Hey friends! I can’t believe I’m closing in on the final weeks of pregnancy! Now that our baby shower is over, the Hubs and I need to spend some time going through our registry and deciding what we still need to get and generally prepping for Baby B’s arrival.

I felt like the summer just flew by and before I knew it I went from tiny bump to huge bump! I have a feeling these last few weeks are going to be much more nerve wracking and generally slower. So I’m trying to focus on other things like finding new and awesome workouts that are completely pregnancy friendly!

I really enjoy Les Mills classes and although I tried BodyVive before I was pregnant, I always thought it was a workout for seniors. Well, I did a little research and found out that BodyVive is actually great for mamas-to-be too! Check out what I love about it including some moves you might see in class!

Format

BodyVive is divided into two segments with the first half of the class dedicated to cardio and the second half dedicated to strength. The class starts with a warm-up and then moves on to low impact cardio moves such as grapevines, side steps, step taps, knee repeaters and more. There are always options to take the intensity up by adding in jumps, runs or larger arm movements but staying low impact is completely ok! The cardio segment also has a lower body focus since our biggest muscle is our glutes and working them brings our heart rate up.

In between the cardio and strength section there is a recovery track (all Les Mills classes are broken down into a focus area corresponding to one track of music. For example, Track 1 is warm-up, Track 2 is Cardio 1, etc). The recovery track incorporates yoga and stretching moves.

The strength segment uses a resistance tube instead of weights. The strength tracks focus on legs, hips and arms so you get a full body workout. The strength section also contains two core tracks to work those stomach muscles.

The entire class ends with a nice stretch.

Why I Love It

• The cardio segment is low-impact with options to kick up the intensity.  This is perfect for pregnant mamas who need to dial back crazy cardio but still want to be active.  I found the intensity in these classes to be just right.
• There is a great deal of focus on areas that become weak during pregnancy like the hips and buttocks.  The moves in BodyVive are great for strengthening these areas.
• I love the resistance bands!  I lifted weights with BodyPump until mid-way through my second trimester when I just felt like the heavy weights were getting too much for my big belly.  I still lift lighter weights but I love using the resistance bands to get in a good strength workout.  They are functional, effective and very safe for pregnancy!
• The class format is the perfect combination of cardio and strength, which is great for a total body workout!
• There are tons of options to take the intensity up or pull back as necessary.  This class is all about options!

Things to Keep in Mind

• Although there are plenty options to either increase or decrease the intensity of your cardio, this class is not specifically designed for pregnant women so you should always listen to your body and never push beyond your limits.  I recommend wearing a heart rate monitor to keep track of your heart rate, especially during the cardio segment.
• The core section will not always have pregnancy-friendly moves.  There are definitely some moves that can be done but you may have to make modifications.  I recommend speaking to the instructor before class starts.  Also, pregnant women are not advised to lie flat on their backs so you may want to consider asking the instructor if there is a pillow or a bolster or something you can use during the core section.

Readers, have you ever tried BodyVive?  Do you prefer low-impact or high-impact cardio?