Pregnancy exercise UAE: The best prenatal fitness classes for pregnant women in Dubai

ACTIVE MAMA WORKOUT: The Active Mama ethos is all about safely guiding and inspiring women to love and care for the bodies they’re in before, during and after pregnancy. Trainer, Maira, was the head coach in the reality TV show Fighting Fit DXB and learned about the importance of pre and postnatal activity through her own experience with her young daughter. She specialises in abdominal breathing and building strong foundations for your pregnancy and postnatal journey. DETAILS: Contact Active Mama to find out more about one-to-one sessions and her new online program. Mairabookings@gmail.com. 056 430 3094. www.activemamaworkout.com

REBALANCE ME: Rebalance provides classes including prenatal pilates, prenatal strength training and TRXBaby Fit. The icing on the cake here is that when you sign up to ReBalance prenatal membership, you get full access to the impressive Seven Gym. Classes aim to work on key muscle groups to support your pregnancy, relieve common aches and pains, and prepare you for birth and postpartum recovery, whilst maintaining your fitness levels to help with labour. The Rebalance team can also offer advice on optimal fetal positioning and pelvis widening techniques for ladies approaching the big day. DETAILS: A free trial is available. A one-month membership starts at Dh1050. Classes are held at Seven Gym. Class timing: Sun and Tues at 9am & Mon and Weds at 6pm - Prenatal strength, Thurs 9am - Pilates, Sun and Thurs 10am - TRXBaby Fit. michelle@rebalancemenow.com. 055 909 0643

THE OM MOMS CLUB: Exciting news! Yogabellies, a yoga brand from the UK, for every woman at every stage of life, has come to Dubai with The Om Moms Club. Founder Ellie Higgins is offering classes for every stage of your pregnancy, birth and motherhood journey. DETAILS: Free trial available. Classes are held at the Nook, One JLT, on Mondays from 6-7pm. ellie@theommomsclub.com, 056 906 3781, www.theommomsclub.com

URBAN ENERGY: Urban Energy Fitmums offers prenatal classes to help you enjoy your changing body and stay healthy. The ethos is to ‘move gently, but move’. The class is circuit style, combining a variety of upper body, lower body and core strengthening exercises. The instructor is prenatal trained and offers variations to each exercise to cater for each stage of pregnancy so you’ll be able to train at an intensity that is suitable for you. DETAILS: Classes cost Dh80 for a single class or packages of 4 or 8 classes are available. Booking is done on the Urban Energy fitness. Classes currently take place at Kids HQ, Al Barsha at 8.45am on Mon and Weds. info@urbanenergyfitness.com. www.urbanenergyfitness.com

AQUABUMPS: If you’ve been looking for a safe way to stay active during your pregnancy or to release any tension and aches and pains, swimming is a great option. Being in the water provides natural resistance to challenge your muscles while supporting you and your bump. The Aquabumps teaching is led by coaches Francesca and Claudia in small groups with a highly personalised approach. Health benefits include relieving ankle and foot swelling, releasing sciatic pain, stretching the spine and the body muscles, improving your stamina and labour experience, and even reducing morning sickness. DETAILS: One class is Dh150, a five-week course is Dh670 and 10 classes costs Dh1100. Classes run Tues – Thurs and Sat at various location. info@swimmingwonders.com. 054 442 1482. www.swimmingwonders.com

REAL PILATES: Pilates is good for posture, upper and lower body strength and stability, and helps reduce back pain, the perfect recipe for your pregnancy journey. Choose from Prenatal Pilates (on the mat) with classes designed to maintain your strength and endurance whilst supporting your changing body during pregnancy, or Prenatal Reformer which works with resistance and is fantastic for building strength, relieving back tension and maintaining posture throughout or following your pregnancy. DETAILS: Special prenatal combo packs are available at Dh895 for 10 sessions. Classes run daily at two locations (and online on Mondays). Jumeirah: 04 345 3228, JLT: 04 458 5399. www.real-pilates.com

ZEN YOGA: With 10 prenatal yoga and pilates classes a week across three studio locations there are plenty of opportunities to stretch, relax and take some time out for you and your bump. All of Zen’s prenatal classes are very gentle and are offered in studio as well as online. DETAILS: Packages include 10 classes for Dh650, 5 classes Dh350, and a 1-month unlimited pass for Dh625. Classes run seven days a week at locations in Emirates Hills, Media City and Umm Sequim and online. 04 367 043. Email Info@yoga.ae for your free trial. Buy and book classes online at yoga.ae

CRANK: Spinning is a great low-impact exercise for pregnant women. With uplifting music, inspiring trainers, and strict extra safety precautions for COVID-19, Crank is a studio that works hard to protect its members and bring a good dose of fun to every class. Whether you’re an experienced spinner or a newbie, the instructors will help to tailor your workout and give you the right setup on the bike for whatever stage you’re at of your pregnancy. A top tip from the Crank team is to wear a heart rate monitoring device such as an Apple Watch or FitBit to control and monitor your activity during your workout. DETAILS: Start with a free trial session. Packages are available starting with 5 sessions for Dh550. Classes run daily at in Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz. info@crank-fit.com. 04 321 2095. www.crank-fit.com