[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent="no" hundred_percent_height="no" hundred_percent_height_scroll="no" hundred_percent_height_center_content="yes" equal_height_columns="no" menu_anchor="" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" status="published" publish_date="" class="" id="" background_color="" background_image="" background_position="center center" background_repeat="no-repeat" fade="no" background_parallax="none" enable_mobile="no" parallax_speed="0.3" video_mp4="" video_webm="" video_ogv="" video_url="" video_aspect_ratio="16:9" video_loop="yes" video_mute="yes" video_preview_image="" border_size="" border_color="" border_style="solid" margin_top="" margin_bottom="" padding_top="" padding_right="" padding_bottom="" padding_left=""][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type="1_1" spacing="" center_content="no" link="" target="_self" min_height="" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" class="" id="" background_color="" background_image="" background_image_id="" background_position="left top" background_repeat="no-repeat" hover_type="none" border_size="0" border_color="" border_style="solid" border_position="all" border_radius="" box_shadow="no" dimension_box_shadow="" box_shadow_blur="0" box_shadow_spread="0" box_shadow_color="" box_shadow_style="" padding_top="" padding_right="" padding_bottom="" padding_left="" margin_top="" margin_bottom="" animation_type="" animation_direction="left" animation_speed="0.3" animation_offset="" last="no"][fusion_text columns="" column_min_width="" column_spacing="" rule_style="default" rule_size="" rule_color="" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" class="" id=""] Contributed by Crystal Parker, Club Pilates As a Pilates instructor and mom of two kids under 18 months old, I field a lot of questions about practicing Pilates before and after pregnancy. My own pregnancies motivated me to learn how to better support moms before and after baby’s arrival. A foundational part of the Pilates method is establishing good breathing patterns, and as every woman who has ever been pregnant knows, deep breathing is difficult in pregnancy. The growing uterus prevents the diaphragm (the giant breathing muscle under your lungs) from dropping down fully. That said, breathing is a critical part of learning how to contract and relax the pelvic floor, which aids in childbirth and assists in long-term pelvic floor function. A common misconception is that women should wait until after the baby comes to strengthen their core. While avoiding the C curve position (including sitting for too long on furniture that sinks you into a C shape, such as a low couch, chair, or hammock), engaging the deep transverse abdominis muscles will actually help create balanced and efficient core musculature. Finding these deep muscles can be as simple as imagining hugging your baby in and up as you exhale, relaxing on the inhale. For some women, figuring out how to relax core and pelvic floor muscles is a bigger challenge than engaging them. We need muscles that can both fully engage and fully relax. Again: don’t forget about breath! Holding your breath puts too much pressure on the abdominal cavity. When in doubt, exhale it out. The last secret weapon for perinatal Pilates: glutes. Your glutes help stabilize your pelvis and help your spine move back toward proper alignment post-pregnancy. If you are in the belly hanging forward stage, imagine shifting your thighs and hips back over your heels, keeping the rest of your upper body in place. This helps turn on your glutes and find that good alignment. You’ll need to re-find this alignment daily because your body changes rapidly during pregnancy. Establishing good posture while you’re pregnant will help you postpartum, when your posture is compromised again as a result of lifting, holding, and feeding the baby. Pilates is a great way to get and keep your body ready for baby. It will help you move through your pregnancy feeling positive and confident in your body’s ability to carry, deliver, and care for your bundle of joy—and for yourself! Crystal Parker is a certified Pilates instructor at Club Pilates Huntersville. You can see her bio here: https://www.clubpilates.com/location/huntersville/our-trainers/ . [/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent="no" hundred_percent_height="no" hundred_percent_height_scroll="no" hundred_percent_height_center_content="yes" equal_height_columns="no" menu_anchor="" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" status="published" publish_date="" class="" id="" background_color="" background_image="" background_position="center center" background_repeat="no-repeat" fade="no" background_parallax="none" enable_mobile="no" parallax_speed="0.3" video_mp4="" video_webm="" video_ogv="" video_url="" video_aspect_ratio="16:9" video_loop="yes" video_mute="yes" video_preview_image="" border_size="" border_color="" border_style="solid" margin_top="" margin_bottom="" padding_top="" padding_right="" padding_bottom="" padding_left=""][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type="1_1" spacing="" center_content="no" link="" target="_self" min_height="" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" class="" id="" background_color="" background_image="" background_image_id="" background_position="left top" background_repeat="no-repeat" hover_type="none" border_size="0" border_color="" border_style="solid" border_position="all" border_radius="" box_shadow="no" dimension_box_shadow="" box_shadow_blur="0" box_shadow_spread="0" box_shadow_color="" box_shadow_style="" padding_top="" padding_right="" padding_bottom="" padding_left="" margin_top="" margin_bottom="" animation_type="" animation_direction="left" animation_speed="0.3" animation_offset="" last="no"][fusion_text columns="" column_min_width="" column_spacing="" rule_style="default" rule_size="" rule_color="" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" class="" id=""] Submitted by Dr. Roberto Palmieri, Palmieri Dentistry, www.palmieridentistry.com Do you find yourself having trouble sleeping at night? Do you wake up often and have trouble getting back to sleep? Does your partner complain that you keep them awake at night with your snoring? If any of these scenarios sounds familiar, you may have a chronic respiratory condition called obstructive sleep apnea. During sleep apnea attacks, your throat collapses and blocks oxygen to your upper airway, depriving your brain and lungs. Symptoms of Sleep Apnea Snoring is one of the first and most common symptoms of sleep apnea, but there are several others you may not immediately recognizes: Low quality of sleep (trouble falling asleep or waking up often) Low energy levels Inability to concentrate Fatigue or drowsiness Headaches or a sore throat in the morning Health Problems from Sleep Apnea Leaving sleep apnea untreated can be incredibly dangerous because it can lead to a number of serious health problems: High blood pressure Heart disease Weight gain Type 2 diabetes Car accidents Possible Causes of Sleep Apnea There is no one specific cause of sleep apnea, and not everyone with the usual underlying conditions develops sleep apnea. But there are multiple factors that can increase your risk of developing it: Being overweight or obese (especially in the neck and upper belly) Having a deviated septum Being a man Being a menopausal woman Being over the age of 40 Having a large neck, tongue, or tonsils Having acid reflux Having sinus or other respiratory restrictions Even if you haven’t yet developed sleep apnea, we strongly recommend being observant about your sleep patterns if you have one or more of these typical underlying conditions. Doing your best to prevent sleep apnea and recognizing the symptoms will save you a lot of pain later on. If you’ve experienced any of these symptoms, we urge you to come in for a consultation. Dr. Palmieri can identify signs of sleep apnea and recommend a comprehensive course of action. Don’t let your sleep apnea affect other areas of your life. Book your appointment online today or call us at (704) 247-6336. Let us help you sleep better and live better! [/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]