Before becoming a mom, fitness was a huge part of my life. I exercised up until the day before my daughter was born. As soon as my doctor cleared me to workout, I couldn’t wait to get back at it. The difference now was that I had a cute little sidekick. Finding places to workout where I could bring my daughter along was a great way to get out of the house, bond with my daughter and set a great example for her.
Basically, it's a boot camp style workout class where you can bring your minis along. If you have a wee baby, they can chill out on a blanket while you work out. If you have older kids, you can let them run around in the gym. The instructor, the amazing and inspiring Ashley, is a Mom too, so she gets it. Ashley kicks your butt, encourages you and will lend a helping hand to rock a fussy baby. Postpartum Mamas get two free classes a week for four consecutive weeks if they are eight to 16 weeks postpartum.
This family-owned gym is passionate about fitness and family. Shelly, the owner, has been a trainer for more than a decade and has three little ones of her own. She knows how hectic life can be with kids and how hard it can be to find time to workout. Bringing your family to the Little Sweatshop is encouraged. It’s a warm, welcoming community where families can sweat it out together. They offer a variety of programs, including several ones for kids.
The Fit Mama Class at Yoga for Today was one of the first activities I signed up for as a new mom. It’s a class for postpartum moms and their babies who are six weeks and older. They combine Pilates and Yoga together to focus on building up the strength in your core. I brought a blanket for my daughter to play on while I did my workout. And, the last part of the class was spent singing songs and baby yoga postures, perfect for cooling down and bonding with your child.
Baby barre class, available at Barre Body Studio, is designed for new moms to get a fun workout in with their babies. Barre helps tone, while improving posture, grace and flexibility. You get your snuggles in, as babies are worn in a baby carrier for the majority of the class. However, during the floor series babies can hang out on a mat. These barre sessions are a great way for moms to get in a workout and connect with their babies. Just make sure to bring your own baby carrier.
Aqua size classes are a great way to get out of the house and to introduce your baby to the pool. Taking my daughter to the Baby Worx H20 classes really helped her to become a little water baby and allowed me to get a great work out. You spend the majority of the class in the adult pool doing water aerobic exercises while your little ones chill out in a baby floatie. The last fifteen minutes of the class is spent in the kiddie pool where the instructor teaches the babies action songs.
This fitness program is inspired by the sport of surfing. Basically, you spend the class on top of an unstable surfboard working on your cardio, core muscle building and balance. They offer kid-friendly classes where children of all ages are welcome. A family shred class is also offered, where you can get fit with your children.