Answer
Congratulations on your pregnancy, Karen! The guidelines for fitness during
pregnancy certainly apply to fitness instructors as well as participants.
Remember that this is a
time to let your body work on making your baby and that requires lots
of energy. Fitness levels can be maintained with just three to four
hours a week of cardio, strength training and stretching. The upper
limits of safety have not been established. The leading researcher, Dr.
Clapp, recommends that women exercising more than seven hours a week be
closely monitored by their health care provider. Make sure you are
gaining weight appropriately.
Since I don't know your
weekly schedule, I cannot comment on its safety. I would imagine that
you can continue teaching three to four low-impact classes each
week.
Remember to tune-in to
your body and adjust your exertion accordingly. In the third trimester,
when the blood volume and respiration increase and your heart rate goes
up with less exertion, you might consider switching classes with
someone who teaches water aerobics. It is much more comfortable than
low-impact and provides more benefits to the pregnant body than
low-impact. If you would would like more information feel free to ask
me more specific questions as they arise. Good luck.
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