2nd Trimester? Here’s How Barre3 Workouts Support You During This Pivotal Stage.
Pregnancy is a life-changing event. Throughout your journey, you and your baby are changing and growing every day. That’s why it’s important that your workout meets you where you are during every stage—and that’s exactly what we’ve designed our trimester-specific Prenatal and Postnatal Collections to do.
Read on for tips and guidance to keep in mind as you’re moving your body during this stage, as well as insight into how our 2nd Trimester Collection workouts help you maintain strength, empower you through modifications, and reduce aches and pains to support you and your baby.
Your Body Is Changing And Your Baby Is Growing—Now’s The Time To Up The Modifications
Both you and your baby are experiencing significant growth during this period. At this stage, your fetus has developed all its systems and organs, and by the end of the second trimester, your fetus will be about 13 to 16 inches long and weigh anywhere from 2 to 3 pounds. In order to help grow the baby, you’ll experience an increase in the hormones estrogen and progesterone. This can impact your stability, making balance-challenging postures more difficult.
While you may have continued doing postures without modifications during your first trimester, now is when you’ll likely begin incorporating more modifications into your workouts to accommodate your body and baby. Your instructor is well aware of the changes your body is experiencing and will help you transition to postures and moves that best suit your individual needs. Take Plank, for example. If traditional Plank or coming down to your forearms or on your knees doesn’t feel stable enough, incorporate a waist-high surface like a countertop or chair into your workout. This modification will give you the same benefits of the posture while putting less pressure and strain on your body.
Barre3 Instructors Have Your Back (Literally!)
In the second trimester, the uterus continues to expand, increasing tension on the surrounding muscles. What’s more, as the uterus stretches, its weight places increased pressure on the abdominal aorta, an artery running vertical to the spine. This can result in experiencing more aches and pains than in your first trimester, and your doctor may recommend avoiding postures that require you to be on your back.
The instructors guiding your movements in this collection have been in your shoes before (each one is a mother and practiced barre3 during her pregnancy), and they know both from their own experience and the science behind prenatal exercise how to support your body as it makes room for your baby.
Be Kind To Your Core
With your baby growing bigger each day, your abdominal wall can become compromised. Now is when core-specific modifications are key. Traditional barre3 postures such as Flat-Back, Incline or Mid-Core can be tricky at this stage, due to your abdominal muscles being stretched as your uterus expands.
Don’t worry: barre3 instructors are well-equipped to help you modify with confidence and suggest postures that put less resistance on your abdominals while still strengthening your pelvic floor. While core work is still important (and a key part of barre3), you’ll want to be mindful that you’re being gentle with your movements, as your core won’t be able to support the same load as before.
Keep Tuning In
One of the most important things we emphasize in every barre3 workout is to listen to your body. Remember: You are your own best teacher, and this concept is more important now than ever during this time. No pregnancy looks or feels the same, and this is a truth we took into account while designing this collection.
Due to the decrease in levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) hormone, pregnancy-related nausea may subside, and some clients have even noted that they feel better and more energized during this trimester. However, you may also want to slow down your movements as your heart rate naturally increases during your first trimester and remains elevated during your second. In that case, try tuning out the beat and centering in on a pace that feels intuitive and supportive for you.
No matter your experience, continue to tune in and pay attention to the sensations in your body as you work out. Be mindful that you’re giving your body consistent breaks and that you’re drinking water before, during, and after your workouts to avoid dehydration. You need to be consuming even more water during your pregnancy to support your baby’s blood circulation. Keep a bottle handy next to your mat for frequent sip breaks, and be sure you’re getting your necessary H20 all throughout the day.
Move with confidence during your pregnancy and beyond with our new Prenatal and Postnatal workouts. Trimester-specific collections meet you where you’re at and support you throughout your journey. For a limited time, get your first month of barre3 online for just $1. Sign up here. Or, sign up for our free trial and choose from 3, 6 and 9 month subscriptions to suit your needs.
Pregnancy is a life-changing event. Throughout your journey, you and your baby are changing and growing every day. That’s why it’s important that your workout meets you where you are during every stage—and that’s exactly what we’ve designed our trimester-specific Prenatal and Postnatal Collections to do.
Read on for tips and guidance to keep in mind as you’re moving your body during this stage, as well as insight into how our 2nd Trimester Collection workouts help you maintain strength, empower you through modifications, and reduce aches and pains to support you and your baby.
Your Body Is Changing And Your Baby Is Growing—Now’s The Time To Up The Modifications
Both you and your baby are experiencing significant growth during this period. At this stage, your fetus has developed all its systems and organs, and by the end of the second trimester, your fetus will be about 13 to 16 inches long and weigh anywhere from 2 to 3 pounds. In order to help grow the baby, you’ll experience an increase in the hormones estrogen and progesterone. This can impact your stability, making balance-challenging postures more difficult.
While you may have continued doing postures without modifications during your first trimester, now is when you’ll likely begin incorporating more modifications into your workouts to accommodate your body and baby. Your instructor is well aware of the changes your body is experiencing and will help you transition to postures and moves that best suit your individual needs. Take Plank, for example. If traditional Plank or coming down to your forearms or on your knees doesn’t feel stable enough, incorporate a waist-high surface like a countertop or chair into your workout. This modification will give you the same benefits of the posture while putting less pressure and strain on your body.
Barre3 Instructors Have Your Back (Literally!)
In the second trimester, the uterus continues to expand, increasing tension on the surrounding muscles. What’s more, as the uterus stretches, its weight places increased pressure on the abdominal aorta, an artery running vertical to the spine. This can result in experiencing more aches and pains than in your first trimester, and your doctor may recommend avoiding postures that require you to be on your back.
The instructors guiding your movements in this collection have been in your shoes before (each one is a mother and practiced barre3 during her pregnancy), and they know both from their own experience and the science behind prenatal exercise how to support your body as it makes room for your baby.
Be Kind To Your Core
With your baby growing bigger each day, your abdominal wall can become compromised. Now is when core-specific modifications are key. Traditional barre3 postures such as Flat-Back, Incline or Mid-Core can be tricky at this stage, due to your abdominal muscles being stretched as your uterus expands.
Don’t worry: barre3 instructors are well-equipped to help you modify with confidence and suggest postures that put less resistance on your abdominals while still strengthening your pelvic floor. While core work is still important (and a key part of barre3), you’ll want to be mindful that you’re being gentle with your movements, as your core won’t be able to support the same load as before.
Keep Tuning In
One of the most important things we emphasize in every barre3 workout is to listen to your body. Remember: You are your own best teacher, and this concept is more important now than ever during this time. No pregnancy looks or feels the same, and this is a truth we took into account while designing this collection.
Due to the decrease in levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) hormone, pregnancy-related nausea may subside, and some clients have even noted that they feel better and more energized during this trimester. However, you may also want to slow down your movements as your heart rate naturally increases during your first trimester and remains elevated during your second. In that case, try tuning out the beat and centering in on a pace that feels intuitive and supportive for you.
No matter your experience, continue to tune in and pay attention to the sensations in your body as you work out. Be mindful that you’re giving your body consistent breaks and that you’re drinking water before, during, and after your workouts to avoid dehydration. You need to be consuming even more water during your pregnancy to support your baby’s blood circulation. Keep a bottle handy next to your mat for frequent sip breaks, and be sure you’re getting your necessary H20 all throughout the day.
Move with confidence during your pregnancy and beyond with our new Prenatal and Postnatal workouts. Trimester-specific collections meet you where you’re at and support you throughout your journey. For a limited time, get your first month of barre3 online for just $1. Sign up here. Or, sign up for our free trial and choose from 3, 6 and 9 month subscriptions to suit your needs.
