Pregnancy

PRE AND POST NATAL

 PILATES

 AT

STUDIO SOMA

     What is Pilates?
Pilates is a form of exercise which combines flexibility and strength training with body awareness, breathing and relaxation. The exercises are based on certain movement patterns performed with your tummy and pelvic floor muscles — known in Pilates as the "power house" or core. These muscles are also known as deep stabilizing muscles.

     How does pregnancy affect the stable core?

    During pregnancy, your tummy muscles are stretched over your growing baby and may weaken as a result. Your pelvic floor muscles are also placed under great stress and tend to stretch and move lower down into the pelvis under the weight of the baby. As a result, you may find it harder to contract these muscles and to hold them for very long. If your pelvic floor muscles are very weak, you may find that you are leaking urine when you cough or sneeze. If your tummy muscles are weak, you may have back or pelvic pain.  During pregnancy, hormone relaxing causes your ligaments to stretch more than normal, and if you overload them further, you may cause an injury.

   Is Pilates useful during pregnancy?

Pilates targets the tummy and pelvic floor muscles that can weaken during pregnancy.  Many Pilates exercises are performed standing, sitting or kneeling which allows you woman to work out throughout your pregnancy.  

S   Studio Soma has special designed equipment for pregnant woman to allow assist in getting to those "hard to reach areas." 

    Upon delivery of the baby, woman will bounce back to their pre-pregnancy shape in no time with Pilates. 

Prenatal Pilates

With

Thalia Thomas

Registration and prescreening required.

To schedule a class, call Soma and sign up. 
 

This class is designed for the expecting mom who cares about looking and feeling good during and after her pregnancy.  Through the use of Pilates mat work, you will strengthen your pelvic muscles, tone inner and outer thighs, stretch and strengthen your back muscles and tone your upper body.   Pilates will give you energy and stamina and help you with your circulation and breathing techniques needed to get through those 10 months.  You will be surprised at how easy it will be to bounce back to “pre-baby” body if you take this class now!  Permission is required by your ob/gyn before taking this class. 

 

 

 

About Instructor

 

Thalia Thomas

Owner of Studio Soma

BFA in Dance, Certified Pilates Instructor, Certified Massage Therapist

 

Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, Thalia began teaching Pilates

at the age of 16.  After graduating from the high school of performing arts

in 1990, she moved to the States to attend California State University, Long Beach and became certified in Pilates.  In her senior year in college, she was asked to set up Pilates programs in three major chiropractic offices in Orange County and taught Pilates at Orange Coast College, Long Beach City College and Golden West College.  She also taught Pilates to the members of the US Olympic team, members of the “NFL”, “NBA” and members of the “Laker Girl” squad.

 

Upon graduating in 1996, she moved to Los Angeles and acquired yet another Pilates certification from Romana Kryanowska (one of Joseph Pilates students). For the next seven years she directed numerous Pilates programs in Los Angeles and became an examiner for the New York Pilates certification course.

 

Thalia has taught Pilates to the cast of “Lion King," “River Dance” and other Broadway musicals. She has taught Pilates courses at UCLA and physical therapy departments across the city, and her expertise has been called upon by professional actors and singers. Over the past 17 years of teaching Pilates, Thalia has had the fortune of working with numerous expecting mothers. This experience coupled with endless hours of research and continuing education courses in pregnancy fitness, has given her both the knowledge and confidence required to teach pregnant woman Pilates through their entire term.  Thalia prides herself on the speed in which her "mamas" return to their pre-pregnancy shape and often look and feel even better than before. 

 

Soma is the only studio in the Los Angeles area that offers specially designed apparatus for pregnancy.

Photos (black and white): Client Debbie Drimmer Cahoon, in her ninth month.

Debbie worked out twice a week with Thalia until 5 days before giving birth!     

Diana Westerberg at nine months on                                                                                                                                                                                     Soma's specially designed equipment                                                                                                                                                                                           for pregnancy Pilates.