All mothers put on weight when having a baby, it’s natural, but when is it safe to start working out again and what are the best workouts to get you back to your pre pregnancy shape? It can be difficult to know what exercises to choose but the key message here is not to push yourself too hard too soon. You can start working out again as soon as you feel ready to, as long as you had a relatively simple birth. If not, it is advisable to wait until your 6 week postnatal check before starting any high impact exercises. You will likely have lost most of the fitness you had gained before pregnancy and so will need to start from scratch, so if you go into post pregnancy workout with all guns blazing then you could be setting yourself up for injury. Here I have collated some of the best exercise classes and workouts to do after giving birth which will fit in with your new life as a Mum.
Yoga
Yoga is one of the best workouts you can do after having a baby. There is no place for competitiveness in yoga so you can go at your own pace and the poses have easier and harder options to suit every level. You don’t have to be flexible for yoga, in fact it will improve your flexibility and strength quickly and it will help you de-stress. Yoga will help tone your body all over and many places will do specific post pregnancy yoga classes where you can bring along your baby and keep them at the side of the class. If you are not attending a specifically tailored class for post pregnancy then you must make your instructor aware that you have recently given birth as you will need to go easy on yourself and some poses may be unsuitable for you.
Pilates
Pilates is all about strengthening the core and toning the body. It requires control of your body, rather than quick, vigorous movement which is ideal after pregnancy. Pilates will work your muscles a little more than yoga but again, you can go at your own pace to suit your fitness levels. If you have never done pilates before you will be surprised at how hard it is. It look easy but in fact, when done correctly, it is a really great workout for your muscles. Mixing a little pilates with yoga would be a great option for any new mother to help shift your unwanted baby weight. Again there are often specific post pregnancy classes so check to see if there are any in your area. These specific classes are great for meeting other new mums in your area so I would recommend going for these over regular classes.
Buggy Fitness
Incorporating your baby buggy into your workout can be a great way of working out and keeping an eye on your little one. Start with some brisk walking with your buggy, remember to keep your back straight and hopefully it will send your baby to sleep in no time. You can try running or jogging with your bugging once your fitness begins to pick up or you could attend a buggy fitness class near you. These classes consist of HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) workout exercises like shuttle runs, sit-ups, push-ups and squats, all revolving around your buggy. These sorts of classes are great as you will have an instructor there to guide you but they will always make sure you are not pushing yourself too hard. The HIIT exercises within the buggy fitness classes are the best ones for increasing your fitness and losing weight quickly and effectively, so you can get back to your pre baby shape in no time.