Working during pregnancy is exhausting. If you already have children, it can be downright cruel! After all, when you're handling all your life responsibilities outside of pregnancy, and dealing with the fatigue additional worries it can create, exercising during pregnancy might fall very low on your list of things to do each day unless you vow to make it a priority. One study on pregnant women and exercise conducted at the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences revealed that 36 percent cited time constraints as the number one reason preventing them from working out during pregnancy.
But, it's important for the health of both you and baby, and should be made a priority. Of course, you cannot add more hours into the day, so the next best way to fit prenatal yoga and exercise into each day is to multitask. In the same study, women who did fit in prenatal exercise were strategic in their activities--even the seemingly mundane. Here are some ideas on how you can find time to exercise during pregnancy.
Skip the Pregnant Parking Spot
It's a nice resource to have, but parking nearer the far end of the lot and walking the extra steps to the store is a great way to squeeze in a little walking workout when you're out running errands. Just like before you became pregnant, every step counts.
Take the Stairs
Stairs are another great way to squeeze in a little prenatal workout, particularly if you live or work in a building a few floors up. I worked on the 4th floor during my pregnancy, and made it a mission to take the stairs every time I entered or exited the floor. Yes, it gets increasingly harder the larger you get (and people will make plenty of comments, especially those opting for the elevator!) But it's a must for time-crunched mamas trying to squeeze in a prenatal workout.
Walk and Talk
You probably take some time out each day to chat on the phone or catch up with your family in the evening.Take these opportunities to squeeze in some exercise, and go for a walk while you have these gab sessions. (Your family will benefit from the fresh air and exercise, too!) If you walking on the treadmill, catch up on cell phone calls or Blackberry emails from there as you walk.
Prenatal Yoga and TV
Simple prenatal yoga postures are great to incorporate while you're watching TV. Sit on the floor and practice hip openers like bound angle pose and frog. Hold camper's pose for a minute at a time, and work through a flowing series of deep squats alternated with chair pose to build leg strength (have a chair nearby or stand near the wall for balance support). Work in several smaller reps of tricep pushups from plank or kneeling plank.Hold shoulder plank or full plank for a minute at a time for core strength. These moves can add up to one effective workout by the time a one hour show concludes.
But, it's important for the health of both you and baby, and should be made a priority. Of course, you cannot add more hours into the day, so the next best way to fit prenatal yoga and exercise into each day is to multitask. In the same study, women who did fit in prenatal exercise were strategic in their activities--even the seemingly mundane. Here are some ideas on how you can find time to exercise during pregnancy.
Skip the Pregnant Parking Spot
It's a nice resource to have, but parking nearer the far end of the lot and walking the extra steps to the store is a great way to squeeze in a little walking workout when you're out running errands. Just like before you became pregnant, every step counts.
Take the Stairs
Stairs are another great way to squeeze in a little prenatal workout, particularly if you live or work in a building a few floors up. I worked on the 4th floor during my pregnancy, and made it a mission to take the stairs every time I entered or exited the floor. Yes, it gets increasingly harder the larger you get (and people will make plenty of comments, especially those opting for the elevator!) But it's a must for time-crunched mamas trying to squeeze in a prenatal workout.
Walk and Talk
You probably take some time out each day to chat on the phone or catch up with your family in the evening.Take these opportunities to squeeze in some exercise, and go for a walk while you have these gab sessions. (Your family will benefit from the fresh air and exercise, too!) If you walking on the treadmill, catch up on cell phone calls or Blackberry emails from there as you walk.
Prenatal Yoga and TV
Simple prenatal yoga postures are great to incorporate while you're watching TV. Sit on the floor and practice hip openers like bound angle pose and frog. Hold camper's pose for a minute at a time, and work through a flowing series of deep squats alternated with chair pose to build leg strength (have a chair nearby or stand near the wall for balance support). Work in several smaller reps of tricep pushups from plank or kneeling plank.Hold shoulder plank or full plank for a minute at a time for core strength. These moves can add up to one effective workout by the time a one hour show concludes.
