#leahsprogram

As a mother, have you ever thought...... that peeing unintentionally is a normal “mom” thing? How about back pain, c-section scar pain, painful sex? Has your pain or symptoms forced you to stop doing things that you once loved? Or has someone TOLD you you should stop high impact activities, running, lifting heavy? As mothers we’ve been led to believe that peeing when you jump, cough, sneeze is normal. We’ve experienced pain and discomfort while performing activity we love and have had to stop leaving us depressed and angry. If any of this sounds familiar, I’m here to tell you that you haven’t found the right guidance yet. If I were to tell you that you can indeed do all the things, how would that make you feel? #leahsprogram #ppaopen #pregnancyandpostpartumathleticism (at Mindful of Movement)

Same movement, different form. Is this movement ok to do if you’re pregnant? 🤰🏼 What if you’re cleared from your doctor after childbirth, is this ok? 👶 Well...it depends. In all Mindful of Movement (M.O.M.) classes I look at the person in front of me instead of a general (aka generic) list of pregnancy or #diastasisrecti safe exercises. Moms, what if you’re experiencing symptoms such as weak hips and core? Abdominal doming or coning. Or you leak (urine or feces) during a move. Do you suspect diastasis recti? Would this move be beneficial to helping you rehab your ab separation?! Perhaps but again...it depends. In every M.O.M. class it starts with you, the client/athlete first. Your individual goals and how YOUR body moves and reacts to these movements all while considering symptoms or potential symptoms of your choice of fitness. If you would like to train with a coach like myself, check out the hashtag below to locate a P&PA Coach near you ⤵️ #pregnancyandpostpartumathleticism #leahsprogram (at Temecula, California)

Can we discuss this topic for a second? You have your baby. Most of us immediately want to start working out again. What does getting your body back mean to you? Do you truly feel you’ve rehabbed efficiently or is listening to your body all you’ve been told to do? Let’s be real, we drop a good portion of the weight the first couple months but how do you feel in that body? Do you feel stable at your hips and core? Instead of focusing on pre-baby weight or getting our bodies back, how about we focus ahead. How do we feel now, in the body we have? . . . . #pregnancyandpostpartumathleticism #leahsprogram (at Mindful of Movement)

Sometimes you have to put yourself out there. Share your real story not just the pretty, perfect stuff. That’s how I was introduced to @brianna.battles as she shared her story at a time when I needed her message (after the birth of my daughter). I reached out to her and she answered my messages personally. There were questions and concerns that my own doctors either ignored or said I was fine. She answered my list of emails and even checked back up on me. She cares. Becoming a Pregnancy and Postpartum Athleticism Coach has provided me a community of like minded professionals like Bri for on-going support and education. I’ve learned stuff that in all honesty I wish I knew before my pregnancy. My goal is to go forward with each day and speak the sometimes uncomfortable truth and share the things that I wish I knew. That helps women to speak up and say, “hey, thank you for spreading this message as I thought this was normal.” #pregnancyandpostpartumathleticism #educatedhope #commonnotnormal #leahsprogram (at Mindful of Movement)

During pregnancy the majority of us are told to continue doing what you're doing, just listen to your body. After delivery, the standard in the US is 6-8 weeks after delivery we're told it's ok to resume normal activities again. Unfortunately, we are all given the same recommendations even though we are all individuals. Our pregnancies are individual to us. Our method of delivering is individual and the way our bodies heal post birth, all individual! However, the majority of us are told the same thing. If you're experiencing symptoms such as coning or doming at the abdomen Bladder control issues or concerns Painful or uncomfortable sex Pressure in the groin area Ask yourself these questions and instead of listening to your body, go with your gut feeling (you know...the voice that's always right 😌) Can I? Should I? Do I? #leahsprogram #pregnancyandpostpartumathleticism #riskvsreward @brianna.battles (at Temecula, California)

What does taking a step back mean to you? There are certain circumstances in life that requires us to do just that. Taking a step back doesn't mean you're not progressing. Some people view a step back as a set back. Take pregnancy for example. When you're pregnant, are you willing to modify your workout or activities for the sake of your baby? Most likely the answer is YES. Once your baby is born how do you approach your fitness routine? We need to remember that 6-8 weeks is not enough for mom to just jump back in to killin' it in the gym. I get it, you want to resume to your normal life and feel like yourself again. Don't forget, you were willing to take a step back for your baby. You should do so for yourself. Let's be willing to start at the foundation (fundamentals) before progressing. #leahsprogram

And that's a wrap! 🎁 We just completed our 6 week program here at Mindful of Movement (we're missing a couple in the pic 😔) Every class consisted of a workout including real life (day to day) movements and demands. As mothers, we pick up newborns and toddlers, groceries, and car seats. Yes, we're all strong enough to do this but we practice doing all movements in class with strategy. If you're pregnant or postpartum you might be feeling sore or have pelvic floor concerns. Those are all considered too (hopefully in conjunction with a pelvic floor physical therapist). Being proactive instead of reactive is key. #leahsprogram (at Mindful of Movement)

When you're pregnant or cleared by your doctor after childbirth, moms are often told to just listen to your body OR do what you've always done. During pregnancy especially, there are gradual changes occurring such as: - Rib cage expanding to make room for baby - Hips widening - Joint and fascial laxity Some moms like to continue doing the same physical activity throughout their pregnancy and beyond and I support and understand that desire. But what if you don't know what to listen for during this chapter of your life? Understanding what the core is and how those muscles work together is crucial. If you can understand what muscles make up the core and how to use the muscles as a team, then when something doesn't feel right, the message of "listening to your body" might make more sense. #leahsprogram (at Mindful of Movement)