Close X
Saturday, November 23, 2024
ADVT 
Feature

Fun & Fitness Post-Pregnancy

By Renu Singh-Joseph, 19 May, 2017
  • Fun & Fitness Post-Pregnancy

After giving birth, it is beneficial for women to get out of the house, be active, and be around other mothers. 

 
Congratulations! You’ve given birth to a beautiful baby, the newest addition to your family. The first few months will be busy, especially for new mothers, who are adjusting to a new way of life and a fluctuating schedule. Remember to breathe, but more importantly, once you get back to a regular schedule, turn the focus on yourself. 
 
It’s now time to take care of you, and get back into the swing of things.
 
 
“It is so important to get out and become part of the community again. Having a baby can be a pretty isolating and monotonous experience – moms do the same tasks over and over again with very little sleep,” says Leah Esplen, a registered kinesiologist, fitness instructor and certified pre- and post-natal instructor.
Esplen goes on to say, “Exposure to the outside world can be stimulating for mom and baby, and this can actually result in more restful sleeps for both of them – improving their overall health and wellness.”    
 
After giving birth, it is beneficial for women to get out of the house, be active, and be 
around other mothers. There are a range of options for fun, interactive “mom and baby classes” that not only provide an active, fitness component, but also interaction between mother and child strengthening their bond. Moreover, “mom and baby classes also offer an opportunity for mothers to make new friends and develop a community of people who are going through a similar experience,” adds Esplen.
 
From yoga and pilates to aquafit, there are diverse classes designed for women – pre-natal and post-natal. Esplen created MommyMoves Fitness & Education, which focuses on “fitness and fun for moms and babies.” Over the years, MommyMoves’ aquafit classes have become the most popular, in which mother and child exercise and interact in the water, and the classes are offered at public pools throughout the Lower Mainland. 
 
 
The aquafit class is taught in chest-deep water with the mother holding their baby, so the water is at the baby’s chest level. When a baby is held at that depth it will feel like he only weighs about half of what he weighs on land, explains Esplen. In an aquatic environment, “there are lots of opportunities for bonding to occur from the skin-to-skin contact, blowing 
bubbles together and being able to look into each other’s eyes at the same height,” says Esplen. 
 
This MommyMoves class has the same format as a regular fitness class, in that instructors gradually increase intensity to a certain point and then slowly decrease the intensity so the heart rate returns to normal. “We also focus on the areas of the body where new moms 
need the most help: core stability to prevent back pain; the mid-back to prevent pain between the shoulder blades; top of the shoulders and into the neck; and the pelvic floor to help strengthen the core and prevent urinary incontinence. At the end, we do a full body stretch including ones for the front of the shoulder and hip. The last few minutes of class are filled with water safety activities to help reduce the risk of infant and toddler drowning,” says Esplen.
 
Fit 4 Two is another organization, with multiple locations, that focuses on pre- and post-natal fitness and offers baby-free classes like bootcamp, and mom and baby classes like barre, stroller fitness and yoga. Barre focuses on “strength, posture, core and flexibility” and the class is inspired by a blend of ballet barre, strength training, pilates, and yoga. Stroller fitness is a “baby-friendly, full body workout with intervals of cardio drills, strength training, and short power walks followed by post-natal specific core work and flexibility.” Yoga class is about strengthening, stretching, breathing and relaxing while “focusing on asanas (postures) specifically tailored to the needs of a new mother.”
 
 
Pilates is another important exercise for women, during the pregnancy and afterwards, that enhances circulation and flexibility and increases energy, strength and fitness, and muscle control. There are a few pilates studios in Vancouver, such as Line5 Studios and Form Body Lab, that offer pre-natal and post-natal classes. According to Form Body Lab, “post-natal pilates can help new mothers strengthen and recover from the incredible stresses that pregnancy and giving birth can have on the body. Having a child is a miraculous event, but this process is hard on your pelvic floor and 
it will require rehabilitation.” 
 
After giving birth, find the right class or program for yourself and get out there with your baby. Not only will you meet new people, but you are taking care of yourself, both mentally and physically, after the baby is born. In regards to mom and baby classes, Esplen sums it up best, saying “the focus is on fun and staying active, while developing a community of women going through a similar experience.”

MORE Feature ARTICLES

HIGHER EDUCATION: Is it worth it?

HIGHER EDUCATION: Is it worth it?

According to data obtained by Employment and Social Development Canada, the number of Canadians choosing post-secondary education has increased dramatically over the last 20 years. Approximately 53.6 per cent of Canadians aged 15 and over had trade certificates, college diplomas and university degrees in 2012, rising 20.9 per cent since 1990. In 2012, 69.2 per cent of those aged 25 to 44 years old and 59.2 per cent of those aged 45 to 64 years old were post-secondary graduates.

The Punjabi Soldier - Part 2

The Punjabi Soldier - Part 2

In 1857, Sikh and British agendas aligned in the suppression of a mutiny mounted by rebellious Indian troops. The alliance would bring about an era of paternalistic rule that transformed Punjab's peasantry into an ardent loyalist community. In 1914, confronted by a superior German Army, Great Britain was forced to fight not just to hold onto their Empire, but for their very freedom. Like the 1857 Mutiny, the Punjabi soldier again would be positioned to save Britain or deny her, and thus alter the course of history for India and the Western world.

Homework Help Tips for Parents

Homework Help Tips for Parents
 Back to school means back to the books. This school year, ensure your children excel at school by helping them develop good homework habits.

BC and the Real Estate Market

BC and the Real Estate Market

Are you ready to buy your first home? Is it time to upgrade or downsize? Are you hoping to invest in a rental property? Whether you're in the market to buy or sell, real estate can be a confusing venture. Understanding interest rates, scouting out locations and evaluating your needs are all small parts of the big process when it comes to buying, selling or investing in a home. With a hot market heating up this summer, DARPAN took a look at what's for sale, what's selling and what it all means for buyers and sellers alike.

The Punjabi Soldier

The Punjabi Soldier

On August 4th 1914, Britain declared war on Germany, and with it the British Empire was swept up into a vortex of death and destruction that would come to be known as the Great War. At its end, national boundaries would be redefined across Europe, Asia, and Africa, four world Empires would crumble, and over 9 million would lose their lives.

The Legendary Khushwant Singh

The Legendary Khushwant Singh

 Whether faced with praise or controversy, Singh remained stoic to his beliefs and values and is recognized as one of India’s most prolific novelists and figures