At certain spots in Morgan Hill, up to a couple dozen young
mothers can be seen some mornings lined up along their strollers,
doing pushups, squats, lunges and other activities one might
witness in a gym, while singing tunes such as
”
Row, Row, Row Your Boat.
”
At certain spots in Morgan Hill, up to a couple dozen young mothers can be seen some mornings lined up along their strollers, doing pushups, squats, lunges and other activities one might witness in a gym, while singing tunes such as “Row, Row, Row Your Boat.”
In between verses, the adult organizer of the group counts out the repetitions and shouts motivational words to the outdoor stroller exercise class known as Motherhood Fitness.
Started about a year ago by Morgan Hill resident and longtime fitness enthusiast Crystal Erickson, Motherhood Fitness is designed to help women who recently had children to lose their “baby weight,” while at the same time letting their babies socialize with kids their age and enjoying the sunny outdoors.
“I can bring my baby – it’s very baby-friendly,” said Stephanie Nelson, whose son Easton is about 5 months old and attends classes with her. “I don’t have to leave him to go to the gym. And he gets to interact with other babies. And it’s nice to be around other moms and be fit.”
Nelson has participated in the Motherhood Fitness regimen for about a month, and tries to attend three of the four scheduled 60-minute classes per week. She heard about the group from the local play group Las Madres, as other class members have.
Started by Erickson in June 2009, the exercise group uses natural and public landscapes to tone different muscle groups and lose weight. On Mondays they alternate between Anderson Lake County Park and downtown Morgan Hill, where they push their strollers up Third Street while taking long, lunging steps. On Wednesdays they meet at the Morgan Hill Library, rolling their children as far up El Toro Mountain’s paved eastern face as they can.
Last Wednesday, they climbed about 1.5 miles’ worth of the steep grades around the library, and then retreated to Erickson’s home for a play date for the kids. Other days they recover from their workout by watching the children frolic together in nearby parks.
On Friday mornings the mothers and children work out at Paradise Park, and Saturdays draw a smaller-than-usual group for intensive circuit training at Morgan Hill Community Park.
Singing “Old McDonald” or “The ABCs” – and other baby favorites – helps calm the kids when they become impatient.
“They get fussy, so we keep them entertained,” Erickson said.
About 25 mothers are enrolled in Motherhood Fitness, which charges participants by the class or a monthly rate. Not all those who are signed up attend every class, Erickson explained.
For the class fee, Erickson provides direction and motivation to the mothers, advising them on the correct form for each exercise, healthy lifestyle and eating habits, and motivational e-mails.
Constantly bursting with energy, Erickson is working on her group fitness certification, and her extensive background in athletics includes playing on the volleyball team at Eastern Oregon University, completing three marathons, three triathlons and a number of half-marathons. She is also certified in first-aid and CPR for infants, children and adults.
She has also coached high school sports, and she used to be an elementary school teacher. Her son Brody is about 18 months old.
This combination of maternal, teaching and athletic instincts, plus her desire to see others benefit from the results of her guidance inspired her to start Motherhood Fitness.
“I want to give them the best workout I can,” Erickson said. “It’s not just a workout class. It’s a social network to get (the adults) out of the house. And it allows the babies to get to know each other.”
They occasionally meet just to play, taking the kids to Gilroy Gardens or Happy Hollow zoo in San Jose.
Some members who joined just to lose weight but didn’t have a regular fitness regimen before having children, have taken up running and other activities on their own. Some have run in 5K and 10K races, and are planning to run in the Morgan Hill half-marathon in September.
About 12 Motherhood Fitness participants ran, with their babies and strollers, in the Independence Day 5K in Morgan Hill.
Lindsay Hessling and her 10-month-old son Henry joined Motherhood Fitness about five months ago. Before she had her son, she used to work out “all the time,” but couldn’t find the time to exercise the first few months after Henry was born.
Hessling praises the program for its focus on a healthy lifestyle for mothers, and for keeping the women “accountable” for exercising. Plus, it sets a good example for the children who observe their moms taking care of themselves.
“I lost my baby weight, and I’m in better shape now than I was when I was going to the gym,” Hessling said. “And he loves being in the stroller now.”
