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A Healthier Pregnancy

Exercise Trends That Make a Difference

By Teri Brown

Yoga also can be wonderful for getting back into shape after Baby's arrival. "A rigorous Asana [yoga] practice is as challenging as any gym workout," says Narkus. "It's like boot camp for the body and spirit. So not only will you quickly regain your core strength, but you can wash away those potential postpartum blues."

Spinning is one of the latest exercise crazes. Spinning is done on a stationary bike in classes with other people. Fitness consultant Jodi Decrenza is a certified spinning instructor and feels spinning is a great way for women to get physically ready for the rigors of pregnancy and childbirth.

"There are many health benefits one can gain from spinning," says Decrenza. "Spinning is probably the most intense cardio workout one can do and it conditions some of the biggest muscle groups in the body – the legs."

According to Decrenza, spinning is an effective exercise because it is so intense, yet you can control the workout yourself. Each bike has a weighted fly wheel with a resistance knob that gives one the ability to change his workout from class to class.

"You not only build muscle tone, you increase your level of stamina," says Decrenza. She believes there is no reason a pregnant woman shouldn't be able to spin safely – especially if she had begun spinning before her pregnancy.

Many women choose alternative forms of exercise during the last month of their pregnancies because their bellies get in the way of peddling. However, many report that getting back on the bike after childbirth is a great way to get their pre-baby body back because it burns a tremendous amount of calories, works on the whole cardiovascular system and, if one gets into a good class with a talented teacher, can work on the upper body, too.

Want to see more?

• Get into the Swing of Things: Golfing during Pregnancy
• Mama's Got Biceps: Building Muscle with Strength Training
• Pregnant? It's Not Too Late to Start Exercising
• Talk about it!

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