Lindsey Jackson's Video

'PILATES IN PREGNANCY'

Enhance Productions, together with the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Womens’ Health (ACPWH). 90 minutes. £18.99.Tel: 01937-586685.

e-mail: pilates@enhance-wellbeing.com

website: www.enhance-wellbeing.com

This video claims that by doing these exercises women will gain more balance, control of their bodies, energy, self awareness, better posture, strength and flexibility and be able to relax. To a large extent this is true, if done regularly (2-3 times a week) and the workout would take about 30 minutes.

The video is well produced, and visually easy to follow and runs for 90 minutes. It is presented by Lindsey Jackson who is a physiotherapist and is 7 months pregnant at the time. She has been involved in Pilates exercises for 12 years, and is a Master Practitioner and qualified instructor through the Pilates Institute. Clients have told her how the exercises have helped them to stop backache, strengthen abdominal and pelvic floor muscles (and so prevent incontinence) and increase muscle control and breathing. She is joined by Leticia who is not pregnant, and who demonstrates the early pregnancy exercises.

The tape is divided into:-

Basic techniques

Early pregnancy exercises

Later pregnancy exercises (once you can’t lie on your front)

Early post birth exercises

Basic techniques cover pelvic tilt and neutral spine, upper body posture and breathing.

Early pregnancy exercises cover Warm Up, Workout, Stretching and Relaxation.

Later pregnancy exercises the same, but with good modifications for pregnant women with a bump.

Early post birth exercises cover pelvic floor, static abdominals and pelvic tilts including advice for those post caesarian.

All are taught carefully and slowly with awareness of good posture at all times. There are very good teaching points throughout each exercise, making them safe. Warnings are given that if anything hurts don’t do it, and the fact that you can ask your doctor, midwife or physiotherapist for advice. During the exercises the camera shows side and front views to make sure that they are done correctly. There is background music throughout.

I am not an expert on Pilates exercises, and personally prefer to do exercise to music, which I find more motivating and has the added component of aerobic exercise. I found it rather wordy and frustrating at times and lacking in humour. I also wondered why all the muscles worked were not stretched afterwards. I would also have liked more on the postnatal period.

However, I was impressed by the careful manner in which the exercises on the tape are presented and see it as a safe alternative for those women who prefer to exercise in a slower manner. It is particularly good on body awareness and central control. I liked the way that the pelvic floor and transverses abdominal muscles are worked at the same time.

I would therefore thoroughly recommend this video to women who want to continue to exercise throughout pregnancy and postnatally, using Pilates exercises.

Marion Grant

NCT AN Tutor, Physiotherapist (member of ACPWH), and trainer with the Guild of Postnatal Exercise Teachers.

P.S. The Guilds recommendation is that you try and attend a course run by a properly trained teacher rather than try and exercise from a video. But if there is no teacher in your area then a video is a place to start, but LISTEN TO YOUR BODY and do not strain or overstress yourself. It is not wise in the postnatal period.