Mothers who use Apple products may enjoy a batch of seven new workout videos launched for the latest Apple Fitness+ program called "Get Back to Fitness After Having a Baby."
The new workout series, which can be viewed via the Apple Fitness+ app, includes easy-to-follow exercises that focus on the mother's core, strength, and mindfulness through breathing techniques, pelvic floor workout, upper or lower body exercises, and gentle movements. The routines have been designed to help new moms feel more energetic and stronger as they face the challenges and demands as a parent of a newborn.
Apple Fitness+ has retained Filipina trainer Betina Gozo as the face of the new exercise program, alongside trainers and mothers Marimba Gold-Watts and Jonelle Lewis. Gozo is familiar to Apple Watch moms as she was also part of the prenatal workout series called "Stay Active During Pregnancy."
The Trainer is Also Getting Back in Shape Postpartum
Gozo was pregnant for the first time in early 2021 when she filmed the prenatal exercises. In June of the same year, the happy mom welcomed daughter Aluna Rose Shimonek with her husband, Nic Shimonek, a former NFL quarterback.
She started working on the "Get Back to Fitness After Having a Baby" videos a few months after having Aluna and came up with a program that provides different phases depending on the mother's comfort level and postpartum experience. The exercises also encourage the moms to be in tune with their bodies and follow the routines at their own pace.
Each video is at least 10 minutes long and may be done in the comforts of the bedroom, the living room, or in an actual fitness studio. Even dads may also pick up a few exercise tips or two from watching the videos.
"I'm so excited to share this program to ensure you have a great place to start postpartum - with a series of Core, Strength and Mindful Cooldown workouts designed to help new mothers feel stronger and more energetic as they take on the daily demands of parenthood," Gozo said on her Instagram. "At 9 months postpartum, I am STILL incorporating the Core workouts into my daily training. So stoked to help you!"
The Apple Fitness+ app was launched as a subscription-based service in December 2020 at the height of the pandemic lockdowns, when gym visits were restricted. Aside from the programs for mothers, the app also has other fitness episodes for outdoor enthusiasts and runners.
The Struggles of Working Out After Having a Baby
Many moms might take over a year to get their bodies back to normal after giving birth, so they are likely not motivated to exercise. However, busy mom Julie Macklowe, who runs her own cosmetics company in New York, told Harper's Bazaar that it's still possible to start working out if a mother has the discipline and the proper schedule.
SoulCycle founder Elizabeth Cutler also struggled to lose pregnancy weight when she had her first baby in 2006. But she realized that to become the best parent to her child, she has also to focus and prioritize her health and strength, which is why she developed SoulCycle.
Both moms believe they do not have to aim for a slim physique right away. Dr. Laura Riley of the Massachusetts General Hospital said that the sooner moms realize that slimming down after pregnancy can take some time, the sooner they feel better about themselves.
