The Pilates Pregnancy: Maintaining Strength, Flexibility, and Your Figure

I really enjoyed the foreword of this book; great information I didn't know. I've done the 2nd trimester exercises and got a good workout. I wish this were available on DVD, as turning the pages while doing a workout isn't so convenient.

I just bought this book a couple of weeks ago and have really been enjoying it. I feel like my posture is great after a single workout and feel very strong in my core. I always look forward to my Pilates workout. I felt it was a little repetitive in the intro. and the beginning chapters, when the principles of Pilates, etc. are explained, but they do get their points across effectively. I also felt they do a disservice to pregnant women by insinuating that Pilates is the only good or effective help for preventing low back pain. (p. 11) For example, they write, 'what chiropractor will work on a pregnant woman?' Any chiropractor I know has had a lot of training to work on pregnant women and their newborns later on. There are also other helpful resources a pregnant woman has, such as massage therapy. I realize they are trying to promote Pilates primarily, as that's what the book is teaching, yet I think it'd be great if they would have been more open to giving a little more info. on things that would work well hand-in-hand with the Pilates exercises.

I really like this book. I had been doing Pilates matwork for about 18 months when I became pregnant. I didn't start using the book's routines until I was about 16 weeks pregnant, because before that time my regular Stott Intermediate Matwork video routine seemed fine. I really like the second trimester routine Mari has outlined -- although I don't do the entire routine because of time -- I skip some of the side-lying work and the rowing moves. I'm now 33 weeks pregnant and still doing the second trimester routine because it still feels good (although last week I dropped a couple of the moves that were beginning to get uncomfortable). I have no problems exercising while on my back -- and I have been told that as long as I don't feel dizzy or nauseated, that exercising on my back is fine. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to try Pilates during pregnancy, especially those women who already have at least a basic understanding of the moves.

This is a great book to help guide the pregnant exerciser in general, and especially if you are interested in pilates during pregnancy. It has three workout programs, one for each trimester. The book contains modifications for pregnant moms on the traditional movements, and even addresses the mom brand new to pilates. There are pictures and descriptions for each move, and also a brief explanation of the benefits. A bonus; the pictures for each exercise actually show a real pregnant woman, in different stages of pregnancy. This helps to show placement of the belly in relation to the rest of the body. I would have liked for it to cover some reformer exercises, but it only covers matwork. In any case, it gives you good ideas for modifications that you could use with your machines too.There is some repetition from her other book "The Pilates Powerhouse", but if you don't already have that book, no problem. Otherwise, there is enough new information to make this book work purchasing. Especially since it's the only book I've seen devoted to pilates for the pregnant woman.