Postpartum Fitness- What are good ways to get back into shape after having a baby?
After having a baby, many moms are anxious to get their bodies back. Many women want to lose weight after baby and that is natural. You can’t rush your postpartum fitness, but there are definitely lots of postpartum workouts that can be fantastic for your mind and body. In this post I am going to be talking about how running postpartum and how running after pregnancy could feel different, postpartum workout ideas, postpartum yoga, postpartum exercises, and overall postpartum fitness.
Running Postpartum
Running after pregnancy could feel a little different, not necessarily bad, just different. You may also find that even if you hated running before pregnancy, you might enjoy it now. This was my case. First and foremost though, wait until your doctor says it’s ok and listen to your body!
I got into running by first tackling walking. I invested in a good jogging stroller and hit the trails near my house. It became a great outing for me and my daughter. It also helped me reduce the postpartum depression I was feeling. Getting my body moving and being outdoors brought me joy. Remember to take it slow. Don’t immediately jump back into the same mileage you were covering before you had a baby.
Postpartum Workout Ideas
After having my daughter I found a new love of being active. I think it was because it got me out of the house. Sometimes it would be so hard, but I always felt better after a workout. I started classes at The Dailey Method and loved the core strengthening I got from it. The Dailey Method is a barre workout studio, much like Barre Method or Pure Barre. Barre workouts are a great postpartum workout, but be sure to listen to your body and rest when needed.
In most areas you can also find great stroller fitness groups. This is a great way to get a workout in, meet other new moms, and not have to find childcare. Some groups to look into are Baby Bootcamp, Stroller Strides, Fit4Mom,
Workout videos might seem dated to some people, but they are a great way to workout at home. While baby is napping put on a workout DVD or search the internet. There are ton of free options to choose from. If you are looking for paid versions, Beachbody offers tons! You can even subscribe to their monthly unlimited workout video streaming. It’s like Netflix for working out.
Postpartum Yoga
Find a great yoga studio near you and don’t be shy about talking to the teacher about being postpartum so she can offer you some ways to modify poses. Many yoga studios also offer childcare, so you can get your yoga on and have a babysitter.
If you are familiar with yoga, breakout your yoga mat at home and start doing some stretches and poses at home. Again, there are lots of postpartum yoga workouts online that can help guide you from the comfort of your own home.
Postpartum Exercises
Start with things like a nice walk. This is also a great way to get you and your baby out of the house. Put your baby in the stroller and take a walk. Swimming and water aerobics are also great low impact exercises.
Overall Postpartum Fitness
Be sure to listen to your doctor, but once they give you the ok ease back not your workout routine. Don’t beat yourself up when things are a little harder, remember you just brought a life into this world! I remember as soon as the doctor cleared me for exercise I immediately tried to do a ton of crunches and a few hours later I was in a TON OF PAIN! Listen to your body.
Overall, finding fitness after baby could be just trying new things and seeing what you enjoy and what feels good.
Here are some other posts you might like:
10 Tips For Fitness Motivation
Tips for Moms to Sneak In Exercise During Their Busy Day
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