The Perfect Pregnancy Workout

5 Comments

1. R. Underwood says:

   June 28, 2010 at 12:51 pm

   I purchased and tried 3 prenatal fitness DVDs around the same time:

   * Perfect Pregnancy Workout
   
   * Prenatal Yoga
   
   * Leisa Hart’s Fit Mama Prenatal Workout

   Here’s how I thought they compared. (Note that I do yoga and walk regularly; while I enjoy dancing, I do not dance regularly. I’m not overweight.)

   * Perfect Pregnancy Workout – 5 stars. Designed and narrated by a Cirque du Soleil acrobat (faint French accent), this video is my favorite of the three. The woman demonstrating the workout is about 8 months pregnant and in amazing athletic shape (visible muscle definition). The theme of this video seems to be preparing for birth and staying strong and fit. It has two sections: (a) workout and (b) instructions.

   (a) After a mercifully brief cheesy earth-mother introduction, the yoga-based workout is vigorous yet flowing and straightforward, building incredible muscle strength, flexibility, and stamina. It includes squats, lunges, lots of ab work, lots of great hip stretches, kegels, lots of different arm strengtheners. At the end I am sweating, breathing harder, relaxed, and satisfied. The next day my muscles are sore (in a good way) and feel stronger. The music is world-beat without vocals, easy to exercise to.

   (b) The instructions section is excellent as well. Animated anatomical graphics clearly illustrate diastasis, how to check yourself for it, and how to modify your workout to avoid further muscle separation, as well as exactly what kegels are. This part also explains in depth how to do the moves in the workout.

   * Prenatal Yoga – 4 stars. Designed and narrated by a UCLA-graduated yogi, this video is my second favorite. Shiva is under 3 months’ pregnant in the demonstration but has women behind her in second and third trimesters. The theme of this video seems to be relaxing and preparing for motherhood. It has three sections: (a) workout, (b) massage, and (c) interview.

   (a) The workout is much less vigorous than Perfect Pregnancy, but includes squats, lunges, many spinal twists, kegels (no deep explanation, just metaphor), lots of different stretches. At the end I am sweating a bit, relaxed, and satisfied. The music is new-age without vocals. For some reason, Shiva does not pronounce the “h” in “exhale” which can be distracting. Also the narration gets slightly out of sync with the demonstration in a few places, which can be confusing.

   (b) The massage section is fabulous if you have a partner willing to watch it and give you one! Great techniques for feet, legs, back, and neck.

   (c) Shiva explains her story in the interview, how her father named her after an Indian god, how she took up yoga in college, etc.

   * Leisa Hart’s FitMama – 2 stars. I bought this on Amazon’s recommendation and I’m sorry I did. My biggest gripe is that this video doesn’t focus on smooth continuous deep breathing, unlike the other two DVDs. Leisa is a perky actress who does infomercials. She is 8 months pregnant in this but her body looks very different (thin, wiry) compared to the woman’s in Perfect Pregnancy (athletic). The theme of this video seems to be feeling better (sexier) about oneself while pregnant. It has basically two sections: (a) workout and (b) bonus stretches.

   (a) The workout is much less vigorous than Perfect Pregnancy yet goes at a faster, more erratic pace than either of the other two videos. It has four parts: salsa dance, “yoga fat burn,” labor and delivery prep, and prenatal stretch and relaxation. The dancing is about 8 moves repeated, with a few squats. I feel foolish and bored doing this. The yoga fat burn is more aerobics than yoga, includes ab work, squats, no twists, never holds any pose for long, is repetitive. Labor and delivery prep includes kegels (no real explanation), many boring arm swings, ab work. Prenatal stretch and relaxation includes leg stretches, ab work, is repetitive. The music is salsa, soft rock, and world beat without vocals; very good workout music, loud in places.

   (b) The bonus stretches are the best part, but are buried under Special Features (the DVD doesn’t seem very well organized). These include leg, back, hip and shoulder stretches actually held for several seconds, squats, plenty of rapid boring arm swings.

   All three videos show women in different trimesters doing the exercises and mention appropriate modifications. All three videos explain how to do the exercises safely and how to recognize warning signs of overdoing it.

   If you’re a yoga gal like me and you want to buy just one prenatal yoga video, get Perfect Pregnancy. If you want your partner to give you a great massage too, get Prenatal Yoga.
   Rating: 5 / 5
2. Blessed Mama says:

   June 28, 2010 at 1:06 pm

   I’ve tried just about every pregnancy workout out there and I love yoga and pilates, but wanted something that would be a bit more traditional, yet challenging. These videos are somewhat hard to find and are generally about a decade old.

   I saw this video by scrolling and going back to the last page of my search–I have no clue why this video is back that far, as it’s awesome!

   I just finished the workout at the beginner level (and I certainly wouldn’t consider myself a beginner exerciser), and I feel as though I’ve just completed one of my runs (but in a good way!)

   My big concern, I have to admit, was the lunges. I have bad knees (although with a wrap, I can generally run OK) and lunges can be a nightmare. I thought I’d grit my teeth and bear it. They were fine! She has the perfect amount for challenge, but changed to a different movement just when I thought I was going to need to stop.

   Another awesome thing is that while it’s not aerobic, but a sculpting program, I could still feel my heartrate climbing up to where I like it to be when I exercise. I’m adding this one to my favorites collection (meaning it’s now on my regular rotation) and I so wish I’d found this tape earlier (this is my 3rd pregnancy).

   My first pregnancy, I was a couch potato and had all sorts of drugs during labor (my attitude was “give me whatever you have”) and with that came a lot of interventions as well. My second pregnancy, I remained active and was able to get through labor with no interventions and completely drug free. I’m hoping that this time around, as I’m in even better shape, that with my exercise program and hypnobirthing program I will be able to go through labor even better.

   My only complaint is that this video didn’t pop up on the first page of my search–it’s seriously worth every penny!
   Rating: 5 / 5
3. M. Buehl says:

   June 28, 2010 at 1:07 pm

   This is by far the best! Honestly, do not buy any other pregnancy workout dvd. I’ve tried them all, this is the only one you’ll need!
   
   I LOVED doing this workout. That’s a big statement to make, but I did actually look forward to doing this! It was the only video I’ve done, including non pregnancy geared workouts, that actually kept my full attention. I never got bored! It’s just the right length and the moves aren’t repetitive or boringly basic.
   
   I do not think it is quite as challenging as others made it out to be. After a couple of months doing this, I could make it through doing all the advanced moves barely breaking a sweat.
   
   It’s nice that she gives you options. This allows you to start off doing ‘beginner’ moves and progress to the more challenging options.
   
   I always felt great after completing this workout. I look forward to being pregnant again and utilizing this from the very beginning!
   
   I highly recommend this, you won’t be dissapointed!
   Rating: 5 / 5
4. Andrea Golden says:

   June 28, 2010 at 2:37 pm

   I bought this video because I was feeling extremely fat. I knew that I had to do SOMETHING positive to make myself feel better- physically and mentally. I am SO HAPPY that I bought this video! Because it’s a sculpting workout, I can really see a difference after having used it for three weeks. My arms and legs are definitely more defined and my body has a shape again!
   
   I highly recommend that anyone who is pregnant also check out the Frequently Asked Questions section about pregnancy exercise on Karyne’s website: http://www.progressiveparent.com. It answered A LOT of questions that I had about exercising safely.
   Rating: 5 / 5
5. V. Mcknelly says:

   June 28, 2010 at 5:27 pm

   This is a terrific pregnancy workout–I highly recommend any pregnant woman who has no complications get this workout!! I use this workout along with Shiva Rea’s pregnancy yoga and Pregnancy Pilates by Niece Pecenka. This is the most hardcore of the three, and I have worked my way up to doing it three times a week.

   -The instruction is simple to follow, with excellent transitions
   
   -There is no BS–she gets right down to business and goes directly from one exercise into another, without rushing you
   
   -She is not a perky cheerleader type, she just tells you what you need to know/do for the exercise
   
   -It is a real workout–your muscles are worked from head to toe, she gets every muscle group and you definitely feel it
   
   -She has modifications for advanced and beginner exercisers (with a couple of intermediate modifications), which allows you to do what you can, and still get a good workout
   
   -She’s about 8 months pregnant, and she is doing every single exercise with you, which makes you feel like you can do it, too–pushups and all!
   
   -The instructional part goes over diastasis, how to detect it, and how to modify the exercises to ensure you do not make it worse.

   I did not exercise at all first trimester due to crushing fatigue and nausea. Once I started exercising again, this workout was HARD for me. Now I’m 7 months pregnant and I have great muscle tone all over my body–can even see where the “six pack” muscles are over the belly, and I have, as I said earlier, worked up to three times/week with this video. I feel like it’s really helped me get in excellent shape for delivery. I have her Perfect Postnatal Workout as well, have already viewed it, and will be using it as soon as possible after the birth.

   Bottom line: If you want to be in great shape and want a no-nonsense workout that you can do even when very pregnant, this is it!
   
   Rating: 5 / 5