Exercise During Pregnancy & Birth Preparation Pilates & Yoga Program

Pilates is an exercise system developed by Joseph Pilates aimed at increasing flexibility, strengthening muscles, and improving overall body health.

Yoga is a form of exercise focused on breathing to enhance physical and mental well-being. It includes a series of movements, breathing exercises, and meditation designed to reduce stress, maintain health, and increase strength and flexibility. The goal is to create awareness and harmony in the mind and body.

The pregnancy Pilates and yoga sessions at Op. Dr. Engin Sarıca Clinic are organized and supervised by Physiotherapist Beste MELEK KUMAK, who specializes in "Pregnancy Health and Urogynecological Physiotherapy." Before starting any exercise program, each pregnant woman undergoes a physical evaluation to determine the appropriate program. This program is carried out through one-on-one and group sessions, with the following objectives:

• Preventing conditions such as back pain, swelling, cramps, urinary incontinence, and other pregnancy-related discomforts, ensuring the mother can go through this process as comfortably as possible.
• Minimizing the effects of body posture changes during pregnancy and supporting them with posture training, correct sitting, standing, and lying positions.
• Physically preparing the mother for birth by focusing on correct breathing techniques, breathing techniques used during labor, active birth exercises and positions that facilitate delivery, pelvic relaxation exercises, and other physical preparations for the hospital and birth.

• In cases where the baby is in a breech (buttocks-down) position, exercises and positioning techniques are used to encourage the baby to turn into the correct birth position.
• The goal is to improve both the physical and psychological well-being of the mother.

Pregnant women who are medically cleared to exercise can begin at the 14th week of pregnancy.

Due to hormonal changes during pregnancy, hypermobility in the joints and loosening of ligaments occur, which increases the likelihood of injury during exercise compared to pre-pregnancy. To ensure exercises are performed correctly and safely, it is highly recommended that exercises be done under the guidance of a physiotherapist specialized in pregnancy health.

You can contact our clinic for exercises you plan to do under the supervision of our physiotherapist.