Article by Harper's Bazaar. Original article here.

The best virtual pregnancy fitness classes

Safe prenatal workouts you can do at home

Prenatal exercise comes with specific guidelines – as Simone De La Rue, trainer to the likes of fellow mothers Rosie Huntington Whiteley, Chrissy Teigen and Reese Witherspoon tells Bazaar. Firstly, "Always check with your doctor before starting any exercise routine while pregnant," she says. (Read more of her dos and don'ts of pregnancy exercise, here.)

But while it's good to err on the side of caution, you needn't be anxious about working out. "The good news is there are now so many studies to support exercise throughout your pregnancy, so your doctor should be on board and encourage you to work out," De La Rue adds. The key is finding programmes that are as safe as they are effective.

Below, see eight of the best prenatal workout plans you can do at home, if you can't get to the studio. From yoga to cardio, barre to Pilates, these virtual methods will help you stay strong and feel confident throughout pregnancy.

Barrecore

Barrecore, the barre fitness experts with 13 studios across the UK, say its method is "one of the safest workouts during pregnancy due to the low impact and mindful nature of our classes". They offer private maternity modification sessions, so you can join full classes with adaptations, and in addition have recently added a dedicated prenatal class every Saturday morning to the live schedule, streamed via Zoom. Expect to exhaust your muscles and experience the famous 'Barrecore shake', but rest assured it's safe for you and your baby.