Fit Your Life

Research shows that up to half of the functional decline we experience between age 30 and 70 is due to lack of physical activity. HALF! Wild. It is also proven that children with active parents are more likely to be active themselves. By increasing our heart rates for a minimum of 150 minutes (or 2.5 hours) per week, we can significantly decrease our risk (and therefore also our children’s risk) of over 25 chronic health conditions, including coronary heart disease, stroke, hypertension, breast cancer, colon cancer, Type 2 diabetes, and osteoporosis. Now, this all sounds well and good…but I know what you are thinking. HOW are you going to come up with 150 minutes per week to move your body enough to sweat and discover these amazing health benefits while continuing to be the best mom, wife, friend, colleague, and/or whatever other roles you carry each week? I am going to go through my best three tips on how to begin shifting your mindset on creating healthy habits while raising chil...

A full sit-up is a very practical and functional movement for moms. However, it can be challenging to achieve this full movement with optimal control and connection.  Working on the mid- and top-point of the sit-up, with focus on the eccentric contraction is a great tool that might help you progress to a full sit up. After you develop a strong foundation of core connection and are able to move with intention through breath, then we can begin to challenge our core unit in other ways.  If you have questions about how to ensure that we are using the best strategies for finding our deep core connection through various aspects of the range of motion, ask us in class or send us a note at info@fityourlifefitness.ca. Enjoy!

Did you know more than 70% of women are wearing the wrong size of bra??? I’ll give you a minute to digest that number…70%!  And here’s another fun fact for you, Brooks’ research found that 25% of women don’t work out the way that they would like to because of breast bounce.   Crazy right ?! But wait ladies! You can be a woman who has fully supported breasts.  One who never worries about breast bounce during workouts.    You can give it your all, doing the movement you love and want to do, without experiencing pain or discomfort or ever having fear that your breasts will become saggy from lack of support – YES! That is a thing.    You might be asking yourself, how? How do I find out about proper fitting sports bras and what to look for when shopping?    How do I know if my sports bra is fitting correctly?    I have compiled all of the information you will need to know to answer these very important ques...

March was a very exciting time around our household. My husband and I talked about having another baby and being 34, we decided to try for another baby relatively quickly after Arlo turned 1. So when I couldn’t quite catch my breath while climbing stairs and teaching Mom & Me Fit classes at Fit Your Life in March, I figured I might be pregnant. It took 4 pregnancy tests, but my suspicious were confirmed towards the end of March – we were expecting baby number 2. Photo Credit: Roughley Originals If you read my previous blog post , you’ll know that I sustained fourth degree tears during my vaginal birth with Arlo. Recovery was long, slow, and at times, really frustrating. But I did recover well with the help of several pelvic floor physiotherapists and some patience. Would I want to or be able to deliver vaginally with a second baby? Could my pelvic floor sustain trauma during pregnancy? What was the best way to preserve the function and strength of my pelvic floor dur...

Good morning Mamas! How are you feeling today? Rested? Exhausted? Exhilarated after the weekend? Dreading something upcoming this week? However you currently feel, do you know that by moving for 30 minutes today, you will feel better?! Thank you to Annika, of Born To Be Adventurous , who has asked me to lead this month’s Real Talk Series! Each week, on Monday, I post something related to motherhood and staying fit! Make sure to check out her amazing Born To Be Adventurous Mamas Facebook group where you can read all my posts, share with other adventuring mamas what is keeping you active, and also plan meet-ups in your community! Research shows that up to half of the functional decline we experience between age 30 and 70 is due to lack of physical activity. HALF! Wild. It is also proven that children with active parents are more likely to be active themselves. By increasing our heart rates for a minimum of 2.5 hours per week, we can significantly decrease our risk (and theref...

We are open!!! What an amazing day celebrating Fit Your Life 's third birthday and the official opening of our new studio space.  The day was filled with mini sweat sessions to sample our new Signature Classes, delicious treats from a few of our favourite places, hot coffee to sip on while meeting new friends and catching up with old ones, and of course many sweaty hugs! We are incredibly grateful for the many that were able to share the day with us in person and also for all of the incredible love that was sent via digital means! It is true what they say, it takes a village and we feel extremely blessed to have you as part of ours! For those who have not had the chance to pop in  yet, Edmonton's first studio dedicated to prenatal and postpartum fitness is located on the second floor at 6563 Gateway Blvd NW. Check our our new Signature Classes here and the full schedule here . Register for your class here! Here are a few photos of Fit Your Life's third birthday an...

Just over three years ago, the idea of Fit Your Life bringing specialized fitness classes to the women of Edmonton was born as a result of the desire to combine my passion, curiosity, and interest of the immense physical and emotional changes that occur during the pre- and postnatal periods and how an increased level of fitness can affect this beautiful transformation. When I think about all that I have learned in the last three years, I smile. Welcomed advice from business-savvy friends and support from those who navigate social media with more finesse than I have made this learning curve more enjoyable!  36 months ago, Fit Your Life group fitness classes began by offering a six week pre-registered session for both Mom & Me Fit and Prenatal Fit; with four and seven participants, respectively. Since that time, 400+ women have attended classes, we have welcomed over 100 Fit Babies, and we have inspired so many to find their best self amongst the chaos that can be the ...

I love early morning workouts. Seriously. Yes, I have always been known as a morning person and really prefer to do anything first thing in the morning rather than in the evening! After becoming a mom, my routine had to shift and expectations had to change. As an early riser, I have began raising early risers, so if I want to fully embrace the morning and exercise alone I must wake at 5am! Is this easy? No! do I do this every day? No way! Am I thankful when I do? Heck yes! Exercising first thing in the morning boosts my energy, mood, and patience for the entire day. How does one come to make this a sustainable habit - to get up early and move first thing in the morning? Here are my best tips!! Prepare for success a) Set out your workout and your “regular” outfits the night before. This way you don’t have to think about your clothes in the morning – just get dressed! b) Have your coffee and breakfast ready. We grind our beans and prep our coffee maker at nigh...