Why Treading Water is Definitely Your Go-To Exercise While Pregnant - right up until your due date!
Staying active during pregnancy, especially near the end, is challenging! The same can be said for getting moving again, after birth. Treading water is a low-impact exercise and has great core strengthening and cardiovascular benefits making it an ideal form of exercise for pregnancy and postpartum. It is also a wonderful way to stay connected to your friends or connect with a new community. If you are pregnant, you may need no further convincing that water-based (i.e. gravity-free!) exercise will feel great, but let’s take a deeper look at why you should make treading water your go-to exercise during pregnancy and after birth.
1. Treading is cardio that is gentle on the joints
Our bodies go through a lot during pregnancy. The thought of staying active may sound exhausting, however keeping up a low impact exercise routine helps prevent excess weight-gain. Exercising in water supports your changing body, with much less strain on your knees, hips, and back when compared to other types of cardio workouts. Treading is easy on your body while still elevating your heart rate and burning calories equivalent to jogging without jarring impact.
2. Treading reduces discomfort
Women may experience a variety of pains and discomfort during pregnancy, such as swelling,back, and/or pelvic pain. Treading allows your body to experience the full range of motion, promotes flexibility and strength, all with the support of gentle water resistance. The access to flexibility and mobility will help alleviate your aches and pains, as well as improve your circulation.
3. Treading will increase your energy and help you sleep better
We know that exercise stimulates the production of endorphins, the body's natural mood lifters. Treading water enhances blood flow, delivering more oxygen and nutrients to your muscles and organs, which can help you feel more energized. Adding treading to your routine will help you fall asleep faster and improve the quality of your sleep, leaving you feeling more rested and energized.
4. Treading will keep you connected to community
Club Tread is as much about promoting the fitness benefits of treading water, as the connection-centered nature of the exercise. You can tread along-side just about anyone, regardless of their fitness level and phase of life. Each individual can tailor their workout to their needs, by taking breaks or adding weight.
Whether you tread with your regulars, or reach out to other expecting mothers from a prenatal class, you should have plenty to talk about to make the workout enjoyable and pass the time!
5. Treading is *immobile* baby-friendly!
A real postpartum perk of this form of exercise is that baby can come with you, when you’re ready to head to the pool! Indoor pools are often white-noise, humid havens for newborns, and you may find they sleep happily in a carseat on the pool’s edge within an arm’s reach while you tread. As your child grows and becomes mobile, check out local rec centers and clubs with drop-in childcare options.
As always, but particularly during pregnancy and postpartum weeks, remember to start slow, stay hydrated and listen to your body. You know best!
