Rebuilding Strength and Confidence: Reena’s Fitness Journey Through Pregnancy, Postpartum

At Luna Collective, we work with incredible clients who use Pilates and strength training to feel stronger, move better, and live well. One of those clients is Reena Mistry - a personal trainer from Leicester who specialises in supporting pre- and postnatal women on their fitness journeys.

Reena trains weekly with us in our online semi-private Pilates classes, and we recently asked her to share her personal story and expert tips for navigating pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and rebuilding strength with confidence.

Meet Reena

“I’m Reena, a 37-year-old analyst and personal trainer from Leicester with a passion for health and fitness that started over 10 years ago,” she shares. Her journey began when she signed up for a Tough Mudder with friends and realised she needed to make changes to her lifestyle. After discovering the gym, Reena quickly found her sanctuary - spending hours training, doing circuits, and focusing on strength and mobility.

Years later, at the peak of her fitness, Reena became pregnant with her baby boy. She was running regularly, strength training, and feeling amazing. With careful research and planning, she continued exercising safely throughout her pregnancy - managing to run until 30 weeks and strength train until the day before labour.

“I believe staying active during pregnancy played a huge part in my positive birth experience,” she says.

The Postpartum Reality

While staying active during pregnancy supported Reena’s labour, postpartum recovery was a very different challenge. Like many new mums, she was unprepared for how her body would feel afterwards.

“The weakness in my core, pelvic floor issues, and lack of guidance made it hard to know where to start,” she explains. “I even tried Couch to 5K, but the heaviness in my pelvic floor told me my body wasn’t ready.”

Reena realised how important it was to rebuild the foundations - the pelvic floor, deep core muscles, and overall mobility - before returning to running or high-intensity training. This experience led her to retrain as a personal trainer, specialising in pre- and postnatal fitness so she could support other women through this life-changing transition.

Why Fitness Specialist Support Matters

Pregnancy and postpartum recovery are deeply individual experiences, and there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Reena explains why working with a specialist - whether through Pilates, strength training, or guided coaching - makes such a difference:

1. Safe Exercise at Every Stage

Your body changes rapidly during pregnancy and postpartum recovery. A specialist ensures your workouts are adapted to your stage, protecting your body and helping you move safely and effectively.

2. Rebuilds Your Pelvic Floor & Core

Pilates and targeted strength training help restore deep core stability and pelvic floor function, which are essential before returning to running, lifting, or higher-impact exercise.

3. Eases Discomfort & Supports Healing

Pregnancy and postpartum bring aches, tension, and reduced mobility. Gentle, guided movement can help reduce discomfort, improve posture, and restore balance.

4. Boosts Mental Wellbeing

Safe, positive movement is empowering. It helps reduce stress, builds confidence, and strengthens your connection with your changing body.

5. Builds Habits That Last

Forget “bouncing back.” Reena advocates for gradual, sustainable progress - creating a strong foundation that supports you long-term, from carrying your baby to chasing after toddlers.

Pilates for Pre & Postnatal Recovery

“You shouldn’t avoid exercise during pregnancy - it’s actually proven to benefit both you and your baby. But it’s so important to do the right kind of movement at the right time,” Reena explains.

“Bouncing back isn’t the goal. Your body has done something incredible, and it deserves patience, compassion, and proper care.”

You don’t have to navigate this alone. With Luna Collective’s Pilates sessions and expert guidance from specialists like Reena, you can rebuild your strength safely and confidently - one step at a time.

For more tips and insights, you can find Reena on Instagram at @reenamistry_pt_, where she shares practical advice and guidance for pre- and postnatal women.