A latest issue of a magazine stated Yoga and Pilates as two exercise options that are safe to participate in during pregnancy.

Yoga is a great exercise for muscles; it improves posture, relives back pain and makes the body more flexible.

It does not involve too much impact on joints, so most of the breathing techniques in yoga are a good preparation for childbirth. They help you to remain calm and breathe steadily through contractions.

Pilates strengthens the body’s core muscles and helps connect the mind to the body by bringing full attention and focus to your breathing. It provides internal relaxation.

Pilates focuses on the quality of movements rather than mindless repetition, thereby preventing injury, avoiding pain and strain, and re-establishing healthy neuromuscular patterns to realign the body.

Incorporating Pilates into your exercise regimen improves co-ordination, strength, mobility and flexibility of the muscles and joints.

“A pregnant woman's body goes through a lot of changes that will alter the way she practices yoga, whether she is a veteran or a beginner,” she said in an American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeon (AAOS) news release. "Women who are expecting can benefit greatly from exercise, especially yoga -- they just need to be aware of their limitations”.

So the pregnant women who are obese do not require abandoning their exercise regime. What they need to do is, find a qualified yoga instructor so that they can perform only those exercises which are suitable during pregnancy.