Before I had my son, I had never been to a proper gym class. I’d done a bit of Yoga and Pilates here and there, but the fast paced workouts scared me. It wasn’t until I was about 4 months postpartum and my back felt like it was about to fall apart that I realised I had to do something to help my core muscles start working again. Louise from Women’s Health Physio had suggested I get back to the gym to start building up some muscle, and Charlotte from the Parent Sanctuary recommended MummyFit so I tentatively booked a taster session.
How do I workout when I have a baby with me 24/7?
At 4 months postpartum, I didn’t feel ready to leave my baby to attend a normal gym class so I needed to find a solution where I could bring him with me…MummyFIT to the rescue! MummyFit is a pre and postnatal fitness class held at various local gyms throughout the week, with a qualified pre and postnatal fitness instructor. I attended MummyFit Huddersfield & Brighouse, which is run by Ashley Bayles, who is BRILLIANT.
My First MummyFit Session
Before MummyFit I’d never been to a ‘proper’ gym class; I’d done bits of yoga and pilates here and there but if I’m being honest the faster, HIIT style classes scared me. This seemed to be the only way I could get in some exercise with baby alongside me though, so off I went to a free trial class. Ashley sent me really clear instructions about how to access the gym with a pram, how to find the lift and the studio, then she was at the door to welcome me when I arrived. She started by chatting to me and performing an ab separation check, so we could understand the level of impact my body was ready for. I then did my first workout, and immediately signed up for a block 20 classes at the end, which tells you exactly how much I enjoyed it!
What to expect in a MummyFit class
The workouts vary in every class, but you can expect a relatively fast pace (think sets of 45 seconds work, 15 seconds rest) and a range of equipment (this depends which gym you go to, but there’s usually dumbbells, kettlebells and bodyweight exercises as a minimum). Circuit classes like the ones at BigBox and Defiance have more exciting equipment like rowing machines, assault bikes and jump boxes.
Ashley will adapt every exercise for wherever you’re at, whether you’re 20 weeks pregnant, six weeks postpartum, or several months down the line and ready to properly push yourself. Ashley genuinely cares and has built such a lovely kind community, and she’s always up for a baby cuddle so mamas can get their workout done.
What about my baby?
Babies can either lie/sit in the middle of the room where Ashley provides a bunch of toys to play with, or they can stay with you on blankets and play mats, watching the chaos unfold. It’s a little tricker when you’re doing a circuit class, but you’ll find the way that works for you and baby quickly – as my little one gets more active I’m finding it easier to keep him in the pram and occupy him with snacks and toys to keep his curious fingers out of the way of gym equipment.
Prenatal Classes
If you’re pregnant, Ashley welcomes you from your 12-week dating scan onwards and will make sure every exercise is pregnancy-safe throughout all trimesters. I didn’t go prenatally myself, but I’ve spoken to mums who did and they loved having somewhere structured and safe to keep moving during pregnancy.
Positive Vibes Only
I was so worried about joining a class like this in case it was all about ‘bouncing back’ and ‘losing the baby weight’ but that is just not the case at all. Ashley is all about making you feel strong, capable and empowered and not once has she mentioned anything about losing weight.
How much does it cost?
Classes are sold as block bookings, once you’ve purchased a block you can book on to as many classes as you’d like each week. To give you an idea of cost, when I signed up it was around £120 for 10 sessions or £200 for 20, but this may have changed since then.
Buying a block of sessions gives you access to the MummyFIT app, which you use to book on to sessions. You’ve got three months to use a block of 10 and six months for 20, so there’s no pressure to cram them all in at once.
The MummyFit Gyms:
Check the instagram page or get in touch with Ashley for the most up-to-date timetable as things can shift, but here’s what you need to know about each venue:
BigBox Huddersfield – I’m already a member here and I love it. MummyFit classes are held in the bootcamp room and the studio, both of which can be accessed by pram but you will need to go up the lift and a couple of extra steps, but Ashley is always on hand to help you up the steps with the pram. There’s also a cafe at BigBox for a coffee or lunch after class, and the toilets in the cafe have a baby changing table. There is a car park at Big Box but it’s often very busy and spaces can be tight, there’s no dedicated parent parking so make sure you arrive in plenty of time to find a space.
Reform Lindley – There’s free on-street parking nearby, though it can get busy and you need to watch out for permit-holder-only areas. Reform is pram-friendly although you’ll need to use the lift. There’s a lovely cafe next door (The Old George) however this isn’t pram friendly (access is via steps) so you’d need to use a sling for this one.
Defiance Brighouse – This is the most pram-friendly gym, as it’s all at ground level. There’s no gym specific parking here but there is a paid car park next door, roughly £1 per hour to park.
Nuffield Health Cottingley – I’ve not personally been to a class at Nuffield but there is free parking, and the gym is inside a beautiful old manor building.
Practical Parent Stuff:
Breastfeeding and bottle feeding: you can do this anywhere, at any point during class and Ashley will help you to jump you straight back into the workout when you’re ready. There’s no awkwardness about it whatsoever. I’ve had to stop and feed during class before and genuinely felt completely comfortable.
Baby changing: this depends on the gym, but Ashley is happy for you to change your baby in the class room if you need to. So even if the changing facilities in the wider building aren’t ideal, you won’t be stuck.
Snacks: The best advice I was given was to bring snacks for baby (once they are old enough) – snacks are the only way for me to a solid extra ten minutes of happy-baby-in-the-middle-of-the-room time.
Extra Stuff
Ashley runs a few things alongside the regular classes that are worth knowing about; online classes, outdoor classes (weather permitting), seasonal events and challenges and the Busy Mums Club.
How do I sign up?
You can get in touch with Ashley and book a free trial session via Instagram or the MummyFit website.
Head over to our directory for more fitness, wellbeing and activities for parents in Huddersfield and Halifax.
