When you’re pregnant, it’s important to stay fit and to keep yourself in a healthy state both mentally and physically. Daily exercises can help with this, but because of your current condition, you’ll want to make sure you’re exercising in a way that is healthy for your body and your baby. Here are 5 of the healthiest pregnancy-related exercises.
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Swimming
Swimming is one of the best exercises to practice while pregnant. Most health experts agree that this is the safest and most beneficial option at nearly every interval in a pregnancy, as it engages the muscles of the legs and arms, minimizes issues with swelling, and works the same as any other cardio exercise. What’s more, it will allow you to feel weightless, which is soothing and enjoyable especially during the later stages of pregnancy.
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Walking
Taking a calm, brisk walk is a good option for those exercising while pregnant. It gets the heart rate up and provides the benefits of cardio while not placing you in a position where you have to run or push yourself too hard. Make sure to get a good pair of sneakers that fit you and won’t cause your feet to hurt when you walk.
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Dancing
Dancing is another great option, one that can make you feel cute and sassy as well as happy. Any time your mood is down, dancing is a great way to exercise and get it back up again, especially when you put on some of your favorite jams. You can also take a beginner’s dance class if you want to get out and meet more people. However, it is important to avoid dances that call for any potentially dangerous moves like jumps, leaps, and spins.
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Yoga
Many pregnant individuals choose yoga as their go-to exercise. There are a large number of classes and videos created with specific yoga routines designed for those at different points in their pregnancies, so the sky is really the limit when it comes to this option. Make sure you don’t push yourself to get into the positions and remember that the whole point of yoga is to become more flexible, more open, and more relaxed, as well as more comfortable in your own skin.
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Weight Training
Weight training is another great option for pregnant exercise, as long as you make sure you have good form and that you move slowly. Start out with small weights that you can handle, and then you can start to build yourself up to a larger amount. Remember, though, you never want to take on more than is safe. Aim for being comfortable lifting the weight of a baby, which you’ll certainly be doing a lot of soon!
There are plenty of exercises that are safe to do during pregnancy, and as long as you talk with your doctor beforehand and make sure you are taking care of yourself and your little one, you should be fine.