Tight muscles? Feel like you need to stretch all the time? Foam rolling may be the missing piece of your puzzle! 

What is foam rolling? Foam rolling is a form of myofascial release, a technique used on skeletal muscles to decrease tightness and improve blood flow. It applies pressure to the fascia on your muscles using body weight and a foam cylinder. Foam rolling helps promote muscle recovery and improve mobility.

Diastasis Recti is the thinning of the linea alba, which is the connective tissue that runs down the middle of your rectus abdominis muscle (more commonly known as the “6-pack abs.”) This often occurs as a result of pregnancy, but can also occur in women and men due to inefficient breathing, posture, and muscle firing.

Practicing diaphragmatic breathing during pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond is one of the most foundational exercises to be focusing on for building strength. Let’s begin with talking about what the “core” is.

I am speaking directly to all those moms who are frustrated with having a year or more pass by without “feeling back to normal” yet. You nourished, grew, and carried a baby for approximately 9 months. Then, you gave birth, which is an extremely physical feat for your body to accomplish. After that, your body needed time to recover both physically and emotionally, which takes several months. This is close to a one-year journey.

The expectation placed on yourself to “bounce back” in a much shorter timeframe is unfair and unrealistic. So, if you find yourself one (or more) years postpartum and just starting to feel ready to get back into a more serious exercise routine, then you are right on track. So, what action steps can you take today to get started?

Starting a postpartum exercise routine can often feel confusing, overwhelming, and at times near impossible. My question to you is: why does beginning a postpartum fitness journey have to feel this way? Let’s talk about five ways you can make your experience more enjoyable, sustainable, and successful.