What to Expect: The Big Push

Signing up for a new class can be intimidating - not knowing what to expect, whether it's right for you and whether you'll enjoy it can be off-putting. To reassure my lovely clients that they're choosing something beneficial for their current fitness level, bank balance and lifestyle, I'm breaking down how the classes and courses are going to work so everyone can book with confidence.

The Big Push

Everything changes in pregnancy, not in one big change throughout the 40 weeks but trimester by trimester, week by week and sometimes it seems overnight. As soon as you get used to one stage another one takes over, your balance redistributes, a new area is unexplainedly sore and you just can't figure out why your car keys are in the fridge.

On top of this is the barrage of well-meaning if somewhat misguided 'advice', ranging from old wives tales and superstitions to unwelcome comments on your physical changes or how lucky and endlessly grateful you should feel when you're heaving over your slice of dry toast or falling asleep during meetings. Finally, those horror stories about someone else's' unpleasant birth or parenting experience, making you dread what should be an exciting prospect - meeting your baby!

I've had two babies and while I'm no expert a found a few things really did help through the pregnancies and beyond:

• Staying active through pregnancy kept me feeling like myself and on top of the constant physical changes

• Meeting other like-minded pregnant people was easier in a fitness class as we already had something in common - staying active!

The combination of these tried and true pregnancy tips has birthed The Big Push - a fun, endorphin-raising dance fitness and conditioning class followed by tea, biscuits and a good chat with the other parents-to-be in the class. Although the exact class plan will change according to the participants, it will generally run as below:

8 Minutes: Cardio Warm Up - identify any aches and pains, check your balance and posture and get ready to move

20 Minutes: Low Impact Dance Cardio and Cool down - get your heartrate up safely while having fun and working on endurance and energy levels

8 Minutes: Resistance training and conditioning, focusing on strengthening the pelvic floor and easing back pain

9 Minutes: Stretch and relaxation - pregnant women are still expected to function as if they aren't pregnant and deserve every chance to relax!

This will be followed by 15 minutes tea (or cold drinks, weather dependent!), biscuits and an opportunity to get to know the rest of the class.

Along with the well-known benefits of exercise during pregnancy (comfort, easier postpartum recovery, quicker return to exercise postpartum) I hope everyone will leave the class feeling a sense of achievement and a rush of endorphins that will have you keen to come back and join me for my postnatal class offerings!

The Big Push will be running at 9am on Saturdays from 11th April in St Denys Church Centre

Book Now