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“One night, my 3-year-old asked me if she could sleep in my bed. I told her no. She said, “That’s not fair! Why does Daddy get to sleep in your bed?” READ MORE
Health: In Shape
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Working out with baby and other moms If you are like every other mom on the planet whose personal health and fitness comes pretty close to last on the list of priorities, stop folding clothes long enough to read this article. What if there was a way to get back into your skinny jeans, tone your abs, thighs and buttocks, bond with other moms AND spend some quality time with your baby? This sounds too good to be true, but if you’re willing to lace up your trainers and schlep your jogging stroller to the nearest park, you can get in on the kid-friendly exercise craze that is changing the way moms all over America look and feel. Stroller fitness classes are popping up everywhere because franchises cater specifically to moms – both as business owners and as consumers. Women who may have previously worked as fitness instructors or personal trainers can buy in to affordable franchises, set their own hours and head off to work with their young children in tow. Baby Boot Camp franchisee Joan Ignosci of Dana Point made the commitment to leave her full-time job when her son came along. Like thousands of other women, she has been able to channel her passion for health and fitness into a career opportunity that is a win/win for this active mom and her family. Working out is one of many practices pressed-for-time mothers forgo in order to meet the demands of family life. It’s an unfortunate sacrifice since studies show exercise is one of the best things moms can do to get back in the groove after the birth of a child. In fact, according to recent research published in the International Journal of Nursing Practices, Australian researchers found that among new moms who had been diagnosed with depression, those who completed a 12-week stroller-walking class showed fewer symptoms than those in a mom-baby playgroup that didn’t involve exercise. Unlike traditional gym-based workouts, stroller fitness classes are designed to accommodate children (and the moms who hate leaving them behind in childcare). Budget-conscious women are attracted to the fact that classes are affordable (from $3-$15 per class, depending upon the program and number of classes purchased). In addition to a baby and a stroller, you’ll need a bottle of water, a tube of sunscreen and a mat or towel for stretching and abdominal work. Some programs use rubber tubing which they supply participants or sell for a nominal fee; otherwise, you provide the resistance as you work all of the major muscle groups, improve your endurance and increase your flexibility. For those mommy hard bodies out there who want a serious workout and not just an excuse to socialize, stroller fitness ranks right up there with kick-boxing, spinning and other cardio-inspired classes. “I’m 15 pounds lighter than I was when I was an aerobics instructor,” says Ignosci. “A typical 75-minute class burns from 400-450 calories and covers about 2 1/2 miles. The strength training is pretty intense. All of my moms say that they are sore a few days after class,” she says. Since most stroller fitness classes kick off from local parks, it’s wise to show up a few minutes early to ensure you won’t be left behind. Ignosci’s classes start with five minutes of warm-up and stretching. It’s just enough time to take in the scenery, get a breath of fresh air and refill your child’s cup of Cheerios before heading off for five-minute segments of strolling, followed by five-minute stints of stationary resistance work. The last 15 minutes of class, she encourages moms to let older children out of their strollers to blow off steam while moms wind down with yoga and Pilates-inspired stretching. At least as appealing as the workout is the support group aspect of stroller fitness. “It is ridiculously social,” Ignosci says as she laughs about having to insist some moms do less yapping and more sweating. “A mom might be asking another mom when to start her kid on solids. Someone else might be asking, ‘Hey, has your kid pitched this kind of fit today?’” Motherhood brings with it certain occupational hazards, among which are feelings of isolation and loneliness. Having an opportunity to share joys and vent frustrations may be what keeps moms committed to stroller fitness as opposed to more solitary forms of exercise. Like millions of other moms out there, I make two tried and true resolutions each year: to get in shape and spend more quality time with my family. You might have guessed I’ve never quite succeeded at meeting my expectations on either accord. This year, I’m going to put on my sweats, strap my baby in his stroller and hit the trail with a few other like-minded moms. I may not lose those last 10 pounds of baby weight, but I’m going to have a good time trying. Contact information: For Baby Boot Camp programs in the Inland Empire, visit babybootcamp.com or call 877.804.6677. For Stroller Strides, visit strollerstrides.net or call 866.FIT.4MOM. S. Danyelle Knight is a regular contributor. |
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