3 Things I Wish I Knew Before & During Pregnancy

From Our Pilates-Loving Mom-of-Three-to-Be, our Instructor, Bri Champion

Before I got pregnant, I thought I had a pretty good handle on health, fitness, and community. I loved my intense workouts, I stayed busy, and I moved through life with a go-go-go mindset. Then… my first pregnancy shifted everything. In the best, most humbling way.

Here are the three biggest things I wish I knew going into this season of my life — and how Pilates helped me along the way:

1. Leaning Into Community Makes You Stronger

I’ve always loved a good solo sweat session, but pregnancy has shown me the power of leaning on others—especially a supportive, knowledgeable community. Whether it was being surrounded by other women going through their own version of the same journey or having instructors at Provision who truly understand what’s safe and supportive for each trimester—I felt beyond supported through every stage.

Pilates doesn’t just offer me a workout; it offers me a space to ask questions, move mindfully, and feel genuinely seen. You don’t have to do this alone. In fact, you’re stronger when you don’t.

2. Find Movement That Feels Good (Not Draining)

Before I had babies, I was all about the burn—HIIT, fast-paced everything. But that all changed quickly in trimester one. I was exhausted and didn’t recognize the same body I once pushed so hard. That’s when I started asking a new question: What kind of movement leaves me feeling energized, not depleted?

Enter: Pilates. It met me where I was. It helped me reconnect with my breath, strengthen my body in a way that felt empowering, and move with grace and intention. This shift wasn’t just physical—it was emotional, too. For the first time, I moved to support, not punish, my body.

3. It’s Not About “Bouncing Back”

Let’s just say it: the whole “bounce back” culture? It’s outdated and misleading.

I don’t want to return to who I was before—because I’m not her anymore. With every pregnancy, I’m continuing to grow (literally and figuratively) into someone new. Someone stronger. More compassionate. More intuitive.

Pilates has supported that transformation—not by promising a quick fix, but by helping me stay grounded and in tune with my body as it evolves.

This isn’t about “getting back” to anything. It’s about becoming a new and improved version of myself.