BUILDING A BRIDGE OF MOMMYMUSCLE®, ONE MOM AT A TIME

As a new mom, I felt really lonely, isolated & sad. I didn’t know any other moms and craved some mom-to-mom interaction. I tried to reach out to other moms by attending various activities planned by the plethora of local moms clubs & groups in my area, but I really struggled to make a connection with anyone. Everyone kept to their little group and nobody seemed very warm & welcoming of a newcomer. In addition, there was non-stop drama and constant cattiness. Needless to say, my need for other mom friends quickly became a feeling of desperation. I began to think that what I was looking for didn’t exist and gave up trying to find it.

Shortly thereafter, I bought a franchise of StrollerFit® Exercise with Your Baby™, with the intent that it would give me a chance to get back in shape and allow me to continue staying home with my daughter. In the 2½ years I’ve had the privilege of teaching StrollerFit® classes, I’ve never really given a second thought to the bridge that all StrollerFit owners are building within their own communities, one mom at a time.

I had a huge A-HA moment this week when I looked around after class. The moms were talking, laughing & sharing stories. In the background, the kids were playing StrollerFit®! Three of the toddlers had figured out how to link their tubes together and started singing “Row Row Row Your Boat,” imitating a segment we did in class. My daughter was leading another child in a set of “Kiss Your Baby Push-Ups” and not only was she doing them, but CUEING the other little girl as to how to do them properly!

It is in moments like this that I take pride in knowing that as a company, StrollerFit® is not just about helping moms get back in shape, it’s also about helping moms find a sense of community. It was in that same moment that I realized the company tag line, “building strong, confident kids by building strong, confident moms,” isn’t just describing the exercise but also the empowerment that the moms & babies receive as a result of attending classes on a regular basis.

I thought I was building a small, home-based fitness business which enables me to be with my daughter, but as I watched the moms interact, I came to realize that StrollerFit® isn’t just a fitness class for them or for me—it’s a network of moms who genuinely care about one another, support and help each other. Then it occurred to me…they, too, struggled to find their respective places in this sub-culture we call motherhood and they found what they needed in StrollerFit®. I was overtaken by emotion because the realization was so powerful. I have never allowed myself to believe that I could really make a difference in the lives of these women. I just show up everyday and teach the best class I can. However, none of these women would have met if it wasn’t for StrollerFit®. I feel so fulfilled and proud of what this group of moms represents to me, to each other and to other moms who are looking to fill that empty cup.

StrollerFit® powered by mommymuscle® offers new & expectant moms three different fitness classes: StrollerFit®, restore the core™ and mommymuscle™Sculpt with Babyweight. To learn more visit: www.strollerfit.com.

Are you Powered by mommymuscle?

Finding StrollerFit powered by mommymuscle was a defining moment in my life, but I didn't know that when I bought my franchise. I had just had a baby and lost a job that I loved. I needed to have something for myself so I could regain my self-worth. Almost 3 years later, I've realized a few things:

1) It may sound cliche, but being a mom is the best job I've ever had.

2) The moms who attend my StrollerFit and restore the core classes are the women I look up to. I've learned so much from them and I learn something new from them every day.

3) Teaching a StrollerFit or restore the core class every day has helped me attain fitness goals I never thought I'd ever accomplish; I am running my 3rd half marathon in a few weeks!

4) If you're a new and/or expectant mom, you owe it to yourself to give StrollerFit a try. You'll be glad you did.