Breast Cancer: Signs to look out for and ways to help prevent it.

Posted on November 3rd, 2021 by Andries Lodder

October is International Breast Cancer Awareness month. What follows is just a bit of information regarding what signs and symptoms to look out for as well as ways to help prevent you from getting this disease.

According to the 2017 National Cancer Registry, breast cancer is the most common cancer among all races of women with the risk of a woman getting it in her lifetime as high as 1 in 25. (CANSA, n.d.) The risk of a woman developing any type of breast cancer is staggeringly high which highlights the importance of identification and prevention.

Breast cancer happens when some breast cells begin to grow abnormally. These cells divide rapidly and continue to grow until a lump or mass is formed. These cells may even spread through your breast and into your lymphatic system thus spreading them throughout the body. Hormonal, lifestyle and environmental factors can all lead to an increased risk of developing breast cancer.

Some risk factors for breast cancer are:

Being female (It is very rare, but males can also suffer from breast cancer)
Increased age
Previous breast cancer in one breast increases the risk of getting it in the other one
Family history of breast cancer
Obesity increases your overall risk
Alcohol consumption
Radiation exposure to the chest area.
Never being pregnant or having your first child over the age of 30

Although there are many risk factors involved, some women will have may of them and never develop the disease while some women with no risk factors will.

Now for some big warning signs to look out for:

Any kind of lump or thickening of tissue felt in the breast
Changes in the shape, size or appearance of the breast as well as any changes to the skin over the breast
Any peeling or flaking of the skin surrounding the nipple or a newly inverted nipple.

If you notice any of these symptoms, book an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible.

There are however some ways we can try and prevent women from getting this disease even if it just decreasing their overall risk:

Conduct breast self-examinations regularly. This will not prevent you from getting breast cancer but it will help you notice any changes much sooner.
Limit overall alcohol consumption.
Increase your activity level. If you exercise regularly, keep it up. If you don’t, try start with just 30 minutes of walking every second day and gradually increase the time and intensity.
Eat a healthier diet. Healthier food will help with the weight reduction and it will also make you feel better overall.

Maintaining a healthy body weight. The increase in exercise will help regulate your body weight as well as the healthy diet.

These preventative measures will not stop you from getting the disease, but they will definitely help decrease your overall risk.

If you need any assistance with any kind of exercise program in order to get active or to stay active, do not hesitate to contact us.

Why your core is so important.

Posted on September 6th, 2021 by Andries Lodder

The first thing everyone thinks when they hear about training their core is training for a six pack, flat stomach or a small waist. What many people don’t realise is that your core is made of up of many muscles the include abdominal, back and pelvic muscles and the main reason for strengthening them is to add stability to the entire torso.

Reasons to train your core:

Strong core muscles are vital for everything you do throughout the day. They help keep you upright and support your spine when doing simple tasks like climbing stairs or bending over to pick something up. These muscles also play an important role in your overall balance by providing full body stability and helping prevent falls or even stopping yourself from falling when caught off balance. Having a strong core also helps reduce the risk of injury when playing sport or exercising in the gym by increasing your overall stability.

It is also incredibly important to keep the muscles in your pelvic floor strong, especially in women. These muscles can be weakened by the following:

Childbirth
Weight gain
Menopause

Making sure these pelvic floor muscles remain strong is also important in preventing any type of organ prolapse such as bladder, bowels or even the uterus.

How to train your core:

A common misconception is that core training involves simply doing lots of crunches or sit-ups. This is in fact the opposite as doing to many of these abdominal specific exercises can lead to core imbalances as well as placing unnecessary pressure on your back.
Instead, by performing full body exercises like squats, lunges, controlled deadlifts and even planks, you get an awareness of your entire body by strengthening it. This is because the core muscles need to be activated and strong in order to remain upright during these movements in order to perform them correctly. It is also much more efficient to train your core by doing these full body strength movements as it works the core on a deeper level while also strengthening other muscles throughout the body.

Here are some typical core exercises that are easy to do at home:

Body-weight Lunges: Standing up straight, step forward with one foot while going onto the toe of the leg behind. Slowly bend the back leg so the knee is going down towards the ground. Maintain an upright posture and do not let the knee of the front leg go over your toe as this increases pressure on the knee.

Plank: Lower yourself to the floor into a push up position, now move your weight from your hands to your elbows so the points of contact with the floor are your forearms. Make sure your elbows are shoulder width apart from each other. Placing your weight over your elbows, lift your knees so that your body is in a straight line from head to heel. Keep your abs and glutes contracted throughout the hold and make sure your back does not begin to arch. Make sure your back is also rounded at the top by pushing your shoulder blades away from one another.

Crunches: Starting flat on your back with your legs bent at 90 degrees. Tighten your abdominal muscles and visualize pushing your lower back firmly into the floor. Keeping these muscles tight, slowly roll your shoulders up off the floor as if you are moving one vertebra at a time. Keep crunching until your shoulder blades are off the floor and slowly lower yourself back down. Perform these 10 times for a total of three sets.

If you are having any trouble dealing with lower back pain or a weak core, please feel free to contact us so we can help you out and get you as strong as you can be.

Exercises to do from the comfort of your own bed!

Posted on June 30th, 2021 by Andries Lodder

By Daniel Sauer

In this winter cold, getting out of bed to get to the gym is a lot tougher than before. But, what if there was a way to strengthen some of your muscles from the comfort of your own bed?

Well, there are many different exercises one can do from their own bed. And there are even some added benefits!

Mattresses provide a slightly unstable surface. Similar to using a foam mat or exercise ball, bed exercises may help recruit small stabilizing muscles while working large prime movers. Unstable surfaces can be beneficial for building core strength, improving balance, and toning areas of the body like the abs and glutes.

Thoracic Rotations

1. Lie on your side, knees bent, hands out in front of your chest
2. Keeping this position, rotate from your trunk to try get the top arm flat on the floor on the other side.
3. Slowly return to the starting position.
4. Complete 2 sets of 10 repetitions per side

Glute Bridge and March

1. Lie on you back, with your knees bent and feet planted firmly.
2. Squeeze your glute muscles and lift your hips up, keeping your shoulders and feet on your bed
3. Keeping your hips up and your knees bent, slowly raise 1 leg and bring your knee towards your chest.
4. Lower that same leg back to the starting position, and repeat on the opposite leg
5. Once you have done this with both legs, lower your waist, and repeat the movements
6. Complete 3 sets of 10-12 repetitions per side

Shoulder Taps

1. Get into a high arm plank position
2. Gently raise 1 hand and tap the opposite shoulder
3. Lower that hand repeat on the other arm
4. Complete 3 sets of 10-12 repetitions per side

Bird-Dog

1. Get into a ‘table top’ position, with your arms in line with your shoulders, and your knees in line with your hips.
2. Raise 1 arm and extend the opposite leg simultaneously.
3. Keep your hips straight and don’t create an arch in your back.
4. Return to the ‘table top’ position after 10 – 12 repetitions, and repeat on the opposite side.
5. Complete 3 sets of 10-12 repetitions per side

These few simple exercises should get the blood flowing and the body warm! Any exercise is better than no exercises, so try them out and see how you feel!

For other exercises, or help with any pain/discomfort please don’t hesitate to contact us!

Keeping loose and active behind your desk

Posted on June 22nd, 2021 by Andries Lodder

By Sean Pickup

Still finding yourself stuck behind your desk at home? Struggling to find time in the day to exercise and stretch? Stress no more because we have come up with a few exercises and stretches that you can do from your work chair while you work.

Sitting behind your desk for long periods of time causes muscles to become stiff which is only being made worse by this cold. This stiffness can lead to pain, discomfort and even injury when we do try and exercise again.

Finding time during your work day to just walk around the house, stand up for a few minutes and even stretch will help release the tension in your muscles which will also help with your stress levels.

Taking the time to do these few stretches and exercises will help ease the tension in those muscles and release those feel good hormones in the brain which will decrease overall stress levels and make the work day go by just a little bit faster.

Exercise:

Standing up – the first exercise is the simplest but probably the most important. Taking 10-15 minutes out of every hour just to stand up and stretch the legs, will help decrease the risk of heart disease and obesity as well as helping prevent any unwanted neck and back pain.

Seated bicycles – In a seated position with your back up straight and feet on the floor, your hands behind your head. Lift one knee up and bring the opposite elbow down to meet it in the middle. Bring both your knee and elbow to the starting position and repeat 10 times before swapping sides.

Leg lifts – In a seated position wit your back up straight, lift one leg, squeezing the guad muscles (keeping it straight) up until you feel the back of your leg (the hamstring) come off the chair. Hold the position for 20 seconds before lowering and swapping legs. Repeat each leg 5 times.

Desk Push ups – Before you sit down after your 15 minute standing break, you can do some push ups on your desk to keep your upper body strong.
Facing your desk, lean forward onto the edge of the desk with your hands slightly wider than shoulder width. Lower your body down until your chest touches the desk and then push yourself back up until your arms are locked. Keep your body in a straight line. Do this 10-15 times depending on how difficult you find it.

Stretches:

Figure 4 stretch – In a seated position with your back up straight, place on foot on your opposite knee (like you are crossing your legs). Gently push down on the knee that is raised until you feel a pull in your glute. Hold this position for 20-30 seconds and repeat on the other side.

Upper back stretch – Sitting up tall in your chair, extend both arms out in front of your body, putting one hand on top of the other. Reach your hand out further until you feel your shoulder blades moving away from each other. Once you feel the top of your back stretching, gently bend your head forward and hold for 20-30 seconds. Repeat 2-3 times.

Seated Hamstring stretch – Sitting up tall at the edge of your chair, straighten one leg out and place your heel on the floor. Gently lean your torso forward until you feel a stretch in the back of your leg. To make the stretch more intense, you can pull your toes towards you. Hold this position for 20-30 seconds and repeat 2-3 times.

A sedentary lifestyle is a major problem now days – especially with peoples’ occupations and working hours lending them towards sitting in front of a computer all day. To reverse these type of injuries and aches or prevent them from occurring at all, contact us today and let us help you.

Exercises and stretches for in front of the TV

Posted on June 22nd, 2021 by Andries Lodder

By Nicole Harran

Seeing that winter is coming in at full force and we completely understand that moving from your cocoon on the couch is very difficult at this stage, we have designed a little program for you to do from the comfort of your own couch.

Keeping your body moving during winter is extremely important! During the colder months according to some scientists, the barometric pressure drops – this drop causes tendons, muscles and surrounding tissue to expand. This leads to a confined space for everything to move around in the joint – causing pain and discomfort!

Moving around, keeping yourself warm and being active all act as preventative measures for the tissue expansion and thus helping the joints move feely and stay happy!

Exercises:

Straight leg raises – in a seated position with your back up tall, bend one leg and keep the other leg straight. Using your core to keep your back up tall – lift the straight leg up and down, without the heel touching the floor between repetitions.

Do this 3 times per leg : 10 – 20 repetitions per leg.

Seated marching – in a seated position with your back up tall, knees and hips at 90 degrees. Using your core to keep your back up tall lift one leg up towards your chest and back down to the floor. Alternating legs.

Perform this for 3 rounds for about 30 – 60 seconds.

Push ups – Either kneeling in front of the couch, or standing in front of the couch – hands on the couch (the higher the hands are the easier the exercise will be). Keeping the elbows at a 45 degreen angle, bend the elbows so that the chest touches the couch and the pushing back up to a straight arm position.

Depending on your strength level for these : try 10 – 20 repetitions.

Tricep dips – Sitting on the couch, hands at your sides and feet out in front of you. Lifting you glutes off the chair and shifting your weight slightly forward. Bending from the elbows to dip your glutes down as low as possible and then straightening the elbows again to full extension.

Repeat this for 3 rounds of 10 – 20 repetitions.

Stretches:

Knees to chest – Lying flat on the couch, take one leg towards your chest at a time until both legs are pulled in towards the chest. Squeeze the knees tight towards you to lift the lower back off the floor and get the stretch as deep as possible.

Hold each stretch for 10 – 30 seconds and perform 3 in total.

Glute stretches – lying on your back, cross one ankle over the knee. Grip your hands through the triangle and grab on to the back on the leg. Pull the leg in towards the chest to feel the stretch down the glute.

Hold each stretch for 10 – 30 seconds and perform 3 in total.

Arm cross overs – Either lying on your back or seated on the edge of the couch with your back up tall – cross one arm over the other and pull the elbow in towards your body. The stretch should be felt on the rear shoulder down the arm.

Hold each stretch for 10 – 30 seconds and perform 3 in total.

Back scratches – Seated or standing place one hand under arm towards the back and the other over arm as in trying to scratch your upper and lower back.

Hold each stretch for 10 – 30 seconds and perform 3 in total.

If you do need help keeping active and motivated this winter or want to be pain free – please contact us and let us help you the best we can!

Shoulder pain home remedies

Posted on May 26th, 2021 by Andries Lodder

By Daniel Sauer

Feeling that pain, ache or discomfort at the top of your arm? Here is a quick fix to those shoulder issues that you may be experiencing.

What most people call the shoulder is really several joints that combine with tendons and muscles to allow a wide range of motion in the arm — from scratching your back to throwing the ball.

The shoulder has a wide and versatile range of motion.

When something goes wrong with your shoulder, it hampers your ability to move freely and can cause a great deal of pain and discomfort. Mobility problems may lead to increasing problems with instability or impingement of the soft tissue or bony structures in your shoulder, resulting in pain.

You may feel pain only when you move your shoulder, or all of the time. The pain may be temporary or it may continue and require medical diagnosis and treatment.

Shoulder Stretches:

Wall Downward Dog – This stretch releases the front and top of the shoulders, and the chest.

Begin standing up, facing a wall, with your feet hip-width distance. Make sure you are a few feet away from the wall.
Place your hands on the wall and walk your hands down the wall until they are in line with your hips. This should create an L-shape with your body, so adjust your feet as needed.
Keep pressing your hands against the wall and drop your chest towards the floor to feel a stretch through your chest and shoulders. Hold for 20 seconds.

Criss-Cross Arms – this stretch helps to release the rear deltoids and the rhomboids.

Start by lying down on your belly. Cross your arms underneath you so that they are right below your chest. Depending your how tight your rear delts are, you may be able to let your forehead rest on the floor.
Take deep breaths into your rear delts and your rhomboids as you hold for 20 seconds. Switch sides by crossing the opposite arm on top.

Standing or Seated Arm Cross-Pull – This stretch releases the deltoids and rotator cuff muscles.

Either seated or standing, move your 1 arm across your body as shown above.
With the other hand, place it under the elbow of your straight arm.
Gently pull your elbow towards your opposite shoulder. Hold this stretch for 20 Seconds per side.

Shoulder Exercises:

External and Internal Rotation

Stand up straight. Hold an elastic, light weight, can of beans, or even a water bottle. Keep your elbows bent at 90°, with your elbows tucked in to your sides. Slowly Rotate your arm outwards, and back inwards.

Lateral and Frontal Raises

Standing up straight, hold a weight, can or bottle in your hands, with yours arms to your sides. Keeping your elbows slightly bent, raise your arms to your sides, until you reach the height of your shoulders.

Repeat these steps, by then raising your arms straight in front of you until you reach the height of your shoulders.

Shoulder Taps

Get down into a push-up/plank position. Holding this position, tap the opposite shoulder with your hand. Alternate your hands tapping the opposite shoulder. This is a great exercise for your shoulder stability, and to strengthen your stabilizing muscles.

If these few exercises and stretches don’t help with your shoulder pain please contact us so we can do a thorough assessment to see whats going on!

Fix your neck pain from home

Posted on May 25th, 2021 by Andries Lodder

Most of us have experienced that little niggle in our necks when we’ve been working all day. Sitting staring at a computer all day with our shoulders slumped and our heads forward puts a lot of pressure on our necks which often causes discomfort.

The muscles in the arc of the neck become long and weak while the muscles in the front of the neck become tight. Often, a little bit of stretching and strengthening exercises every day can help alleviate that pain.

*Not all neck pain is the same. These recommendations should only be used as guidelines and if they make the neck worse, please do not hesitate to come in for a full body postural and injury assessment and let us help you.

Strengthening Exercises:

These exercises will aim to strengthen the muscles in the back of our necks and top of the back in order to prevent the shoulders from slumping and keeping the head from falling forward.

Isometric Neck Extension:

Sit upright in a chair facing forward. Take one hand and place it on the back of your head. Push your head back and use your hand to resist the movement. Hold this position for 10 seconds and then relax. Repeat these 5 times. You should feel the muscles in the back of your neck working.

Neck Retractions:

Sit upright in your chair facing forward. Keeping your head upright, slightly tuck your chin in and gently slide your head backwards toward your spine. It should feel as if you are trying to make a double chin. Hold this position for 10 seconds and repeat 5 times.

Prone Y’s:

Lying face down on the floor with your arms at a 45-degree angle from your head. Turn your arms so your thumbs are pointing to the ceiling. Keeping your forehead on the floor, raise your arms up and hold for 10 seconds. Repeat these 5 times.

Stretching:

Stretching both the front, back and sides of the neck are crucial in preventing neck pain. Stretching the front of the neck will keep your head from leaning forward whereas stretching the back of the neck will keep those muscles nice and loose and preventing stiffness and pain.

Scalene Stretch:

The Scalenes are a group of muscles in the front of the neck. There are 3 Scalene muscles on each side of the front part of your neck. Start by tilting your head back and then tilting it towards either shoulder. The stretch should be felt on the opposite side of the neck. Hold this position for 10 seconds and repeat 5 times.

Trapezius Stretch:

The upper Trapezius muscle is the muscle you feel at the base of the back of your neck. This muscle often gets tight after sitting for long periods of time with our shoulders hunched over. To stretch this muscle, sit in an upright position, place one arm behind your back. Using the opposite arm, pull the head to the side feeling a stretch on the side of the neck. Hold this position for 10 seconds and repeat 5 times.

Levator Scapulae Stretch:

These muscles often get tight along with the trapezius after long periods of sitting with your shoulders hunched. To stretch this muscle, tilt your head down toward your armpit. Using the arm on the same side your head is tilted to, pull your head gently towards your armpit feeling the stretch in the upper back into the base of the neck. Hold this position for 10 seconds and repeat 5 times.

If you are struggling with any chronic neck pain or pain that does not subside with these exercises, please contact us to help sort it out before it is too late!

Quick fix knee rehabilitation

Posted on May 19th, 2021 by Andries Lodder

By Nicole Harran

Everyone has experienced some type of knee pain or niggle in the knee during their life time. Sometimes it can be serious and other times a little strengthening and stretching of the right muscles can alleviate majority of the pain.

*Not all knee pain is the same. These recommendations should only be used as guidelines and if they make the knee worse, please do not hesitate to come in for a proper assessment and let us help you.

Strengthening exercises:

– These exercises will aim at strengthening the quadriceps muscles (front of the thigh). As these muscles get stronger it takes the pressure off the knee joint and makes the muscles work instead of the joint.

Leg raises

Either sitting as in the picture, against the wall or if this is too challenging- lying on your back. One leg bent and one leg straight. Squeezing the front of the straight leg, lift it up and down keeping the knee locked. Do this without touching the heel 10 times for 3 rounds each leg.

Wall squats

Starting facing the wall, with your feet about shoulder width apart and your toes facing slightly outwards. Hands above your head and placed on the wall. Starting with your toes around 20 cm away from the wall and as the exercise gets easier walk your toes closer to the wall until eventually the toes are touching the wall. In this position, squatting down, pushing you bum back, keep the core tight and knees pointed out towards the baby toes. Keep the weight pushing through the heels.

Wall sit

Starting with your back against the wall, legs out in front of you and core tight. As you lower your bum towards the floor, make sure your knees are at a 90 degree angle and try get the hips to a 90 degree angle. Hold that angle for 30 seconds to 1 minute or until failure. Keep pushing your weight through the heels at all times.

Hip lifts

Laying on your back, knees bent and arms at your sides. Engaging the core before moving by rolling the lower back into the floor. Keep this core position and roll the spine up off the floor (like peeling a sticker off a surface). Roll the spine back down on to the floor in the same manner.

Stretching:

-Stretching the quads is a vital aspect when trying to resolve knee pain. When the quads become too tight, they can pull on the patella (knee cap), which may cause pain or pull over the patella, pushing it into the knee joint causing pain and discomfort.

Quadriceps stretch

Start by lying on your stomach with both legs straight. Using one hand, grab the ankle on the same side of the body (as shown above). Slowly pull the heel towards your glutes as can be tolerated (7/10 pain wise). Pull and hold for around 30 seconds and then release. Repeat 3 to 4 times per side.

Hip flexor stretch

Start by kneeling on the floor, bring one leg in front of you as if in a “lunge position“. Placing a small towel under the knee on the ground might help for comfort (as shown above), pull the ankle of the knee on the floor towards your glutes (stretch should be felt down the front of the leg). As the pain permits- push the hips forward for a deeper stretch.

Glute stretch

Laying on your back, place one ankle over the opposite knee (as shown above). Grab through the gap of your legs and around the other side to grab hold of the back of the leg. Pull the leg in towards the chest – stretch should be felt in the top of your leg into the glute. Hold for 30 seconds and repeat 4 times per side.

If you are struggling with any chronic knee pain or pain that does not subside with these exercises, please contact us to help sort your knees out before it is too late!

Exercise for the mature person

Posted on May 4th, 2021 by Andries Lodder

There are many reasons why we tend to slow down and become more sedentary with age. It may be due to health problems, weight or pain issues, worries about falling, or even a chronic condition. But as we grow older, an active lifestyle becomes more important than ever to our health and well-being.

Studies show that physical activity was the number one contributor to longevity, adding extra years to your life. But getting active is not just about adding years to your life, it’s about adding life to your years.

There are many benefits to exercise as we age

Maintain or lose weight. Regular exercise helps increase your metabolism and build muscle mass, helping your body to burn more calories.
Prevent and Reduce the impact of illness and chronic disease. People who exercise tend to have improved immune and digestive functioning, better blood pressure and bone density, and a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, obesity, heart disease, osteoporosis, arthritis and certain cancers.
Enhance your mobility, flexibility, and balance.
Exercise improves your strength, flexibility, and posture, which in turn can help with your balance and coordination.
Decreased Risks of Falls. Older adults are at a higher risk of falls, which can prove to be potentially disastrous for maintaining independence. Anything that helps avoid them in the first place is critical.
Better Respiratory and Cardiovascular Function. Frequent physical activity lowers the risk of heart disease and reduces blood pressure. It helps make your daily routines smoother and less energy intensive.
Increases Bone Density. Exercise protects against bone loss. Higher bone density reduces the risk of osteoporosis and lowers the risk of falls and broken bones.
Smoother Activities of Daily Living. Activities that one does not usually consider exercise become more tiring as we age. Exercise will assist in making all of these (sitting and standing, driving, picking up objects, walking up/down stairs etc) that much easier.

Under these COVID-19 times, mental health has been largely affected. More so in the elderly generation as being cautious has created a lonelier environment.

Exercise:

Makes You Happier and more Self-confident. Health benefits seniors by releasing endorphins into the brain and reducing depression. Exercise can lighten your mood and create a sense of happiness.
Improve your sleep. Regular activity can help you fall asleep faster, sleep more deeply, and wake feeling more energetic and refreshed.
Improve your brain function. Exercise can aid brain functions as diverse as multitasking and creativity, and help to prevent memory loss, cognitive decline, and dementia.
Social Engagement. Maintaining strong social ties is important for aging adults to feel a sense of purpose and avoid feelings of loneliness or depression.

There are 3 Types of Exercise that provide benefit to Seniors:

Aerobic and Endurance Exercises. Cardio and endurance exercise increases the body’s ability to deliver oxygen and nutrients to tissues and remove waste over sustained periods of time. It is recommended to do at least 30 minutes per day.
Strength and Resistance Training. Strength training uses and builds muscles through repetitive motions. Seniors can do strength training with weights, resistance bands, and bodyweight. 2-3 strength/resistance training workouts a week will provide the greatest benefits.
Stretching and Flexibility Exercises. Stretching helps muscles warm up and cool down gradually, improves and maintains flexibility, prevents injury, and reduces muscle soreness and stiffness.

A biokineticist is the ideal professional to assist you reach all these benefits. By using scientifically established exercise programmes, we are able to monitor and aid in your reaching your goals.

Mommy time exercise routine

Posted on April 28th, 2021 by Andries Lodder

By Nicole Harran

Being a parent is a full time job – how are you supposed to fit in some exercise too now?

Well, we now have a quick and efficient way to workout and not leave your babies unattended!

A few simple movements can land up working your whole body and getting you to burn the necessary calories.

*A little tip for babies safety: to do the following exercises and include your baby, baby should be around 3-4 months and capable of holding their head up on their own.

Cardio workouts for you and your baby:

The following types of cardio are generally a slow steady state type of cardio. This means that fat is your main source of fuel. To carry out the workout your body will utilize your stored fat, aiding in weight-loss.

Performing steady state cardio for around 20 – 30 minutes a day will be highly beneficial for weight-loss and serves many health benefits.

Dancing baby: holding you baby while putting some music you enjoy on can land up being a serious workout. With the baby acting as an extra weight and the dancing will be sure to get the heart rate up, it will serve as a whole body workout and so much fun!
Walking with baby: whether baby is in a push pram or on you, walking with your baby is a great form of a cardiovascular workout and great bonding time too!
Cleaning baby: have a few house hold errands or cleaning to do? Why not tie your tiny tot to your back and let them enjoy the work with you!

Strength exercises:

Doing two to four rounds of around ten to twenty repetitions of each of these exercises will ensure to give you a full body workout! This will help tone and shape you up, getting you to where you want your body!

– Weighted lunges: Holding your baby close to your center of gravity, step forward into a lunge position and drop the back knee towards the floor (ensure to keep your core tight and push your weight through your front heel).

– Baby chest presses: Lying on your back, knees bent and baby in arms. Take your little tot from a position of lying on your chest, to pushing them up and straightening your arms. This is a fabulous exercise for your babies core!

– Squats: There are a variety of ways to do this exercise. Having your baby at your chest, on your shoulders of even on the floor in front of you can all work! Bending from the knees, using the glutes, lower back, core and legs, push your weight through your heels and keep those knees out!

– Push ups: With your baby either on the floor in front of you or lying on your back (ensure they’re stable and cant roll off)! With your baby in font this becomes a hard workout for mom and a fun game for your little one.

– Plank : Planks can be done with baby on your back or on the floor in front of you. It’s a great core workout! Make sure to not drop your hips and compromise your back!

– Hip lifts:Lying on your back with your legs bent and baba on your hips – slowly and in a controlled manner, lift your hips towards the ceiling (squeezing the glutes)! Return back down and repeat.

These are just a few exercises to get you moving at home with your baby!

For more exercises or help with getting you back into shape after having your tiny tot, do not hesitate to contact us!