Mama’s, I hear you. I AM you. Creating a great relationship with exercise can be hard. Like any habit, it takes time and commitment and to be honest the journey can be pretty up and down when you’re contending with little ones ever changing routines, lack of sleep and ALL the things you have to do. Your workouts won’t be perfect all of the time, but if you can stick with that commitment to yourself, it is mind blowingly WORTH it.
A consistent exercise routine can add more time, energy, happiness and value to your life and the ripple effect it has on your family? Seriously. Taking time to exercise for yourself has So. Many. Pay offs.
Get Strong for Mum life: Carrying kids, shopping, housework, playing with kids, even sitting or standing for long periods takes its toll on your body. But learning how to stretch and strengthen the right muscles will help so much.
The feeling of being able to do the things that life demands of you with ease is incredible. Focusing on a strong and supportive deep core, back and glutes, then improving your mobility through your chest, shoulders, back and hips can truly make you feel like a super woman!
Strength training is so beneficial for woman not only when we have small children, but to support our hormones, and our bones as we age. Imagine still being able to move with ease and play on the floor with your grandchildren? Priceless.
Improve Your Mental Health: There is a positive effect on your hormones immediately following a workout - you know that post workout high? Over time, regular exercise can help to significantly reduce feelings of anxiety or depression, again related to your hormones.
Making time for yourself to move your body does wonders for your sense of self worth and achievement when you start to feel your fitness improve and notice that you are able to do things that you couldn’t before. This all contributes to your overall mental health in such a positive way.
Of course experiences will vary, but over the years I’ve had happy tears when members have told me they’ve been able to stop taking medication, or just how much happier life feels because they are working out regularly.
Manage Pain and Post Baby Niggles: Do you get a sore back, hips, neck or shoulders? Do you feel like you have a weak pelvic floor, or core? Birthing and raising babies takes a massive toll on our bodies and many mums just aren’t sure what to do for fear of making things worse. Or perhaps they feel unmotivated because when they DO exercise it can feel uncomfortable, or painful and just too hard.
Learning the right exercises, in a friendly and supportive environment can make ALL the difference, not only to how the exercise feels, but how you feel mentally and emotionally too. As a MumSafe trainer, we focus specifically on strengthening the muscles that WILL help to manage and improve the symptoms and pain that are super common, but not normal for mums. At Feel Good Fitness, we work closely with a women’s health physio to help our members understand how to exercise in the safest and most effective way for their body.
Increase Your Productivity: Regular exercise helps you to have better sleep, improves memory and mental alertness over time. But that post workout high will immediately help you to feel like you can get shit done! Loads of our members report back to me that they’ve just smashed the housework in less time, felt more efficient at work or enjoyed their weekend with an extra spring in their step thanks to fitting some exercise in first. I firmly believe that your exercise should leave you feeling more energized, not exhausted.
The Ripple Effect On Your Family: One of the most common reasons I hear for mums not fitting their workout in is that it feels selfish, or like they just don’t have time. Mama, making time to exercise is, in my opinion actually the LEAST selfish thing you can do for your family and in fact one of the most important.
With all the incredible benefits combined to increase your sense of self worth, confidence and happiness, the ripple effect to your family is huge. A healthier, happier Mum equals a happier family, with kids who grow up seeing a mum who takes care of herself and who puts her own self worth before the housework. What an incredible way to not only take care of you, but it will role model and encourage your kids to enjoy moving their bodies and teach them that exercise is crucial for feeling good and being healthy in a holistic way. What. A Gift.
If you need help to get started with your exercise routine, or you need some support with consistency and accountability, you HAVE to check out the options for working with us. Find our group fitness classes HERE and the Rise Up Membership, for home workouts, nutrition, mindset and healthy lifestyle support HERE