How Pregnant Women Can Give Their Lower Body A Great Workout

Getting down on your arms and a knee while moving one leg up and down seems simple enough, but it take a lot of stamina to get to ten repetitions with each leg. Are you able to do it? Build up slowly if you get tired, doing a few more repetitions each day. You'll soon feel your whole lower body getting a lot stronger. The exercise is also soothing for the back, as long as you ensure your spine is straight.

Side line leg lifts are an excellent addition to your prenatal workout routine if you would like to maintain or build strong legs and glutes. This exercise has you lying on your side, propping your upper body up with one arm and supporting it with the other. You then lift one leg up and down, but make sure to keep your leg straight!

You can do as many repetitions as you feel comfortable with on one side; ten is typically a good goal. When you are done, don't forget to switch sides so that both halves of your body get an equal workout. Side line leg lifts are suitable throughout the nine months of pregnancy, but pregnant women should always listen closely to their body and stop exercising if they feel any discomfort.

If you want to give your legs and glutes a great workout, there is really no way to avoid squats. Keep your abdominal muscles tight as you perform these squats, and avoid moving your knees past your toes. Did you know that squats help your pelvis to open, and encourage your baby to move into the right (head-down) position in the last few weeks of pregnancy? Those are great reasons to stick at them.

Squats may be a great way to exercise your lower body, but they become rather tricky to perform in the later stages of pregnancy. Many pregnant women, especially those in their last weeks of pregnancy, are intimidated by doing squats (or even attempting to tie their shoelaces!).

This cool variation of squats uses a fitness ball. Using the fitness ball will make it easier for expectant moms to come back out of the squat, but you will still get a great workout. The squats help sculpt your lower body, and are also beneficial for your back. All you have to do is squat, and then push back up. Your fitness ball will do all the rest.