Video Editor: Sandeep Suman
A fitness instructor has come up with an adorable way to help new mums get back into shape while spending time with their newborns — a new regime where babies as weights, instead of dumbbells and barbells, are a part of mum’s workout.
The special classes run by Carolliny Almeida Tscherne, 31, at Corpus Training gym in Sao Paulo, Brazil, allows post-natal mums to get a full workout while their infants are strapped to their chests, lying on their laps, crawling around or fast asleep on a mat nearby.
The studio environment is very different from conventional gym classes. There is no loud music and the level of activity and flow of gym users is kept to a minimum. During the warm up, the mum’s hug their cute alternative weights, play with them while doing press-ups and balance them on their knees during sit ups.
And everyone is free to take time out to calm their child if they cry, change their nappies and breastfeed.
The twice-weekly hour-long classes, which started in November last year, are for students with tots between two months and eight months old.
Carolliny explained:
We don’t accept younger babies because their necks are very delicate. After two months they can withstand the exercises, but we make sure they are strapped up tightly in a sling and the material stops their heads from moving around too much. As they get older, they become more robust and are given the freedom to crawl around and to participate in the classes with their mums.
The idea of baby-friendly gym sessions was born out of desperation after the physical educator came close to suffering postnatal depression following her daughter’s birth in August last year.
"I used to weigh around 63kg (9.9st) and put on a 25kg (3.9st) during my pregnancy. After Olivia was born I was still overweight. I didn’t recognize myself when I looked in the mirror and I found that really annoying,” admitted Carolliny.
To stop herself spiralling down into the baby blues, the married mum decided to return to work and with her husband, Ozias’s (28) help adapted her exercises to include her two months old daughter.
Within a couple of months Carolliny lost 19kgs (2.9st). As soon as she posted her progress on social media showing how her child was an integral part of her fitness regime other mothers, struggling to lose their baby fat, begged to join the innovative classes.
Carolliny explained: “The sessions give a complete workout and are fun for both mother and child. We use the TRX (suspension weight training) for upper limb training, lower limb and buttock exercises. Abdominal exercises are down on the ground. All the movements are done smoothly, firmly holding the babies throughout either in our arms, on our laps or wrapped in the sling and always keeping a close eye on their wellbeing.”
According to experts, physical activity in the first few months after birth helps to reduce post-natal depression, anxiety, improves moods, mental disposition, relieves stress and helps weight loss.
“This is a holistic way of regaining our self-esteem and our identity without losing or undermining our roles as mothers,” said Carolliny.
(With inputs from AP)
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