Pregnancy & Baby Index: Pregnancy - Fitness: Ballet during pregnancy
Ballet during pregnancy
Lisa Stone
If ballet is your favorite way to stretch, tone and stay fit, can you keep up your routines during your pregnancy? Lisa Stone, an ACE-certified Pre-and Post-Natal Fitness Instructor, has some information.
Your question
I love to dance ballet for exercise. Is this okay during pregnancy? - Simone in Dallas, Texas
The expert answers
Simone -
Ballet is
great exercise -- and it's fun, too! You should be able to safely
continue with ballet throughout your pregnancy. As your belly and breasts
grow, balance may become an issue for you, though. Don't be afraid to use
the barre more than usual if you need it for balance.
Also, you'll need to be careful to avoid over-extending your joints. Your body will produce a
hormone called relaxin that causes a loosening of the joints and connective
tissue, giving you a false sense of flexibility. So, just lower your grand
battements a bit and don't go too low on your pliés and you should be fine!
Lisa :)