The idea of Preggo Pilates is a deeply personal one; about half way through my Pilates training I became pregnant with my first child.  Looking around I realized there was very little available for a prenatal woman looking to maintain her current fitness level (in a specialized, challenging and safe manner). With the birth of my son the idea for Preggo Pilates was also born!  What does every postnatal woman need in addition to another hour of sleep?  How about a strengthened pelvic floor, a strong upper body, the ability to breathe deeply and a core that works to support her posture, lower back and general sense of well-being among other things. 

 

I became inspired to develop a Pilates program that supports women who are interested in maintaining fitness during and post pregnancy.  Many women experience a unique curiosity about their body during pregnancy.  Even those women who are already in great physical shape often develop a new appreciation, awe and connection to their pregnant bodies.  Preggo Pilates was developed to nurture a deep body/mind connection in a uniquely tailored way.  As the mother of two small children under the age of 4, I am acutely aware of the physical and emotional joys and challenges that arise during pregnancy, postpartum and motherhood.  I am passionate about serving the needs of this specific client community as I feel it is an extremely profound and unique time in a woman’s life and one that the current culture often reduces into a focal point about fear and consumerism as opposed to empowerment and transformation.

 

Preggo Pilates empowers women physically by challenging them with a workout that fosters a deep appreciation of what the pregnant body is capable of.  Strength, breath, flexibility, control as well as the ability to physically let go are all essential in pregnancy, labor and the postpartum period and these are the essential building blocks of the Preggo Pilates program. 

 

 

Stephanie Forster is the founder of Preggo Pilates and the director of Pre and Post-natal Education at EHS Studios in San Francisco,  She has been a Pilates practitioner for over 15 years and a trainer since 2004.  She has focused her Pilates expertise on the needs of the pre and postnatal community.  She is also a member of the Mama’s Resource Network, a Bay Area  professional group comprised from a wide variety of professions who serve, support and educate pregnant and postpartum women and their families.  She has an M.F.A. from Mills college in Dance Performance and Choreography and has been on the dance faculty of the Rhythm and Motion Dance Program since 2000.  When she is not busy in a Pilates or dance studio, you can find her chasing after her two young children.