It’s Mat Leave Monday! Today I’m talking about mom and baby fitness classes.
Now that most moms have a whole year off after their baby comes, the obvious question is what to do with that time. During the early days, you’re learning to breastfeed, recouperating from the birth, and just figuring out how to care for your newborn. But those early days do end, and your partner goes back to work. Suddenly you have whole days to fill, just you and your baby.
To help moms get out, have fun, and get back in shape a whole mom-and-baby exercise industry has sprung up. The classes range from yoga and pilates, to walking groups and ‘strollerobics’, to entire studios dedicated to prenatal and postpartum fitness. Jacob and I don’t want to be left out, so we’re taking a mom-and-baby dance class, called Salsa Babies. In this class you wear your baby in a carrier, and learn Latin dance routines.
We had our first class today. Our instructor, Lara, is the mom behind Runners and Booties Fitness. I took a stroller class with her when Hannah was 10 months old, and I loved it. So I was eager to try her latest offering now that Jacob is almost 3 months old and I’m prepared to exercise again.
It was a total blast! The class 45 minutes long, and it was a great workout. I’m fairly out of shape and I was sweating, but I was still able to carry on a conversation. Plus, I was having fun so it didn’t even feel like work. I was able to pick up most of the dance moves, too, even with my two left feet.
Jacob also did well – he slept most of the class. The older babies shook maracas along with the Latin beats. And not a single baby fussed at all once they were in the carriers and their moms were moving. It was just a really great class, and I can’t wait for next week!
sounds like fun