Best postnatal fitness classes - virtual workouts for post-pregnancy
Kayla Itsines
Kayla Itsines, one of the most influential PTs Instagram has ever seen, created a post-pregnancy programme after becoming a mother herself. Accessible via her Sweat app – alongside the celebrated Bikini Body Guide (BGG) – the specialist 12-week programme comes backed by a panel of obstetricians and exercise physiologists. Designed to support new mothers to rebuild strength and fitness after pregnancy and birth, the short workouts range from 15-25 minutes, to slot easily into time-poor lifestyles.
To access it, sign up to the Sweat app, choose Itsines as your trainer, then select ‘Post-Pregnancy’.
CariFit
CariFit is a unique baby-wearing workout perfect for mums with infants aged six weeks to 18 months old. Based on low-impact HIIT principles, prepare to sweat and burn as 30 minutes fly by, while your baby feels snug and safe strapped to your chest. They stream daily live classes with founder and postnatal fitness specialist Vern Hill and his team for just £5, and you can catch up with some on YouTube.
Find the timetable and book here
Louisa Drake Method
Known as the "shape-changer that generates stronger, longer and leaner bodies," the Louisa Drake Method has a pre- and postnatal programme called the LDM Pregnancy Project. In the regular online sessions, streamed via Zoom, celebrity trainer Drake – or a member of her team – leads a LDM Sculpt workout offering the most effective and supportive exercise adaptations for new mothers to recover safely after pregnancy. To accompany the drop-in based classes (which are ideal for receiving individual support) comes LDM On Demand, a growing library of high quality content to enjoy whenever you have a window to workout.
See the timetable for online classes here
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Mum Hood
Pip and Joan, the women behind Mum Hood, are also the founders of Frame, London's funnest fitness studio chain with a cult following as strong as the instructors. Since entering into pre- and postnatal journeys themselves, the friends filled a gap in the wellness market with safe, simple and effective workouts, both within the Frame locations and for women to do at home. With separate programmes – all specific to each stage of your early motherhood journey, various class types (from reformer Pilates to cardio), digital resources and inspirational events, Mum Hood is a family you'll want to be part of.
Discover the online programmes here
Our Fit Family Life
With a masters degree in Sports Science, pre- and postnatal fitness expert Julie Baird specialises in diastasis recti and pelvic floor function. Her evidence-based programmes, focusing on pregnancy fitness, from birth to eight weeks, and post-pregnancy and beyond intend to help counter the negative effects that bearing a baby can have on your body and help you feel stronger in motherhood than ever. The workout routines and wellness plans are hosted on an online platform functioning like an app on your computer or mobile device.
Discover the online programmes here
Mamawell
The Mamawell Method is the baby of Rosie Stockley, whose pre- and postnatal fitness specialism has recently expanded from live classes in South-West London to a video programme online. The postnatal edition includes eight on-demand workouts plus a written guide and email support, should you require it. Expect empowering, endorphin-inducing exercises with multiple adaptations offered, making them inclusive for all.
Find out more and subscribe to the programmes at mamawell.org
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Bumps & Burpees
Founded by Charlie Launder in 2014, Bumps & Burpees is a thriving community for those subscribing to their #thismumcan ethos, in addition to an accessible platform for fitness. There’s an offering for all levels of investment; pre- and postnatal PT coaching (from £70 a session, or £84 for duo training), downloadable e-books (from £5.99) with simple, follow-along workouts, and regular live classes from Launder and her fellow fitness specialists shared on Instagram (free for all). It’s an ideal no-childcare fitness solution.
Find out more at bumpsandburpees.com
Heartcore At Home
Heartcore, one of London’s leading dynamic Pilates studios, has launched a slick digital platform with live and on-demand workouts. Within Heartcore At Home you’ll find their Post-Natal Pilates class – carefully considered to help restore your core, rebuild strength and realign posture after pregnancy. Although challenging, they offer a most welcome pause from the whirlwind of new motherhood, nurturing the mind as much as conditioning the body. Try the full (50 minute) and express (30 minute) classes on their ever-growing on-demand ‘Pre & Post-Natal’ library now.
Barrecore
Barrecore, the barre fitness company with 13 studios across the UK, explains that its method is safe post-pregnancy due to the low-impact and mindful nature of its classes. Designed to ease clients back into regular classes (which exhaust your muscles to the point of the signature 'Barrecore shake'), they’ve added dedicated weekly postnatal classes to the live schedule, streamed via Zoom. With Barrecore’s strong focus on the core, their trained experts can diagnose ab separation and run through a series of exercises that help heal the wall and strengthen the muscles back to pre-pregnancy levels.
Find the timetable and book here
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Paola’s BodyBarre
Highly experienced trainer (and mother of three) Paola Di Lanzo has taught her famed method, Paola’s BodyBarre, at various luxury London studios including most recently, FLEX Chelsea. A cherished class is the 'BabyBarre', a specifically designed fusion of 'floor barre' for postnatal women. The sessions help build strength and suppleness, focusing on core muscles including the pelvic floor. The best bit? Babies are welcome, too. Currently, PBB can be accessed virtually, with group classes and also personal training offered by Di Lanzo.
Find out more and book here
SEE MORE MUMMY AND BABY CLASSES
StrongMomSociety
Corrective exercise specialist Joanie Johnson (former founder of New York’s pioneering prenatal fitness studio Fit Pregnancy Club, or ‘FPC’) launched virtual fitness platform StrongMomSociety to educate and train new and expectant mothers at home. Each membership includes a 20-minute video consult with a perinatal fitness expert to get you started, plus access to a vast library of Johnson’s videos which teach you to better know your body while working it safely. This customised approach to on-demand fitness is ideal for those wanting a considered approach to postnatal exercise for long-term results. Membership costs £25.10 monthly, or £261.70 a year.
Find out more at strongmomsociety.com
Lucy Mills, Your Ideal Fit
Pilates and barre fitness specialist, Lucy Mills conducts private and studio-feel group training from as little as £5 via live video classes. An expectant mother herself, Mills is trained in pre- and postnatal exercise and curates specialist programmes with suitable modifications for all stages of one’s motherhood journey. With no two sessions the same, she tailors her thorough teaching to your specific needs, with a considered focus on alignment for long-term strength.
Find out more and book a class at youridealfit.com
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Fluidform Pilates
With three boutique studios in eastern Australia, Fluidform’s founder – Pilates guru Kristen King – has successfully taken her teaching techniques online for home practice. An excellently extensive platform, FFAH (Fluidform at home) provides over 150 home workouts to create customisable programmes for all, including specialist postnatal offerings. You can choose by workout type and area of focus, level, duration and equipment required. There are even reformer classes should you have access to one. Whichever way expect body-sculpting workouts that will improve posture and tone while strengthening and stretching your muscles. Subscriptions start from roughly £22 a month.
Find out more and subscribe here
LDN Mums Fitness
Your PT on-demand, LDN Mums Fitness provides virtual workouts tailored to the physical and lifestyle needs of postnatal women. Nailing ‘flexible fitness’, the short, safe and effective exercises can easily slot into busy days or with a mini me in tow. From boxing to baby-wearing cardio, there's ample choice within the ever-growing bank of videos from mum Sarah Campus, the pre- and postnatal trainer behind the brand.
Define London
Sculpting and strengthening are the core principles of Define London, the New-York style barre method currently accessible live via Zoom. The up-tempo workouts – as loved by celebrities – are suitable for those on postnatal journeys, as founder (and new mother) Ashley Verma tells us. For anyone pre/postnatal, she recommends their 'barre class' and 'mat class', where highly-skilled instructors will provide you with modifications throughout the session. "These two formats focus on perfecting alignment and posture, and strengthen all those tiny muscles that support the body," she says, which is great for post-pregnancy.
Find the timetable and book here
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
BodyFit by Amy
For those of you looking for a YouTube option, it pays to know you're working out with a real pro when you're recovering from pregnancy. Amy Kiser Schemper, aka BodyFit by Amy, is the real deal; a very qualified PT with two degrees and a masters in exercise science under her belt. Under her 'BabyFit by Amy' playlist you'll find all kinds of postnatal workouts, from cardio-based to stretching routines. Each are short and sweet, making them perfect to slot into your day at any time – and with baby by your side.
Watch Next
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7qa3RqZyrq5KWx6Kt0WeaqKVfqrhwrsSarK2xX5u2tbrErKpmr5WhuaOxyKeeaJ9jZ4F6gJZuaWialajBbrzOrKunmaSWuW6yyK2lnqujYrCtrdKsnKxn