What an amazing experience – Can’t wait to do it again tomorrow! Babies, fitness, gardens and meeting moms! What else could you want?
The Fit4Mom, the largest mom fitness organization, offers Stroller Strides®, a stroller-based fitness program designed for moms with little ones. Each 60-minute, total body workout incorporates power walking, strength, toning, songs and activities. Certified fitness instructors offer a variety of fun class formats both indoors and outdoors. I can’t wait to do more with baby in tow!
In addition to being a great workout, this class throws in some songs to entertain the kiddies! Plus, we walk/jog throughout the incredibly gorgeous Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania, which is conveniently located in Chestnut Hill, outside of Philly. Moms make pit stops throughout the 92-acre masterpiece to work different muscle groups, utilizing the Arboretum’s unique structures and terrain. At the end of class, we lay out are mats for abs and stretching – giving the babies a chance to be a part of the action! And of course it’s always nice to meet other like-minded moms in the area!
Class attendee and Mom Blogger, Tracy Nyszczot, “You feel like you are where you are supposed to be – mommy and baby are being stimulated among the gardens’ beauty and the class’s fitness routine! It’s a true wellness day for both of your minds, bodies and souls!”
Babies range from 8 weeks postpartum to 1-1/2 years old! And moms have all different levels of health, as we are given alternate exercises for each one’s abilities! One of the moms is a true inspiration – having been on bed-rest for the 2nd half of her pregnancy and then in the hospital with her baby in the NICU for months – her and her baby boy are ready to get out and get back in shape! Another mom has twins that are only a few months!
The class is an hour and babies can be on all different schedules – some are napping, some involved for their activity time! One class, my baby slept the whole time. The next time, I gave my baby her a bottle throughout some exercises and she enjoyed watching mommy sweat!
Stroller Barre® is a 6 week class, where you can purchase all 6, or buy individual sessions at $25/each. The cost allows you and baby to enjoy the Arboretum before/after class. I suggest bringing baby early to enjoy a picnic lunch beforehand and then staying after for a nice cool down stroll and stretch!
You and baby will enjoy the whimsical gardens, serenity of nature and a bonding afternoon walking through a dream! Plus the Morris Arboretum is extremely educational among a Victorian eclectic garden, frozen in time – complete with a swan pond, rolling hills, garden railway, tree canopy and more. http://www.MorrisArboretum.org.
Fit4Mom is a franchise with local clubs where you can buy a membership or pay as you go! The leader and owner of Chestnut Hill Fit4Mom is Jacqueline Walsh, who has 2 children and was 9 weeks postpartum at the start of the class! Talk about a tough mama and a great motivator! She hosts a bunch of classes throughout the year in the Chestnut Hill, Plymouth Meeting, King of Prussia, and Conshohocken areas! Be sure to read below about her programs! The website, schedule and registration process is easy and up-to-date, which is not always the case for mommy activities! The website is http://www.chhillplymeet.fit4mom.com. There is also a newsletter you can sign up for to keep you in the loop for future programs! See the Chestnut Hill Fit4Mom May Newsletter @
http://t.e2ma.net/message/j6h7f/7ge2xf
WHAT IS Stroller Barre® ?
Stroller Barre® is a unique blend of ballet, Pilates, barre, yoga and stroller-based exercises designed to help moms build strength and muscle tone and improve posture. Created by a mom who was formerly a professional ballerina, this class incorporates prenatal and postnatal training and yields amazing results in an exciting, fun format. Postpartum women tend to have tight and weak pectoral (chest), abdominal and quadriceps muscles. In addition, the back and hamstrings muscles become stretched and weak. This occurs due to hunched posture from breast or bottle feeding, excessive spinal curves while carrying baby in utero and after birth, and repeatedly picking their new (and rapidly growing) baby up. Stroller Barre® focuses on strengthening and creating an ideal length/tension relationship in all the postural muscles, creating a taller, leaner-looking mommy! Stroller Barre® classes are included in all FIT4MOM® Chestnut Hill/Plymouth Meeting membership options.
FIT4MOM CH/PM MOMS’ CLUB
Fit4Mom CH/PM’s Moms’ Club is a FREE meetup group for ALL moms (no Fit4Mom membership required!) that offers play dates, Moms’ Night Outs, kids’ crafts and mommy and me music classes from “Rhythm Babies”! Join Moms’ Club on Facebook by searching: “Moms’ Club – Powered by Fit4Mom Chestnut Hill/Plymouth Meeting”
Check out Fit4Mom Chestnut Hill/Plymouth Meeting’s feature on CBS Philly Video:
http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/video/9540965-stroller-strides-helping-new-moms-with-weight-loss/
Four Thumbs Up-A must do for the multitasking well mama and baby!
Plants Power Purpose 