Prenatal pilates

Updated

Prenatal pilates is a pilates class adapted for people who are pregnant, taught on a mat, a reformer or both. Instructors change positions, props and pacing as pregnancy progresses, and offer options for each exercise. This page covers the class format and how to find one, not medical advice.

Check with your healthcare provider before starting or continuing pilates during or after pregnancy.

How a prenatal class differs from a regular class

A prenatal class follows the same method as any pilates class: controlled movement, coordinated breathing and attention to form. What changes is how the instructor builds the class:

  • Positions. Exercises are adapted or swapped as pregnancy progresses, so the class looks different from one month to the next.
  • Props. Expect more cushions, wedges, balls and blocks to set up each position.
  • Pace. More time between exercises, more set-up, fewer fast transitions.
  • Attention. The instructor checks in with each person and offers options for each exercise.

Every studio runs its prenatal classes differently. The class description and a conversation with the instructor will tell you more than any general guide.

Mat or reformer?

Both exist. Prenatal mat classes usually cost less. Prenatal reformer classes adapt the machine work, and some studios teach pregnant clients only in privates or small groups rather than in a standard reformer class. Ask which the studio offers and why.

If you already take regular classes at a studio, ask whether they recommend moving to a prenatal class, staying in your usual class with changes, or switching to privates.

Questions to ask a studio before you book

These questions help you compare studios. None of the answers replace advice from your healthcare provider.

  1. Who teaches the class? Ask what prenatal-specific training the instructor has. Training varies, and studios should be happy to tell you.
  2. Mat, reformer or both? And how many people are in a class?
  3. What happens as pregnancy progresses? Ask how the class adapts and whether you can stay through the third trimester.
  4. Do you need written clearance? Some studios ask for a note from your provider.
  5. Are there postnatal classes? Some studios run a separate postnatal or “mom and baby” class for after the birth.
  6. What’s the cancellation policy? Pregnancy is unpredictable. Look for a studio with a flexible late-cancel rule or packs that can be paused.

Postnatal pilates

Postnatal classes are a separate format for the months after birth. Studios that teach them usually ask when and how you gave birth and expect you to have your provider’s go-ahead before you start. The same questions above apply.

What prenatal pilates costs

Prenatal classes are priced like other classes at the same studio, and privates cost more. Across the 61 studios in our directory that publish a drop-in price, the median single class is $39, with a range of $10 to $99. Those figures cover all class types, not prenatal classes alone. Check how long a pack lasts before you buy; a long expiry or a pause option matters more when your due date is fixed. See how much pilates classes cost.

What to wear

Comfortable, stretchy clothes you can move and lie down in, and grip socks if the class uses a reformer. More in what to wear to pilates.

Find prenatal pilates near you

Search prenatal pilates near me to see studios that list prenatal classes. We mark how we know a studio offers a class type: from its business category, its name or its listed services, or only from its description. Confirm the schedule with the studio before you go. For other formats, see types of pilates classes, and if you’ve never taken pilates, read pilates for beginners.

FAQ

What is prenatal pilates?

Prenatal pilates is a pilates class adapted for pregnancy. The instructor changes positions, uses more props and slows the pace, and the class changes as pregnancy progresses. It can be taught on a mat or a reformer. Check with your healthcare provider before starting, and ask the studio how its prenatal classes work.

Can I start pilates while pregnant if I’ve never done it?

That’s a question for your healthcare provider, not a directory. If your provider agrees, look for a dedicated prenatal class rather than a standard beginner class, and tell the instructor you’re new to pilates and how far along you are. Some studios suggest a private session first to learn the basics.

What should I ask a prenatal pilates instructor?

Ask what prenatal-specific training they have, how the class adapts through each stage of pregnancy, how many people attend, whether you need written clearance from your provider, and whether they also teach postnatal classes. Compare the answers across two or three studios before you book a pack.

Is prenatal pilates done on the mat or the reformer?

Both formats exist. Prenatal mat classes usually cost less. Some studios adapt reformer classes for pregnancy, and some teach pregnant clients on the reformer only in privates or small groups. Ask the studio which it offers. Your healthcare provider can tell you whether either suits you.

How do I find a prenatal pilates class near me?

Search our prenatal pilates near me page, which lists studios that show prenatal classes in their business category, name or listed services. Each studio page shows how we identified its class types. Call the studio to confirm the schedule, the instructor’s training and whether the class is still running before you book.