Pro-Sports

Friday past, I made it to another mother and baby Pilates class at Fitfor2.  Well, it’s not so much for baby as it is for Mummy.  Mother and baby classes are great because the music isn’t ear-shattering and you can bring along your baby and let him lie, crawl or play with the other babies while you get in an hour of exercise.  Since it is attended by other mothers, you are free to attend to your baby, nurse him or rock him during class as and when you need to.  The only down side is that baby can interrupt your session if he happens to be in a rather clingy mood.

So far, I’ve been to two Pilates classes in the span of two weeks and managed to get in at least half an hour exercise before Gavin starts disturbing the other babies or crawling all over me.  It’s a little hard trying to balance when your baby is trying to pull up to standing using you as his aid.   

Oh well, I figure half an hour once a week is better than nothing.  It also gives Gavin the opportunity to be out of the house, to meet new babies and for Mummy to make new friends.  When he’s a little more independent, I’ll start taking the fitness regime more seriously again.  For now, I’ll just take it easy and enjoy whatever comes my way.

Despite the interruptions, I’m still finding the Pilates class a pretty good workout - especially for my abs which are in need of serious working out.  When I first went to see the doctor for my six week postpartum follow-up and complained about my orange peel belly, he did say some abdominal exercises would help.  My abs are probably the only area currently that gives way to the fact that I’ve had a baby.  How I wish I were like the other mother I saw on Friday’s class - her baby is only two months old and she’s already back to her pre-pregnant shape!  At least, she looks like she’s never had a baby in her life.

If you want to have a baby and keep your body, the secret is to have a baby while you’re still young enough for your body to recover quickly.  Well, this information’s probably a little too late coming to me, but it could still be useful to you if you are still light-years away from turning the big three zero.

If this news is too late for you, too, then consider picking up Pilates.  It has the following benefits for aging Mummies:

• the primary benefit of Pilates is to counter back pains that can develop from carrying baby around.  Pilates is an exercise that was invented by Joseph Pilates who created this series of exercises to improve physical health through breathing and core muscle strengthening.  By focussing on the core postural muscles which support the spine, Pilates helps to align the spine and prevent back pain. 
• helps with your posture which will only deteriorate as you carry baby more often - not only will you hunch more carrying baby around, but you’ll also develop a tendency to jut one hip out to the side that your toddler likes to sit on.
• helps with the sagging underarms - well, this is probably pretty useful regardless of whether you’ve had a baby or not.
• helps with the flabby abs that have been stretched out of shape after five months of carrying a watermelon around.
• if you’re attending classes specifically for Mums returning to exercise, then it’s also a great way to meet new friends (for both you and baby).

If you are returning to exercise again after pregnancy, make sure your instructor is qualified so she can check to make sure your abdominal muscles have recovered sufficiently for you to do crunches again.  Some mothers have a separation of their abdominal muscles which take longer to recover postpartum.  It is important that you do not jump into abdominal exercises too quickly postpartum because the stress can increase the separation.  Make sure you have the okay from a qualified specialist (your doctor or a fitness instructor) before starting on an ab workout.

The only abdominal workout you can do postpartum is a breathing exercise where you breathe in to expand your stomach and then tighten your abdominal muscles as you exhale.

Below: Gavin at a play date with friends we made at Fitfor2.

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