A wonderful conditioning exercise for women of all shapes and sizes, Pilates is now recognised as one of the best exercise programmes for the pregnant body as well. It offers quite an amazing number of benefits, while being a gentle, low-impact regime. These include:

-Improved circulation in the abdomen area (this is unique to Pilates)

-Firmer, wider and longer abdominal muscles, which reduce backache during pregnancy and speed recovery post delivery

-Faster return to shape after delivery

-More effective breathing and increased flexibility for easier deliveryThere are also some great indirect advantages to Pilates during pregnancy.