Gravidpilates

When I became pregnant, I carried with me all the stories I had heard growing up from my family and from other women in my culture. Stories that described birth as the hardest and most painful thing. Stories that during pregnancy your body changes for the worse, that you gain weight you will never lose, that hormones make you emotional and tired.

So I began my pregnancy feeling uncertain and afraid. I worried about how my body would change, how I would feel, and whether I would still recognize myself in the mirror afterwards. I worried about the moment I would give birth.

Then I started Pilates, and everything began to shift. From the very first class, I felt something different, a quiet connection to my body that I had not felt before. Pilates taught me to slow down and listen. It helped me understand what was happening inside me, and to see my body not as something changing for the worse, but as something adapting, growing, and supporting new life. I learned to move with awareness, to breathe deeply, and to trust my strength. I stopped fighting my body and started working with it, embracing the beautiful transformation it was going through.

Throughout my pregnancy, I felt so many new sensations, emotions, and unknowns that sometimes felt overwhelming. But most of all, I was anxious about the moment I would give birth. Pilates helped me keep that anxiety under control, especially with the support and wisdom of my teacher. She was patient, knowledgeable, and incredibly compassionate. She guided me not only through physical exercises but also through my thoughts and emotions. She explained what was happening inside my body in simple, reassuring ways, helping me to understand and trust the process instead of fearing it. Her advice went far beyond movement; she taught me how to breathe, how to focus, and how to approach pregnancy and birth with calm and confidence. Through her, I learned that feeling strong is as much about the mind as it is about the body.

As the months passed, I began to see how miraculous this transformation truly was. My body was not only changing, it was creating. Every movement and every breath felt meaningful. I could feel my baby moving and growing, responding to my touch, my breath, and even my emotions. That deep connection was unlike anything I had ever experienced. Instead of feeling disconnected from myself, I felt more present and alive than ever before, part of something much greater than me.

There were moments in class when I found myself doing exercises I never imagined a pregnant woman could do. It was empowering and completely changed how I viewed the female body. I realized how strong and capable it is when treated with care and respect. Pilates helped me stay active and confident throughout my pregnancy. I could move freely and comfortably, even in the final days before birth, when I had expected to feel heavy and tired.

When labor finally came, it was long and, at times, intense, the kind of experience that truly tests you. But despite the pain, it was also extraordinary. It was something unlike anything else, raw, powerful, and profoundly human. I could feel every part of it with a kind of awe. Thanks to my teacher, I understood what was happening at each stage of the birth, which made it so much easier to cope.

What surprised me most was how much I could handle just by breathing, moving, and focusing my mind. The pain was not something to fight against, it was the effort my body was making to bring my baby safely into the world. Each contraction became purposeful, a wave of strength rather than something to fear. Breathing, staying present, and trusting my body carried me through. I could feel my body’s wisdom guiding me, and I allowed it to lead. I will never forget the moment I could finally hold my beautiful baby in my arms.

After giving birth, I realised that the benefits of Pilates did not end there. My recovery felt smoother, my body felt balanced and strong, and I discovered a quiet confidence I had not known before. In many ways, I feel in better shape now than I did before pregnancy, not just physically, but emotionally too. Pilates taught me that pregnancy is not something to fear. It can be a time to grow stronger, more aware, and more deeply connected to yourself than ever before. It gave me strength, calm, and trust in my own body, and the guidance of an incredible teacher who showed me that both the body and the mind can learn, adapt, and thrive.

Pregnancy and birth transformed me in ways I never imagined. They taught me that strength is not about resistance; it is about trust, awareness, and surrender. Through Pilates, I learned to meet change with grace, to listen to my body, and to celebrate what it can do. I look back on this journey with deep gratitude, for my body, for my baby, for my teacher, and for the quiet, unwavering power that comes from truly understanding yourself.

- SILVIA, 35, Originally from Romania