Mums who train together, laugh together, grow together
Having a baby is like going into battle. We have to be focused, it takes a toll on our mental and physical strength and without doubt, there will be blood. Our body goes through a lot and is totally different when we come out the other side. Our body has served us well but it can take a lot of getting used to; we may not be able to do the things we once so easily could, it’ll look different and it’ll feel different. And that’s amazing. These classes are all about getting to know our new body, feeling for our limits, challenging it and regrouping our mind and body. They’re also about making friends, sharing stories and reclaiming a bit more ‘you’.
A bad personal experience at a post-natal fitness class led me to start up my own postnatal group fitness classes in Islington. My ethos is to provide safe fitness for mums and babies, in an environment which promotes friendship, confidence-building and fun. Society has led us to put pressure on ourselves to return to our ‘pre-baby’ body and we’re risking our health by jumping back into fitness before we’ve properly repaired our weakened muscles. There’s a lot of pressure on mums to feel like they have to ‘bounce back’ to their pre-baby body. Whilst I won’t guarantee your ‘old’ body back, I can promise you a body which is best equipped for long-term health and one which is prepared to help you lift, carry and move with your growing baby.
There’s currently two types of postnatal classes available:
Repair, Restore & Retrain
Where to start with feeling like yourself in your body again? At Repair, Restore & Retrain! Suitable from 6 weeks postnatal.
This is the ideal class if you’re not sure where to start when it comes to exercising. You might feel like your stomach muscles are non-existent, or are wondering if you’ve got diastasis recti (stomach muscle separation), or just want to feel strong again. This will help you return to movement feeling confident that you’re moving in a way which is optimal.
It’s also a great place to ask questions and understand practical information about incontinence, prolapse, diastasis and more. Plus, you can find your tribe in likeminded mums, do something for you and clear your head.
More about Repair, Restore & Retrain
Best suited for: 6 weeks – 3 years postnatal
The focus is on:
Reconnecting – Pregnancy causes huge changes to your body, and you can feel especially disconnected from your abdominal area. Learn how to reconnect and engage your pelvic floor, abdominal muscles and breathing.
Stretching – There’s nothing like feeding a baby for many hours a day to give you a proper crick in the neck! And what about carrying a baby in a sling for hours on end? Stretching can help reset your body and balance your posture.
Essential strength – Babies are small and cute, but they get big (still cute) and heavy. And then suddenly you’re not just carrying 10kg of buggy and baby up the stairs at your local station, but 20kg (and let’s not forget about all the ‘stuff’ you also need). Come build the strength you need to lift, carry and more.
book in for your next Repair, Restore & Retrain class
Mum Strong
Are you a mum looking to regain your strength, confidence, and grace to handle the demands of parenthood? Look no further than ‘Mum Strong,’ the premier mums and babies strength class designed exclusively for mums like you – by a mum like you. This class focuses on empowering mothers to develop the physical capabilities needed to lift, carry, and conquer the challenges of daily parenting with ease. Experience a transformative fitness journey that will leave you feeling stronger, more confident, and ready to tackle anything that comes your way.
So you feel like you’ve pretty much recovered from the immediate after-effects of birth and you’ve realised that your baby is getting heavier, and more wriggly and is about to crawl, walk and… run! Having had three boys, I know the importance of being able to match their activity, or risk getting injured. These classes help you develop that extra strength you need to conquer this period. Workouts are tailored to the varying demands of motherhood, from strengthening your back, to building strong shoulders and good movement patterns.
This isn’t necessarily a buggy fitness class, although absolutely, please do bring your buggy along. If your baby needs some rocking or walking, we can always incorporate that into the class.
MORE ABOUT MUM STRONG:
Best suited for: Women who are looking to move strong, from 6 months postnatal up. It’s low-impact, but we will start to test your body more, incorporating more challenging exercises. For those who are after more of a challenge or are keen to get back into exercises such as running, I can provide alternatives which involve light impact.
The focus is on:
Strengthening – time to repair that muscle loss! It can be a shock at how weak we feel after birth but these tailored exercises target the muscles which need the most strengthening.
Cardio – re-building heart-healthy aerobic fitness
Shaping & sculpting – we don’t leave any part of the body out! Legs, bums, arms and tums all get attention in these classes.
Whilst there’s little to no jumping or running in these sessions, it helps to be aware of your ‘form’ and technique to ensure safe exercises. I’ll be watching everyone with an eagle eye though. I am good at spotting when mamas aren’t breathing or holding themselves properly!
These classes are held outdoors and in all weathers (!) so please dress yourself and your baby appropriately.