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Restoring Balance: Pilates as a Companion to Fertility
A unique collaboration between Vida Fertility and Marialuisa Maiorano
When it comes to fertility, the body and mind must move forward together.
Assisted reproduction treatments demand both physical and emotional energy, which is why finding tools that help maintain balance becomes essential.
Exercise, yes – but the right kind.
Not all physical activities are suitable during a fertility treatment. Some high-impact sports like crossfit or intense running may even be counterproductive. This is where a valuable ally comes in: pilates.
A synergy between science and movement
Vida Fertility has launched a new collaboration with Marialuisa Maiorano, a pilates instructor specialising in women’s health and wellbeing.
Together with gynaecologist and fertility specialist Dr Marta Zermiani, they have created an online pilates programme specifically designed for women undergoing assisted reproduction treatments.
We spoke with them about this innovative initiative:
Interview with Marialuisa Maiorano:
PhD in Preventive and Adaptive Physical Activity Sciences, certified Power Pilates instructor
What does pilates represent for a woman’s body and mind during such a delicate moment like a fertility treatment?
Pilates is a discipline that, through regular and consistent practice, strengthens and energises the body, making it strong, flexible and harmoniously balanced.
Mentally, practising pilates helps to manage emotions through deep and controlled breathing, improves concentration over long periods, and teaches you to stay present and grounded.
Specifically for someone going through a fertility journey, pilates supports daily life in a body that feels balanced and healthy.
Feeling physically well brings a sense of mental calm and serenity, which in turn improves sleep and rest. This state of general wellbeing can be a powerful support in managing the most stressful moments of treatment.
Can I start these pilates sessions even if I’ve never done pilates before?
Absolutely. If you’re undergoing fertility treatment and have never practised pilates before, you can safely begin with beginner-level sequences.
In these sessions, the pelvic area will not be strained, but the whole body will still be gently activated.
I will suggest exercises that engage the pelvic muscles, shoulder girdle, upper and lower limbs, using simple household props like cushions and resistance bands.
These tools will help with the execution of certain exercises and enhance the stretching of the leg muscles.
Activating the rest of the body while avoiding stress on the pelvic area is key. It allows women who might otherwise avoid physical activity to stay active and healthy, achieving a general sense of physical and emotional wellbeing.
How is this programme different from a regular pilates class?
A traditional pilates class focuses primarily on activating the body’s core.
Beginner classes in a typical sequence work the deep paraspinal muscles, abdomen and core, and usually last about an hour.
The intensity increases gradually over time.
However, a pilates session for women undergoing fertility treatment focuses first on the rest of the body, while protecting the pelvic area.
In both types of class, the muscles become strong but flexible, and emphasis is placed on balance and deep breathing.
These sessions last 45 minutes, featuring low-intensity exercises sequenced gently.
This low intensity is maintained throughout the months of practice.
Pilates can be practised safely right up until the day of birth.
Interview with Dr Marta Zermiani, Gynaecologist and fertility expert – Vida Fertility Madrid
What was your contribution to the development of this programme?
I thought about all the times my patients ask me what kind of physical activity they can do during endometrial preparation or after embryo transfer. There are days when we do recommend rest, but in general, we never suggest avoiding physical activity completely.
The issue is that, not knowing exactly what they can or cannot do, most of my patients choose to do nothing at all.
I believe it is very important—both physically and emotionally—not to become completely inactive during the well-known beta-wait or first trimester.
So, together with Marialuisa, we designed a 45-minute class that fully protects the pelvic area (where the uterus is located) without immobilising it, using gentle movements and avoiding abdominal exercises.
One of the strengths of pilates is that it involves a lot of stretching, and it’s usually stretching combined with muscle strengthening, which helps to activate the entire body.
One day we did a session together, and Marialuisa guided me through various exercises—I told her which ones might be risky for the abdominal area, until we found the perfect balance that allows patients to move without putting too much strain on the pelvic region, keeping the uterus calm and protected.
Which areas should be worked on with pilates, and which should be protected during each phase of treatment?
All parts of the body can be worked, but without intensity or impact.
Pilates generally strengthens the deep abdominal and back muscles, and the exercises help stretch the muscles and improve the body’s flexibility.
In the most delicate stages of treatment—such as ovarian stimulation or the days following the embryo transfer—it’s important to avoid strain around the uterus, so we choose to keep the abdominal area relaxed.
We have intentionally avoided abdominal exercises and focused on enhancing stretching movements.
However, during phases like endometrial preparation prior to transfer, it is not necessary to avoid abdominal work, so a more complete workout can be safely done.
Why do you think it’s important to integrate activities like pilates into a fertility journey?
One of the most important aspects of pilates is not just the physical benefit, but also the psychological impact.
Thanks to controlled breathing and slow, mindful movements, it helps to relax both body and mind.
It’s completely normal to feel under pressure during a fertility treatment.
It’s a process full of expectations, deep desires, and often a long period of waiting before deciding to start.
Throughout this journey, the body is affected not only physically, but also hormonally: medications alter internal balance and can make you feel more sensitive, more vulnerable, more tired.
Daily life also changes: frequent appointments, tests, check-ups, and the challenge of trying to manage everything alongside work, social life, and your partner’s emotions.
This is exactly why lowering stress levels is not an extra—it’s a vital part of the process.
Reducing tension helps you breathe better, sleep more deeply, feel more present and emotionally stable, despite the circumstances.
It also supports a stronger emotional connection in the relationship, preventing the pressure from affecting communication or mutual support.
And although stress is not the only factor that influences the outcome of a treatment, a calmer emotional state can definitely help the body cope in the best possible way.
Taking care of your mind and emotions during this time is not a luxury—it’s a form of self-respect.
Even just finding space to talk, to move gently, to slow down and reconnect with yourself can make a real difference.
Wellbeing starts with you
The personalisation of protocols and the support offered at Vida Fertility go far beyond the medical treatment itself.
As a boutique clinic, we believe in the importance of supporting our patients emotionally and physically, through collaborations like this one that place women’s overall wellbeing at the centre.
If you’d like to receive more information or book a pilates session with Marialuisa Maiorano, please fill in the contact form or get in touch with your coordinator.
Your body speaks—listening to it is the first step to truly feeling well.
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ℹ️ The information published on Vida Fertility is reviewed by our fertility specialists and medical team, following up-to-date scientific criteria and evidence-based medicine. Our team is a member at scientific societies such as SEF, ESHRE and SEGO.
