So it has been nine months and the bundle of joy has arrived! You are exhilarated and exhausted at the same time. If it's your first baby, you may be overwhelmed. If it's your third baby, you may be overstretched. You've gone from daughter to wife to mother and through the process, you sometimes wonder if you even recognize yourself anymore.
You see the Duchess of Cambridge spring back to her old dress size in a matter of weeks and the Kardashians becoming a baby factory with no apparent changes to their lifestyles. And here you are: learning to sanitize baby bottles, assemble cots and trying to nurse a screaming colicky baby - all at the same time.
Whilst you are tackling the answer to the very legitimately stressful question of "how am I going to keep this living being alive", the world (read, social media) sends you messages like "lose the baby weight", "lose the stretch marks" and "get your pre-baby body back". This may make you look towards the belly that created your most valuable asset with derision and lead to self-hate, feelings of inadequacy and for some, shame.
But we ask WHY?
Isn't that body and mind still you? And aren't you bloody marvelous? Your body is so wonderful that it literally crafted together a living, breathing complex human being in the space of JUST nine months (compare this with Space X's Falcon 9 that was in the works since 2011!). You are selfless enough to even want to take on the task of taking care of another human being (or three). Everything that you've learnt, your interests, your career is still in the pockets of your brain ready to be activated anytime you chose to do so!
So yes, your tummy muscle fibres have stretched - it stretched because you grew a baby. Yes, you may have diastasis recti - you have it because you grew a baby. Yes, the stretch marks are lining portions of your tummy - you have them because you grew a baby. Yes, there may be a bit more fat deposits around the body than before - its there because you grew a baby and now you are sustaining a baby.
They are all beautiful reminders of how fearfully and wonderfully made YOU are.
We at Barressential would never shame you into making you feel like you should want a pre-baby body back. In fact, we think a pre-baby body is pretty difficult to attain given what your body has been through. BUT you know what, we think you could have a post-baby body though!
It can be beautiful.
It can be strong.
It can be at the weight that is most healthy for you.
It can be functional.
It can be free from injury.
It can be ready to have another baby if you choose to do so.
And for us, that's FAR more valuable than anything superficial the world has to say.
Our Post Natal Pilates sessions are crafted to:
1) Assist you regain strength through the pelvic floor: That floor has gone through so much stress that its easy to have issues such as incontinence or prolapse and we work to get you to reconnect and strengthen this crucial muscle group.
2) Regain good posture and alleviate back pain: Heavy belly means a bigger arch in the spine through pregnancy and then heavy breasts means a slouch through the upper spine after pregnancy. We work to stretch, mobilize and strengthen the muscles around the spine to get you to a healthy posture!
3) Strengthen your belly - and ease diastasis recti: Your belly stretched and the muscles in front (rectus abdominis) tore apart as a result. For some, it may have seperated more than usual and this would result in a bigger split in the belly. But for all, it means long tummy fibres. Pilates works to regain abdominal strength without the usual crunches - making the fibres shorter and much stronger!
4) Get back to a healthy weight: Pilates focuses on working through all the major muscle groups and as these break down, the extra fat is burned as fuel for repairs. Not only do you become stronger, you become leaner.
5) Feel good about yourself: Yes, sounds cliche but the hour you spend with us maybe one of the few times in these early months that you have for yourself. Pilates requires you to focus on the mind-body connection. Couple this with the deep breathing, you finish the class more rested, rejuvenated and lighter in spirit than before.
Sounds good? Join us for class this Friday at 10am (book here) or email us to arrange a private appointment.
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