Having children is life changing in every way, including my fitness routine and schedule! This is partly down to the lack of time you suddenly find yourself with and it is all consumed with the baby, and eventually you return to work and you are splitting time between work and children! However what my body used to enjoy for exercise, and what it enjoys now are different, and my needs and wants have changed too.
Prior to having children I would go to the gym around 3 times per week and I was aiming for PBs, trying to lift heavier regularly and progress in common weight lifting exercises such as squats, deadlifts and bench presses. I was also running a couple of times per week, again chasing that faster time and entering 10k runs several times per year, each time trying to beat my previous time! I was a competitive ice skater, so I would be at the rink anytime I wasn’t in the gym or out running. This could often be for a 6am skate and each session was several hours long as ice skating requires intensive technical practice! Finally, I taught Pilates multiple times per week and filmed classes weekly too so I got my Pilates fix too.
After having my son (my eldest) I assumed I would jump right back in to the same routine as If I hadn’t left. I was desperate for some form of strength to keep up with the demands of motherhood, to help with the constant lifting of car seats and prams and carrying the endless toys and bags you end up with. I was also craving to feel strong mentally to cope with the mental and emotional load that having a newborn brings. I got back to Pilates at home very gently around 3 weeks postpartum to work on rehabilitating my tummy, my pelvis and generally restoring strength to my whole body. I waited 6 months before returning to running. Guidelines state you can return from 3 months if you rehab properly, however I didn’t feel I had given my strength building long enough, nor did I feel I had the energy for adding more intense cardio, so I waited. When I did commence running, it was with a running buggy as my new little side kick had to come with me. But it felt great to be back out again!
When my daughter was then born, again I returned to Pilates quickly. I was also working a lot more at this time and my business had to move online due to the Pandemic so I was under pressure to keep my business afloat, so I returned to online live classes at 3 months, and also a busy weekly filming schedule. My love for swimming that I developed during my first pregnancy continued and as well as taking my daughter once a week I also swam for myself. I think this was to provide the headspace I needed, with no phones, headphones, or distractions. That 30 min/week was the only time I got that stillness.
Now, fast forward to where I am at; I am 3.5 years postpartum from my youngest. I’m more in love with my Pilates practice than ever. A few months back I posted that as a teacher I don’t actually practice Pilates daily. Well, over the last few months I’ve actually subconsciously began doing just this. I look forward to that time on the mat to stretch, to move, to feel strong, and to flow through the movements. Dedicated time to myself to work through the flows with breath work and mindfulness- I always leave feeling much better and overall calmer than when I started. I get to the gym once to twice per week to lift heavier weights, and then I aim for once to twice a week at home for strength training too. I want to feel strong and with an aim to build hypertrophy for a more toned and stronger frame.
I try to go swimming once a week for my cardio now as l I still enjoy the stillness and space it brought me during both pregnancies and postpartum! I favour this over running as I’ve tried to get back into it, but I just don’t have the desire. The goals of speed and time just do not exist, nor does my desire to be out in the cold (and the dark in Winter!), as most of my training occurs after my children go to bed, or before they wake up. For weight training and Pilates I can do both from my living room, with a visit to the gym once or twice a week to get in that motivating environment. And I swim when my son does his lessons.
Slowly but surely, my exercise routine is finally working for me. It’s taken 3.5 years to get to the routine I both want and need. Recovering from pregnancy, the postpartum period, and settling into life takes time, and it is ok to change your goals or the type of exercise you prefer.
If you’re pregnant, or have had a baby, my Postnatal Pilates Guide is the perfect place to start returning to exercise. A step-by-step 6 week progressive Pilates plan that will take you from the very beginning, up to functional moves that restore your core, build strength and return you to the life you want.
