The I Heart Mama program is a series of weekly exercises (4 to 6 weeks) that work out the whole body. The workouts are done mostly outdoors where moms and babies can get fresh air, sunshine and scenery. We work hard at both working hard and having fun at the same time! Think boot camp meets meditation meets Sesame Street.

Each workout incorporates many types of exercise, including:

• Cardiovascular – relays, dynamic drills, running and jumping
• Strength – calisthenics, use of resistance bands, core work, barre-type exercises
• Flexibility – yoga, static stretching, tai chi
• Mindfulness – deep breathing, visioning, gratitude

Whether you were running races before pregnancy or have recently decided to make physical activity a priority in your life, we’ll motivate you to find and extend your comfort zone. Various levels of ability are accommodated with a smile. Facilitators will modify exercises especially to work around conditions that often affect new moms, including c-section recovery, diastasis recti and carpal tunnel syndrome.

At the start of each series, Moms:

• Share what the most wonderful, most hilarious and most challenging aspects of motherhood have been so far.
• Chat about their present goals for exercising, their exercise habits pre- and post-baby, and any limiting physical conditions.
• Discuss strategies for being able to meet their exercise goals, including how to keep up motivation, finding time and energy. We brainstorm about how moms can set themselves up for success, especially with ever-changing baby schedules.
• Each has a brief individual assessment of her current physical fitness level.

Throughout the series, mothers bond while working hard together and supporting each other through each routine. And they continue to share how motherhood is going for them, as well as ways to stay healthy and strong. From diet to feeding, poops to naps, playgroups new products – all topics are fair game!

At the end of each series, Moms:

• Celebrate work-out successes and identify areas for improvement. New or evolved or goals for exercise are shared.
• Again brainstorm about how to continue success, especially during times of major transition such as heading back to work or school.
• Do an individual post-test of her current physical fitness level.

While increasing fitness is an important goal of the program, equally important is motivating mothers to make physical activity a regular, integral and enjoyable part of their daily routines at this tipping point in their lives.