My New Mum Best Buy For You

Cynthia Young

I absolutely love using a foam roller in classes and for myself.

But, I did not fully appreciate it until I became a mum of 2.  I now recommend all my pregnant clients buy a foam roller so they can self massage during pregnancy and have one ready to release those tiered achy muscles once caring for their baby.

Time really is precious and despite the aches in our lower backs, hips, pelvises, shoulders, knees, neck managing any personal self care above a haircut can be tricky let alone shaving our legs when you're a new mum.  When it's really bad we might make it to the Chiropracter, Ostepath or Physio for the odd visit but a regular/routine maintenance of good movement and massage is just not going to happen for most of us.

Despite using them in classes a physio had to tell me to just lie on the roller and breathe, and I have been passing on this advice ever since.  Thank you Alison Hull http://www.richmondparkclinic.uk/team/.  I really cannot recommend highly enough the benefit to simply lying on the roller, allowing your body to relax and focusing on your breath even just for a minute or two.  It can really help to open your chest, connect you to your body and give you a moment to relax.

The foam roller can be used for self massage, to add a stability challenge or to aid movement.  Longer and more classes using the foam roller are available on the website www.sharepilates.com.

This weekend's 10 minute work is perfect for postnatal ladies, beginners and anyone looking to stretch out their spine.

When you take your pelvis off the end of the foam roller only have as much of your pelvis off as is comfortable for you, and if you don't want to extend your spine then don't!

I use a 36" x  6" foam roller available from places like The Physical Company, Amazon and even supermarkets seem to have them sometimes.

I really cannot recommend the foam roller enough as a prop worth having and not leaving under your bed!

Enjoy your weekend and let me know what you think or if there is anything in particular you would like to see.  Next week I will add a more challenging short workout with the foam roller as well as a quick release series that will be suitable for all.

Cynthia