It
is amazing to see the difference being physically active while pregnant
can make for both mother and child. The women we have seen do this feel great
physically and mentally. They gain weight healthily, experience less back pain, decrease their chances of getting gestational diabetes (in other words, pregnancy-related diabetes), keep their blood pressure in check, have a greater
chance of natural delivery, and seem to always be in a great mood!
One of our participants shared:
Exercising is no guarantee that during pregnancy, a woman will not encounter health challenges, but it helps reduce the risk. There are also benefits for the baby. Evidence suggests that babies whose mothers engaged in aerobic exercise during pregnancy have more mature brains than those who were sedentary. Many of the wonderful benefits of exercise are shared between the mother and the baby!
Building Core Strength: Vital for improving balance, supporting your baby bump, and reducing back pain while also focusing on the prevention and improvement of diastasis recti. Our exercises are designed to safely strengthen the core, helping to heal separation and regain pelvic floor strength after birth.
Endurance Enhancement: Boost your energy and stamina to thrive during pregnancy and handle the demands of motherhood with grace.
Posture Improvement: Counteract the postural changes of pregnancy, alleviate discomfort, and enhance alignment and postpartum posture when holding and caring for your baby.
Injury Risk Reduction: Our targeted exercises strengthen and stabilize your body, helping to prevent common pregnancy-related and postpartum injuries.
In our supportive and energizing environment, moms-to-be participate in safe and effective workouts guided by experts attuned to their needs. Our program is not only about physical fitness; it's a space to connect with fellow mothers, share experiences, and grow stronger together.
The fitness class structure includes a warm-up, full body circuit-style exercises using light weights and resistance bands, exercises and stretching on a mat, and breathing exercises.
Picture source: Bigstock
Meet Your Support Team
Marie
Marie is a yoga teacher and functional fitness coach, specializing in pre- and postnatal training, she believes that women benefit from staying active during pregnancy. As a mom of three, two of which are identical twins, Marie has experienced both natural and C-section births. She is well suited to accompany women with empathy and motivation in their pregnancy and postpartum journey.
Dr. Deborah Ma
TCM Physician
Dr. Deb specializes in sports injuries and pain management, including musculoskeletal and neurological issues. A graduate of the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine (BUCM) with both a master's and PhD, she practices at Beijing United Family Hospital and Clinics, offering treatments in herbal medicine, acupuncture, and Subcutaneous Fu Needling (SFN). SFN can help treat insomnia, digestive and mental health issues, as well as support women's and children’s health.
Jackie Gao
Nutrition Consultant, Accredited Practicing Dietitian (APD), Registered Dietitian (RD)
Ms. Jackie Gao graduated from the University of Sydney (Australia) with a Master of Nutrition and Dietetics degree. Before joining Beijing United Family Hospital and Clinics, she was a Senior Dietitian at Sydney Children’s Hospital and one of the few dietitians in Australia and New Zealand who specialized in using the ketogenic diet to treat intractable epilepsy in children. Ms. Gao is a new mother with over ten years of clinical experience in nutrition management.
Melissa Rodriguez
United Family Patient Outreach & Education Manager
As Patient Outreach and Education Manager with more than 15 years of experience in healthcare, Melissa is a health and wellness educator. She teaches, inspires, and motivates people to transform their lives. She graduated from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (CCNM) in 2005. Melissa has witnessed the power of lifestyle changes and believes that optimal health is a goal we can all achieve with appropriate support, education, and guidance.
Your Fit Moms Prenatal Program includes:
“I will be offering a workshop about healthy eating, what to eat and what not to eat, key nutritional supplements, tips for pregnant women with gestational diabetes, and more.”
-Jackie Gao
A TCM group class with Dr. Deborah Ma, Ph.D. (USA):
“Through my session, you will understand how your energy changes during pregnancy, learn how to deal with discomfort during this period, and use TCM to support a healthy pregnancy.”
-Dr. Deb
A lifestyle group class with Melissa Rodriguez. N.D. (Canada) (partners welcome):
“Learn about building healthy habits during pregnancy that will help you and your baby thrive. We tackle stress management, movement, and the importance of the breath.”
-Melissa Rodriguez
In addition:
Unlimited priority access to Cultivating Health, Melissa’s online weekly group sessions – themes change monthly, while topics change weekly.
One-time priority access to birthing class booking (prenatal) (partners welcome) – two weekend mornings.
If
you are considering joining our program, do not hesitate to sign up for a trial
session.
Contact us for a
trial session or if you have any questions:
Reference:
Exercise during pregnancy enhances cerebral maturation in the newborn: A randomized controlled trial
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27622854/
Beijing United Family Rehabilitation Hospital has a multidisciplinary team of medical professionals who provide comprehensive outpatient and inpatient rehabilitation services.
Our team includes highly proficient rehabilitation
physicians, professional therapists from around the world, experienced
rehabilitation nurses, TCM doctors, psychologists, clinical
pharmacists, recreational therapists, registered dieticians, and case
managers. We are committed to always providing individualized, high-quality rehabilitation services and to protecting your health, privacy, and dignity.
