Friday 28 August 2015

Pregnancy fitness with Joanna Helcke

If you've been reading my bump updates you will know that I have had all good intentions of exercising this pregnancy but as the weeks go by I just haven't seemed to have the motivation or energy for it. So you may now start laughing at the fact that at 28 weeks pregnant I have decided to exercise. 

I was approached to try out and review a new online fitness programme by Joanna Helcke who is a multi award winning pregnancy and post natal fitness expert. You can find out more about her here, Joanna Helcke. It seemed an obvious solution for me due to the fact that it's an online programme and therefore I could do it from the comfort of my own home. 

The programme can be started at any point in your pregnancy as it is completely tailored to your needs (which is why i've started at 28 weeks). It is £12 per month (you'll get your first 2 weeks free) and you aren't tied into any contract, so you can cancel your membership whenever. This covers a new video which is unlocked at each week of your pregnancy, meal planning and recipes to help you with your nutritional needs, constant support and access to all of what is available in her online community.

Signing up to the programme is easy and stress free. It's takes about 5-10 minutes. There is a lengthy medical/health questionnaire for you to complete but this is so that your videos can be tailored around any medical issues that you have.

To complete a workout you need a yoga mat and pillow although these are not essential. The workouts are between 20 minutes and half an hour which is a good recommended amount to try and exercise in a day. I have to say that I have found it difficult to get some alone time every day to complete a video. I find I am having to exercise at night and therefore I am quite tired. I am also finding it very difficult to do something every day. 

I've only completed the weeks 28 and 29 programmes a handful of times due to chasing around after my toddler and having some very long shifts in work. I am hoping that over the next few weeks I will be able to get more time to exercise as I know it will be beneficial for me.




I have found that the videos are more of a relaxation/stretching exercise routine as opposed to active fitness. I can't decide at the moment whether I think that's a good or bad thing. Before I was pregnant I used to enjoy high intensity forms of exercise such as kettlebells etc so for me I almost don't feel like I am exercising. On the other side of that, I do feel like I am having a very good stretch and I am enjoying how calm and relaxed the videos make me feel. I am having difficulty with my hips at the moment so the workouts are definitely helping me move and stretch those. 




I will give you another review in a week or so to let you know how i've been getting on and whether I feel it has been beneficial or not. I will also bring you a post on some tips from Joanna about the do's and don'ts of exercising during pregnancy so keep your eyes peeled for those.




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8 comments

  1. I didn't exercise either - and regret it a bit now. The other thing I didn't do and wish I had was pelvic floor exercises!

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  2. Is doing those excersizes the reason you look so good x

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  3. I'm another one who didn't excercise in pregnancy mainly due to not having classes near me and having other children so this sounds a great idea :)

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  4. Love the idea of an online programme. Will be interested to see how you feel about it as time goes on. :)

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  5. I wish I'd exercised more and got back to it after having the kids! I only did during my first pregnancy. Now my youngest is 3 I really have to get back to it! x

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  6. Oh I so need to exercise more! I didn't through any of my 4 pregnancies - It isn't on my priority list :/ Kaz x

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  7. Great to read your review of my online programme. You are right that the workouts focus very much on being relaxing but whilst being very gentle, their ultimate goal is to maintain the tone of your deep core muscles through the moves. This helps the abdominals recover more quickly postnatally and also protects against back pain. Keep up the great work and see how you get on :)

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  8. This sounds like a great idea! I'd definitely consider it if baby 2 happens. I'm not great at keeping up with exercise anyway, so having something to do at home, that will keep me active (but perhaps not too strenuous) will be great x

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