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Pregnancy

 

PRE AND POST NATAL

 PILATES

 AT

STUDIO SOMA

Private Prenatal Session

 

Duo Prenatal Session

Two Mom's to be - one instructor

 

Trio Prenatal Session

Three Mom's to be - one instructor

 

 

To book these classes call Soma at :

(310) 289-9043

 

 

 

 PRENATAL PILATES

Group Classes

 

CURRENTLY THIS CLASS IS NOT IN SESSION.

TO SIGN UP FOR THE NEXT SESSION

PLEASE CALL US AT (310) 289-9043

NOTE: THIS CLASS IS NOT A PART OF OUR

"FIRST CLASS FREE" PROMOTION

 

Besides our private and semi private prenatal sessions, we have this amazing prenatal group class

allowing expecting moms the chance to workout and keep their weight down during pregnancy. 

During this class, you will learn correct prenatal breathing techniques,

safe stretching exercises and techniques to help with labor and pain management.

 The class helps with circulation issues, keeping sugar levels controlled,

decrease stress and anxiety and increases energy and stamina.

 

The class consists of prenatal Pilates, weights, body bars, bosu balls and ballet barres.

We are really working out here! 

 Soma is dedicated to making sure moms-to-be do not hurt themselves during pregnancy

 but maintain a level of fitness that will help them with their 9 month journey. 

 

To register for this class, you must call Soma for an over the phone screening.

 

REFER A FRIEND AND RECEIVE A FREE CLASS!

 

*     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." We have certified prenatal Pilates instructors who know what they are doing! If coming to Soma is difficult during pregnancy due to bed rest restrictions, we will send an instructor to your house for weekly workouts. We also provide nutritional counseling and work closely with mom to be's OBGYN.

    Upon delivery of the baby, Soma clients who went through our prenatal program, bounce back to their pre-pregnancy shape in no time at all. 

 

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

 

 

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.

Thalia is assisted by Denise White who specializes in pre natal Pilates at Studio Soma.

Client Debbie Drimmer (photographed above) worked out twice a week with Thalia until 5 days before giving birth!  

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WHAT ARE CLIENTS SAYING ABOUT PRE NATAL SOMA!

 

 

 

 

Parminder Nagra on Studio Soma….

 

“Being a fan of Pilates for some three years I'm glad to have made Soma

my home for exercise. 

I have stayed in shape and feel renewed and invigorated after each class.

Thalia Thomas has such passion and has created such a family atmosphere,

it's hard not to feel good about yourself.. and above all she pushes you,

you don't ever just feel like your going through the motions. 

Now during my pregnancy, Soma has become even more important.

The utmost care is taken in making sure you push yourself...but just enough.

I’ve done everything from the mat classes to Soma sculpt up until four months

(with modifications). Thalia in a room full of people still making sure that you

get the most from your workout.

I am now doing Private classes on the reformer and hope to carry on

til the end and be back into doing all the other stuff I was doing before!

I have been at the studio for a about 2 years and have seen people become leaner,

 stronger, more sculpted and above all, more confident.

I would wholly recommend Soma to anyone who wants to get in shape

 or who is in shape and needs a change.. this studio is a gem in 

Hollywood and you need to discover it.”

 

Parminder Nagra - Cast of ER

Meet Lisa Mayorga.....

- How long did you do Pilates at Soma during your pregnancy?

I did Pilates for approx. 4 1/2 months
 
- What benefits did you get out of it?
I had severe pains in my hips and even before pregnancy got terrible migraines from a weak neck.  During my Pilates training the pains in my hips were greatly reduced and my headaches non-existent.  I also felt better about myself as I gained the pregnancy weight and felt that I was less "emotional".  I was happy to be able to do something for myself.

 

- Did it help you get through the pregnancy better?
Definitely...I felt stronger.  I felt that I had some control over my changing body.  Once I had to stop training I felt weak, more emotional, my hip pain returned, as well as my neck trouble.

 

- Do you feel Soma's instructors took care of you and know what they are doing?
Denise was wonderful.  If something felt uncomfortable she either adjusted the exercise or moved onto something else.  She knew my limits as well as my strengths.

 

- Would you recommend the studio to other pregnant woman and WHY?
I would recommend the studio to other pregnant woman (and I have!).  It is a great way to stay in shape and feel good about yourself during a time when you feel totally out of control of your body.  I felt safe exercising during my pregnancy because the staff truly knew exactly what I needed as an individual.

 

- If you have another baby, will you use Soma again?
100 times...yes!  I also cannot wait to get back into my workouts once I give birth.  I am ready to go back and get to work!

 

Meet Amy Gallagher.....

I did Pilates at Soma for my entire pregnancy, and Thalia and Angie were two of the very first people who knew I was even pregnant!  And that's where it started.  From that day forward, the Soma staff made me feel like I was the only pregnant person in the world.  The over the top treatment, attention and care that I got every time I walked through the door made me feel incredible...regardless of how big I was getting!  I was amazed with the expertise that my instructors had with pre-natal Pilates.  I felt like I was getting an education while working out!  Many times I thought it would be ok to do an exercise that felt fine on my body, but my instructors always made me stop when they felt like it was getting to be too much, regardless of if I could do it or not.

(Picture taken 6 weeks after baby Jacob was born!)

I found Pilates to be beneficial for so many reasons.  In fact, the only reason why I stopped coming the last few days was because I was starting to have contractions.  I did Pilates three days a week and I love that it got me up and out of the house.  Even on those mornings that I felt tired and huge, as soon as my session started, I was totally energized and thankful that I came.  I had an incredibly easy pregnancy and I credit Soma for most o f it.  I was never sick, I didn't have aches and pains and I never missed a session because of the pregnancy.  I rarely had back pain because I kept it strong throughout the whole pregnancy.  I had always heard that if you stay active and do Pilates, you'll have an easier time in labor.  Well, I don't know any different, but thank goodness I had flexible legs and strong arms!  Because of my regular sessions at Soma, I think I was able to lose the weight quicker than if I hadn't been as diligent working out.  And come on, that's reason enough to become a part of the Soma family!

 
I wouldn't even think twice about sending other pregnant woman anywhere else but Soma! I was so impressed with the level of knowledge and the care that I got while pregnant that I feel like every mother-to-be deserves this kind of treatment.  I'm hooked and totally addicted to Soma.  What they gave me in strength, both physical and mental, is a priceless gift that I am forever grateful for.    

 

Meet Liz.....

"I am currently 18 weeks pregnant with my first baby and I started going to Soma when I found out I was 6 weeks pregnant.  I can honestly say that my time at Soma is the happiest and funnest time of my entire week.  I look forward to my sessions and can't wait to come back for the next one.  Thalia and her entire staff (I also take sessions from Denise) have made me feel so safe and supported.  They bring humor and humanity into everything they do.  Thalia is not only an amazing teacher of pilates, but being a mom herself, she also helps to shed light on the "truth" of being pregnant.  I come to my sessions with a ton of questions, hardly ever having to do with pilates!  

I have learned more from Thalia and her crew about being pregnant than anyone else.  This is a fantastic place where you are made to feel like a normal woman going through an extraordinary experience.  I intend on continuing my practice at Soma long after my baby is born.  It is truly the one hour which is totally dedicated to my well being and happiness.  I would be lost without my Soma time!  Being a woman, and being a pregnant woman, has never felt so good.  Thank you to Thalia and everyone at Soma, it is truly a gift I give to myself.  This is the best place to be pregnant.  It is worth every penny."  
 


Meet Lauren.....
 

I had always been an active person so when I found out I was pregnant, I immediately started to look for pre-natal pilates and thats how I found Studio Soma. I started working with Thalia when I was just 7 weeks pregnant, in fact she knew I was pregnant before my family. Thalia helped me through my rough first trimester and when I started having a pain here or there as my pregnancy progressed, she always knew how to work around any ailment to ensure I got in a good work out. After every session and I loved how I always felt stronger and revitalized. 

 I worked with T my entire pregnancy, literally... in January, I had a personal session in the morning and went into labor that evening. I know doing Pilates my whole pregnancy helped with my labor-I never cramped up or lost energy and had an easy recovery. I was cleared to workout again about a month ago and have been practicing post-natal pilates with T and Denise who are helping me get back to my pre-preggs body. Love this place and can't wait to be cleared to do some soma sculpt!! :)