When a woman has a child, society forces immediate pressure on her to get her ‘pre-baby body back’. These conversations can be difficult to navigate, and it takes some adapting to learn how to embrace your new body and a new phase of life. If you are struggling to understand how to welcome strength into your life as a new mom, this is the episode for you.
Key TakeawaysIf You Want To Have A More Body Neutral Approach to Movement, You Should:
Create a habit of unfollowing people on social media that do not align with your goals or make you feel bad about yourself Remember who you are outside of your identity as a mother or someone who looks a certain way Find movement patterns that work for your new body and phase of life while addressing your unique symptomsMovement and Mindset for Mothers
Dara Bergeron is a veteran trainer and movement educator specializing in body-neutral movement and mindset for mothers. Through her coaching and online programs, Dara teaches women how to weed diet culture from their movement ethic and parent themselves around exercise, focusing on functional strength, mobility, and core & pelvic floor awareness.
Taking Back Your Worth
For many women, giving birth is the first time they feel their physical appearance compromises their value. Who can blame them when the patriarchy and society place a premium on your ability to procreate and how you look. Dara is on a mission to disrupt this mentality and help moms focus on bringing back parts of their identity that have nothing to do with either of those things. By reconnecting with other parts of your identity and discovering who you are outside of motherhood, the importance of your appearance begins to shrink, and in turn, you can stop wishing you had a different body and start enjoying the one you have.
Mom Bod Love
Being a mom requires a lot of physical labor. Mom bods have to be ready at a moment’s notice to jump into action when needed. This is why it is so important to use movement and strength training exercises to prepare yourself and avoid injury.
You don’t have to spend hours at the gym to achieve this either. All it takes is understanding how and why your movements matter and finding a set of exercises that work for you, your pelvic floor, and your symptoms. By creating movement patterns that work for your schedule and your new body, you can include a more well-rounded version of fitness in your life and get back to doing what you love most.
Are you ready to embrace your mom bod? Share which of Dara’s tips you are going to try with me in the comments on the episode page.
In This Episode How to navigate the minefield that women and new parents are told about their bodies (8:32) Dara’s response to those who are desperate to get their ‘pre-baby body back’ (13:23) Comparing ‘dad bods’ and ‘mom bods’ and how to find ‘mom bod love’ (18:41) The three core pillars of mobility, pelvic floor connection, and full-body strength (22:40) Tips for integrating compound movements during your home workouts (33:54)Quotes
“I just decided that I wasn’t okay being on the side of the line that was encouraging bounce-back culture and postpartum fat loss and that sort of thing. So I began shifting my own focus and my own fitness and how I worked with clients to a more body neutral approach.” (6:39)
“There is so much more to us than just that we can procreate and that we look a certain way.” (17:02)
“There is some real physical labor that a ‘mom bod’ has to be prepared to do, and it doesn’t always come up at a time when we are prepared or thinking about it. So my belief is when we are engaging in smart strength and mobility and core and pelvic floor connection work, then we are going to be prepared for those things. And it also allows us to be better parents and more active and confident parents.” (21:02)
“It can feel a little weird to think about treating that area with a professional or working with a coach on that area, but as with all aspects of your health and your body, it’s not just about the pelvic floor.” (29:13)
“The sensation of connection to the pelvic floor is feasible for everyone. And dealing with symptoms is feasible for everyone. It’s just about how you create the routine for you and the patterns and cues for you that help you feel confident.” (32:19)
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