The importance of Fertility-Focused Movement
It’s no secret that the conversation around fertility focused fitness is shifting. For Lily Collins-Sak, founder of The Daily Pilates, this reflects a larger movement toward understanding and supporting the body through the many stages of life.
"It’s exciting to see more and more women embrace exercise and view movement as so much more than aesthetics. The conversation has really shifted to include longevity, hormonal health, nervous system regulation, and preparing the body for every stage of a woman's life. I waited until I was 39 to start trying to conceive, and I'm so grateful for all of the resources available today that help women better understand their bodies and learn how to best support their reproductive and hormonal health during that season.
After seeing many close friends experience infertility and IVF, I took a deep dive into educating myself on what research supports when it comes to reproductive health and preparing the body for pregnancy. During the months leading up to trying to conceive, I tracked my cycle to better understand my peak fertility window and shifted my focus toward supporting my body through Pilates, breathwork, recovery, and quality nutrition."
While Pilates itself is not a fertility treatment, Collins-Sak emphasizes that supportive movement can play an important role in overall well-being,
"That's one of the reasons I love Pilates. It teaches you to tune into your body and what it needs. Rather than chasing the latest fitness trend or "fertility workout," and memorizing these routines, focus on movements like Pilates that encourage you to move with intention, build functional strength, manage stress, and adapt your movement to how your body feels that day. Pilates can be done when the body is ready to be challenged or when it would benefit more from slowing down, while still seeing benefit from either.
While movement is certainly an important piece of the puzzle, it's also only one piece of it. Nutrition, sleep, stress management, recovery, and overall health all work together to support your body."
“One of the unique benefits of Pilates is its ability to meet women where they are. ”
One of the unique benefits of Pilates is its ability to meet women where they are. At The Daily Pilates, the focus on body awareness is at the center of their teaching philosophy. The method is designed to help clients understand movement, not just complete exercises.
"At The Daily Pilates, we believe movement should educate you as much as it strengthens you. What transforms Pilates from a workout into a mindful practice is the quality of the instruction and the intention behind each movement. TDP’s approach is somatic at its core, so we're not just guiding clients in what to do, we're teaching them what they should feel in each movement, why we're setting up the sequence in a specific way to set them up for success, and how to actually listen and respond to what their body is telling them. That kind of internal awareness, cuing from the inside out rather than just chasing a shape or performance, becomes especially meaningful when someone feels disconnected from or frustrated with their body.
Our method blends the timeless foundations of classical Pilates with a contemporary, functional approach to movement."
For women beginning their own movement journey, Collins-Sak encourages patience, consistency, and a mindset shift around preparing for pregnancy and motherhood.
"Most importantly, shift your mindset from just asking, "How can I get pregnant?" to "How can I build the healthiest, strongest body possible for pregnancy, labor, postpartum, and motherhood?" says Collins-Sak
We’ve learned that preparing your body for pregnancy isn't just about conception, it's about creating habits that help you feel stronger, more connected, and more resilient for every stage that follows."
As fertility-focused fitness continues to evolve, The Daily Pilates team hopes women feel empowered to better understand their bodies and embrace movement as a lifelong wellness practice.
———————-
Pilates expert and industry leader Lily Collins-Sak is the founder of The Daily Pilates, a science-backed wellness brand rooted in her background in Kinesiology and Exercise Science. Through intentional movement, expert instruction, and personalized guidance, The Daily Pilates creates a supportive environment where members can build strength, confidence, and mind-body awareness at every stage of their wellness journey.
