pilates anywhere with m and m pilates

On Tuesday, I shared with you all my friend Amy’s unique and incredibly efficient Pilates concept, Wundabar Pilates. But if you, like me, have trouble getting to a class/studio setting on a regular basis, sneaking some exercise in at home might be one way to help you achieve your fitness goals. You can use your baby’s weight to loose your baby weight! I find that in order to make this idea successful, it is helpful to schedule it into your routine. That way you are less likely to skip out on it. And of course, you are going to want to know some efficient and practical moves to get your blood pumping!

That’s where my friend Mary comes in. Mary is another long-time friend of mine who I met when I was living in LA, where she is an elementary special education teacher and certified Pilates instructor. Last year, Mary decided to combine her knowledge base in these two fields and created M and M Pilates, a mobile Pilates routine for mothers and babies, as well as school children of all ages. As I mentioned in my Tuesday post, after having three, squeezing in a workout has become more challenging than ever. And I guess many new moms, with any number of children, probably feel the same. So I asked Mary if she could give us a simple mat routine that we could do at home with baby [or during naptime, preschool time, whenever!]. Without further ado, I give you Miss Mary Montague!

The most important part of Mommy and Me Pilates is to have fun! You really can do it anywhere as all you need is a mat [even a towel or blanket will work] and comfortable clothing for you and your baby. I encourage moms [and dads!] to have fun, blow kisses, play peekaboo, incorporate playful music, sing songs, allow toys for the baby, and to bring your workout anywhere; your living room, backyard, park or beach!

In Pilates there is a focus on breath as the basis of each movement. Have fun with this and blow air on your baby for each exhale. Use slow inhalations and exhalations with each movement to focus the mind, center yourself, and control the body against gravity.

 

Push-ups with roll up: Begin standing, legs together and feet parallel. Raise arms towards sky and round forward and place hands on mat. Walk out to plank position. Do 4 push-ups. Lift hips to sky and walk hands back to feet. Roll up one vertebra at a time to stand. Roll right back down for the next set. Repeat.

Donkey kicks. Repeat several reps on each side.