From postpartum to powerful. Preggo Pilates, gives women intelligent care that restores strength, steadiness, and self-trust.
The people I work with are moving through intense and layered experiences- pregnancy, postpartum recovery, chronic stress, hormonal shifts, or simply trying to find steadiness in a demanding season of life. Acupuncture offers a powerful way to support the body through these transitions, but it’s even more effective when paired with the right kind of movement.
That’s why I recommend Pilates with Stephanie Forster of Preggo Pilates (https://www.preggopilates.com) as a thoughtful, body-wise complement to your acupuncture care.
My Experience Working with Stephanie
I first started working with Stephanie when my daughter was four months old. (I was still in my maternity leggings!) At the time, I was concerned I had diastasis recti and wasn’t sure how to begin addressing it. Stephanie evaluated me, gave me a clear path forward, and we got started right away.
Now, more than eight years later, we’re still working together. In that time, she’s helped me build a body that feels long, lean, and truly functional. It’s completely changed my posture- something I hadn’t even realized needed correcting. And it’s happened almost effortlessly. There’s very little sweating involved, which I honestly appreciate. Her work is precise, sometimes silly, and incredibly effective without being punishing.
The Right Kind of Movement Matters
In Chinese medicine, movement is a powerful tool for regulating the body, but not all exercise is considered equally supportive, especially during times of transition like postpartum recovery, menopause, or chronic stress. Traditional wisdom favors forms of movement that are grounding, intentional, and non-depleting. Exercises that emphasize breath, alignment, and internal awareness help rebuild vitality without taxing an already-stressed system. Practices like walking, qi gong, and gentle strength work are often encouraged. Pilates, especially the kind Stephanie offers, fits beautifully within this framework. It strengthens from the inside out, supports circulation and recovery, and respects the body’s need for rest and integration. In this way, it mirrors the foundational principles of Chinese medicine: building strength by preserving energy, rather than pushing through exhaustion.
What Makes This Work Different
Preggo Pilates is not your average Pilates class. Stephanie Forster is the expert in the perinatal body and brings decades of experience, deep understanding, and a real respect for the complexity of what you’re moving through physically, emotionally, and energetically.
Clients work with Stephanie for a variety of reasons, including:
• Core and pelvic floor support
• C-section or birth recovery
• Chronic pain or tension patterns
• Rebuilding after burnout or depletion
• Gaining long-term strength without pushing too hard, too fast
Her sessions are rooted in anatomy and alignment, but always filtered through a lens of compassion and realism. And it’s worth saying: she brings humor, kindness, and honesty into every session. It’s easy to feel safe and supported with her, even when you’re working on something challenging.
Why Acupuncture + Pilates Work So Well Together
Acupuncture helps the body shift out of stress mode, regulate hormones, move blood and qi, and bring the nervous system into a more balanced state. It restores the internal environment and creates a solid foundation for healing.
Pilates brings that foundation into movement.
• Acupuncture builds awareness of where tension, stagnation, or depletion exists
• Pilates helps you move with that awareness- retraining the body in real time
• Both work together to support strength, circulation, nervous system health, and sustainable recovery
This is especially valuable for people in the perinatal window, those healing from injuries or exhaustion, or anyone navigating chronic symptoms that don’t respond well to forceful exercise.
When to Start
You don’t need to wait until you feel “strong enough” or “recovered enough” to begin. In fact, that’s often the very reason to start. Many people begin with acupuncture sessions to get their energy and nervous system rebalanced, and then gradually layer in Pilates as they’re ready.
Stephanie offers private sessions, small group classes, and online options, so there’s room to start where you are.
How to Get Started
If you’re working with me and want to bring movement into your care plan in a way that respects your body and where it’s been, I’m always happy to make a personalized recommendation. And if you’ve been thinking about adding something more physical to your care but aren’t sure what’s right- Preggo Pilates is a great place to begin.
And of course, if you’re not sure what kind of support your body needs right now, we can talk it through together. The next right step is often simpler than you think- it just has to be aligned with where you are.