How Does Mom & Baby Gym Work?!

How Does Mom & Baby Gym Work?! Here are the nuts and bolts: Mom & Baby Open Gym (MBG) runs fromĀ 11 AM -1 PMĀ on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Ā During this time, attendees arrive on their own schedule (with the last entry atĀ 12:30 PM) to participate in a postpartum specific circuit. There are six stations set out in the group class …

Abdominal Separation FAQs: Part II

Iā€™m often asked about diastasis recti (the medical name for abdominal separation) by both pre and postnatal clients and do believe that education is key when it comes to both minimizing and rehabilitating this condition. If youĀ havenā€™t yet read Part I, you can find it here! Let’s get started with a bit of research: Boissonnault & Blaschak (1988) found that …

Abdominal Separation FAQs: Part I

Today Iā€™m talking about abdominal separation orĀ diastasis recti to which it is formally, orĀ medically referred. Ā This separation can lead to the appearance of a “mummy tummy” or “pooch”…the “mommy belly.” Speaking from personal and professional experience, I know that some days it’s easier than others to refer to and interact lovingly with this pooch that may remain! Below are five …

Physical Therapy in the Perinatal Time: Guest Contributor, Aimee Lake, DPT

Physical therapy can be very helpful for maintaining a healthy level of physical activity during pregnancy. It can be helpful for managing and solving some of the physical challenges of pregnancy. It can also be a great resource for preparing for birth and post partum recovery. People often think of physical therapy in terms of getting rid of pain or …

Why aren’t sit-ups safe after birth?

Iā€™m going to start by saying that the Fitness Industry, like many other industries, is an ever-changing one. Itā€™s full of trends. Exercises come in and out of fashion, research is done to prove exercises safe or unsafe, and as Fitness Professionals, we listen and make changes to our program content accordingly. Sit-ups, or any variation of this movement where …

Exercises to Avoid with Abdominal Separation

post baby body training seattle

What exercises should be avoided when abdominal separation is present? Postnatal-specific core-based exercise is THE best form of exercise for new moms to be doing, because it focuses on pelvic floor strength and activation of the deep abdominal muscles.Ā  These are the two main areas of the abdominals that as an Pre/Postnatal Instructor I want to focus on building back …

Abdominals During Pregnancy

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE ABDOMINALS DURING PREGNANCY? With all the pressure outward and downward as the size of belly grows, you may be wonderingā€¦ā€What happens to the abdominals during pregnancy?ā€Ā  This quick read provides insight into all that is happening as your body adapts to pregnancy. The six-pack muscle (Rectus Abdominis) runs from your breast bone to your pubic bone …

Safe Core Exercise in Pregnancy

This can be so confusing! Ā Sit-ups? Ā Crunches? Ā Leg-lifts? Planks? Ā If you are pregnant, hopefully you are no longer performing traditional abdominal exercises such as crunches or sit-ups. Ā If you have been, that’s okay…but this might be a great time to transition to more beneficial, safer core exercises. Ā I will explain more about why and how to do so safely in …

Reasons Why You Can’t Lose Your Mummy Tummy–Part II

Ok, so this is part two of a three part series of articles concerning your ā€œmummy tummyā€. Recently, I discussed how new moms often feel a bulge or layer of fat around their mid-section, and no matter what they do, they canā€™t shift it! Thatā€™s the pillow-like feeling I referred toā€”and it can be a bit of a surprise postpartum. …

How do I lose my Mummy Tummy?

Ā PART I How are you feeling about your postpartum belly? Personally, Iā€™ve always been conflicted. Physically, mine felt like a pillow for quite some time and I even remember resting my arm on it while I nursed my newborn son! Ā What an odd feeling that was! Ā A belly that had been full and taught for so many months was now …