A Manhattan woman brings belly dancing to a new meaning by offering classes for pregnant women. NY1Health & Fitness reporter Kafi Drexel filed the following report.

A new kind of dance class is making expectant moms’ bellies dance even more than usual Suzanne Caesar says her "Maternal Dance: Rhythm for Life" classes are a great way to stay fit during pregnancy.

“My class is all about the health of the woman, and if she's healthy and she's feeling good chances are her unborn child is also doing well,” said Caesar.

The 75-minute class combines yoga, belly dance, and other creative movement. Tailored to meet the needs of women at all stages of pregnancy, Caesar's students say it gives them the chance to stay active without overdoing it.

“You come in and you dance and you look in the mirror and you say, ÎWow, this is actually really cool,’ and you feel good about yourself,” said participant Liron Vardi. “You feel sexy, you can do stuff even though you are getting bigger.”

“I feel more limber, less discomfort,” said Zoe Kogan, another participant. “You know everything is changing when you are pregnant, so this really helps kind of keep things flowing and balanced. She does a great job of working you, but you don't feel sore or achy.”

Caesar says not only does this workout help moms to be feel better during pregnancy, but also helps to prepare them for labor. She says exercises to work the lower-back, pelvis, and hips help to do the trick.

“It worked for me, too,” she said. “I was in labor; I've had two natural childbirths, that's the way it worked for me. And I did use hip swaying as I was in labor. For me the movement helped with the contractions.”

Working your abs might not be top on your list as your belly is growing, but Caesar says that's actually a very important part of childbirth, and her class gives women a safer option for doing it. Caesar says stronger abs help with lower back problems during pregnancy. She says like most exercise moves, ab work while you are pregnant does require modification. Caesar has her students focus on incorporating ab work through breathing.

“Pregnant women should not be doing crunches and other forms that can actually make the belly push more against the abdominal muscles,” explained Caesar. “It's really important for pregnant women to be watched in that way, to know that they are doing them correctly.”

When it gets down to the dancing, it's not just mom who enjoys the workout.

“The last time we took class, we got to the dance portion, I swear I was going one way and the baby was going the other way,” said Kogan. “It was doing the choreography in the opposite direction. It was hysterical.”

It is probably not bad way of ensuring your kid is born with some rhythm, too.

For more information on Caesar’s class, go to www.maternaldance.com or call 917-907-2025.

- Kafi Drexel