
Preparing for Childbirth with Prenatal Workouts
If you’re reading here, you already know pregnancy does a number on your body. I remember the first time I saw a visual of how organs shift and muscles stretch during pregnancy – whoa. Luckily, prenatal fitness classes can help mitigate some of the discomfort that comes with these changes.
Every body is different, but I found that prenatal fitness classes were the most helpful in helping me still feel like myself, both physically and mentally.
On the physical side, I found my classes extremely helpful in preparing me for childbirth, particularly pelvic floor, oblique, and back strengthening workouts. Mentally, exercise improved my overall mood, reduced stress, and improved my sleep (until the end, of course!).
Postpartum Fitness: Working Out After Giving Birth
Once you get the green light from your doctor, postpartum-specific fitness classes can be a great way to ease back into an active routine.
Classes are not only great for gaining strength, but they’re an awesome outlet for new moms. All that free time you had pre-baby? Gone! Taking 45 minutes or an hour for yourself to work out can feel like such a treat. Plus, many of these classes have a strong focus on community, creating a safe space for new moms to talk about their experiences.
Ready to Get Going? Check Out These DC Area Prenatal & Postpartum Fitness Classes:
Lighthouse Yoga Center
Lighthouse Yoga Center is located in the Northwest Washington DC residential neighborhood of Brightwood Park, on the Kennedy Street commercial strip.
Lighthouse Yoga Center is Washington DC’s only Kundalini Yoga studio and is a flagship studio for alignment-oriented Hatha, Flow and Pre/Postnatal yoga. Our wonderful teachers and students have created a beautiful space for peace and healing in the heart of Northwest DC, and we are grateful to all of those who have been part of our growth.
Lighthouse prioritizes inclusion, diversity and community. We are a “come as you are” studio, and offer classes for all ages, shapes and sizes. At Lighthouse, we believe that yoga is a way to help us feel better. When we feel better in our bodies, we’re able to start to calm our mind. When we’re able to calm our minds, we can connect with our spirit. When we put all these aspects together, we empower ourselves to make changes in our lives and the world.
See details and sign up here:
Prenatal Yoga Series
Postnatal Yoga Series
Body Grace Fitness and Yoga Studio
Body Grace brings safe, effective, high quality group fitness and yoga classes to the Vienna community in a relaxed, friendly, supportive environment.
We believe care of the body through fitness is a sacred act, and strive to help students achieve physical strength and emotional ease, which is so important, especially during pregnancy.
Our Prenatal Yoga Program supported 21 prenatal moms in 2023. We use props that help us protect the placenta while focusing on strengthening the pelvic floor and muscles that support the breasts, improving balance, and exploring poses that aid rest and sleep as our bodies change. And we have fun!
Prenatal & Postpartum Workouts in the DC Area
These local fitness studios and businesses offer prenatal & postpartum classes that come recommended by our readers and contributors:
532 Yoga
Alexandria, VA
Prenatal Yoga
BodyGrace Fitness & Yoga
Vienna, VA
Prenatal & Mommy and Me Yoga
Breathing Space
Capitol Hill, SE DC
Prenatal Yoga
Circle Yoga
Chevy Chase, NW DC
Prenatal & Postpartum Yoga
Elements of Motion
Tenleytown, NW DC
Private & Semi-Private Training
FIT4MOM Alexandria
Several Alexandria Locations
Prenatal & Postpartum Fitness Classes
FIT4MOM DC
Several Locations
Prenatal & Postpartum Fitness Classes
FIT4MOM Falls Church
Falls Church, Vienna, and Fairfax
Prenatal & Postpartum Fitness Classes
FIT4MOM Southwest NoVA
Southwest Northern Virginia
Prenatal & Postpartum Fitness Classes
Lighthouse Yoga
Brightwood Park, NW DC
Prenatal & Postpartum Yoga
Mind the Mat
Alexandria & Arlington, VA
Prenatal & Postpartum Yoga & Pilates
Nimaste Yoga
Kensington, MD
Prenatal & Postpartum Yoga
Sun & Moon Yoga
Arlington & Fairfax, VA
Prenatal & Postpartum Yoga
Sweat Like a Mother (S.L.A.M.)
Arlington & Vienna, VA
Postnatal Fitness Classes
Thrive Yoga
Rockville, MD
Prenatal & Postpartum Yoga