Favourite 5 Lethbridge: Postnatal Fitness Classes

05/21/2018

Getting active again after baby is a whole new world: your body is different, you now have a baby (or babies) to accompany you, you aren’t quite sure what will work for you now, and this can all end up being a little intimidating for a new mom! Well fear not, Mommy Connections Lethbridge has put together our Favourite 5 for postnatal fitness classes right here in Lethbridge! Make sure to see your doctor for your 6 week post-partum checkup before beginning any physical activity, they will let you know if you are safe to begin getting active, and we strongly recommend you visit a physiotherapist to have your core and pelvic floor assessed before getting into any workout classes. Fit Pysiotherapy is absolutely amazing, welcoming, and will definitely make you feel comfortable for your checkup, they are also experts within the field and you can rest-assured you will be well taken care of!

Now on to the fitness classes

As I truly believe all of these fitness classes are equally amazing in their own ways, I will list them in alphabetic order:

Blue Tree Fitness: Stroller Fit

Stroller Fit is a stroller friendly, boot camp style work out consisting of a variety of different levels of intensities and options to suit everyone’s needs. The class is made up of a mixture of cardio and body weight strength training. For all classes we are outside in the fresh air – being in nature increases serotonin levels, which increases feelings of well-being and lowers depression (including postpartum depression) and the sun exposure increases vitamin D levels which will help to boost your immune system. The fresh air is not only better for you but also for baby, there is more oxygen in the fresh air outdoors than indoors and it is a widely accepted truth that fresh air helps people sleep (and thus, babies nap better!).
There is something so right about bringing your child(ren) to come and work out alongside you, it builds healthy habits from the start for them by seeing their role model getting active.
Blue Tree Fitness instructor, Shenny Grimard, is certified in pre and postnatal fitness, she has been instructing these classes for 6 years, and she loves working on helping moms get back into shape, feel good about themselves and helping moms meet new moms in and around our city!

Core Elements: Mom and Baby Yoga

Postnatal yoga provides gentle postpartum recuperation, a supportive and encouraging, non-judgmental environment and a chance to practice yoga with your baby. The class provides you with an opportunity to continue or start practicing yoga poses, breath work and relaxation techniques with the benefit of meeting other moms and their children. This soothing environment incorporates baby massage and yoga which promotes healthy sleep habits, increases muscle mobility, improves respiratory and circulatory function, and introduces babies to safe touch. For moms, yoga can help relieve sore shoulders, chest and back muscles from feeding (both breast and bottle), safely increase abdominal strength, create postural awareness and build endurance. At the end of each class and throughout our sessions we want moms to feel rested, focused and stronger, and ready to face whatever motherhood throws at them.

Fitness With Mel: Mommy & Baby FitCamp

This class is not just a walk in the park!  Mommy & Baby FitCamp is an outdoor, baby-friendly, full body workout using your stroller and the outside environment. Each class includes intervals of cardio drills, functional strength training and short power walks/jogs followed by postnatal-specific core work and flexibility specific to your role as a Mom. Taught by Mel, a certified fitness instructor and personal trainer with specialty training in pre and postnatal fitness, this class is a great workout for ANY fitness level. Mommy and Baby FitCamp gives you a chance to connect with other new Mom’s while getting your body moving in a supportive, empowering and fun environment.

Kinetic Indoor Cycle & Fitness

Kinetic offers both indoor (September-May) and outdoor (June-August) mom and baby classes. They understand that exercise is a key component to a mother’s mental, physical and emotional wellness. The Baby Mama program seeks to build a place for moms to interact with one another and make connections that last beyond the studio. Kinetic Baby Mama classes are diverse and no two classes are alike. Class formats include boot camp, HIIT, Barre, weight training, functional training (kettlebells, stability balls, resistance bands, etc.), bodyweight conditioning, TRX, stroller fitness, partner work, personal challenges, and more! Kinetic also offers, to Pre and Postnatal mothers, Diastsis Recti core programs, at-home personal training programs, Time 4 Me 3-4 week challenge groups to help moms lose weight, understand macro nutrient balancing and be held accountable to cardiovascular, strength and flexibility training in-house or at home, and they have a Facebook page “Kinetic Baby Mamas” for moms to post needs and interact with one another outside of class time. Chantelle Erickson is the program leader for the Baby Mama program, she is educated in Diastasis Recti (abdominal separation) and offers free checks to moms who are participating in her program. She also has specializations in pregnancy and infant loss, symphysis pubis dysfunction and pelvic floor health.

The best part of being a Kinetic Baby Mama is that when your baby reaches one years old you can transition to other classes Kinetic has to offer…over 60 classes per week! You can purchase an exclusive Baby Mama membership in four week increments or purchase a Kinetic class pass that can be used to attend any Kinetic class.

Live Better Health & Fitness: Oh Baby!

Strong Mom’s raise strong children, and our Oh Baby! class is all about building strong Moms from the inside out! The coaches at Live Better are here to support and motivate you during your journey as a Mom, and help you develop the strength, endurance and confidence required to keep up with your little one.
Oh Baby! is a 45-minute class that allows Mom to get a great workout AND attend to baby’s needs at any time. Each class provides a full-body workout: cardio, muscular endurance, strength, postnatal specific core work/breathing and flexibility. We utilize a variety of equipment including your own or baby’s body weight, kettle bells, dumbbells, medicine balls, rowers and bikes. Benefit from increased energy and mood, improved posture, less aches and pains and a stronger core. This is a fantastic opportunity to be a great role model for your baby and to connect with other Moms in your community!
Women should be at least 4-weeks postpartum (6+ weeks for caesareans) and cleared for physical activity by their doctors. All fitness levels are welcome. This class is designed for pre-mobile babies, however older babies/toddlers may be accommodated on an individual basis and at an additional cost (contact our coaches to find out more). Classes are capped at 6 mamas.