Intro from Kiley: I recently got to chat with local baby mama, lifelong dancer, health coach, and fitness pro, Michelle Weber, who splits her time between NYC & The Hamptons, teaching, coaching and providing pre and post-natal training. I was so captivated with her work and approach to fitness, birth, and life, that I just had to share with you. Since I have yet to step into the world of motherhood myself, I asked Michelle to write an article about what it is she does. Read all about her work here and be sure to check out her Integrated Fusion Fun & GYROKINESIS® classes at DanceHampton this summer! Learn more about Michelle and sign up for classes via her Facebook page or email: Michelle@MichelleWeber.com. Classes cost $35 each but YOU get $10 off your first class when you email her – see you there!!

Pre-natal Training is such an inspiring and wonderful time. I begin working with moms-to-be (planning to get pregnant) and newly pregnant moms all the time and am so inspired to help guide these women through their pregnancies feeling strong, active and ready for the finish line….birth! From the moment you actually become pregnant, everything begins to change. Your muscle tone changes, your pelvic cavity reacts differently, and so on.

It is sometimes an odd time for the mom-to-be, to know what is “good” to do, and what is not. There is a lot of conflicting information out in the world about how to safely prepare for birthing while training your body. That is the way I look at it, “safely preparing the body to give birth.” Through each stage, I cater the session and progression to the woman in front of me and how she is feeling in her pregnancy. Each trimester brings about new changes. Strength, length, and support are key to feeling great, as well as helping to create space in the body for both mom and baby to feel comfortable. The goal is to maintain a level of fitness, but also to prepare mom’s body, mind, and emotions to do what is most important…give birth. I love being able to exercise with my moms and help them to feel confident that what they are doing is really benefiting the journey they are about to embark upon. It is proven that performing an intelligent exercise regime during pregnancy can also help the body to begin to heal faster once that beautiful baby is born.

Post-Natal Training. Let me begin with my definition of what a “post-natal” client is…any woman who has ever given birth! Sometimes I meet women that have children that are a little bit older, and they assume that they wouldn’t be considered “post-natal”. Not in my book! If you have had children, one year, two years, 10 years ago…you are post-natal, especially if you have not taken the time to address the internal changes that occurred in your body following the birthing process.

As a woman who has experienced pregnancy, birth, and motherhood, I absolutely adore the process of healing and strengthening women’s bodies from the ‘Inside Out.=,’ my specialty for the past seven years. It is a special process that coincides with one of the greatest life changes we will ever make. It is my goal to guide women back to a place where their bodies heal and function fully. We begin with deep core training to reprogram the muscles of the pelvis, spine, core, and diaphragm. I specialize in pelvic floor training and also the closing of a split of the Diastasis (rectus). The earlier I begin to work with a post-natal client, the easier it is to heal and repair, but it can be done at any stage.

It takes a lot of strength and stamina to be a mom, so endurance training comes next, but no matter what, we start by finding the foundation to create movement for endurance training. The more powerful and comfortable a woman feels in her body, the better she can function in life! We are not re-creating your pre-pregnancy body, you are a whole new woman now. We are creating a newer, upgraded version that now embodies all that you are. Harnessing the power to create life gives that core even more power!

I love teaching women to really move to continue their training as they get stronger. My integration of dance in my work and my classes creates a sense of ownership, freedom, and femininity. Dance allows for a fun way to get the cardio in that doesn’t feel like work. It is not easy, but when done right…it is quality over quantity for sure!!!

We all know that a mom’s time is limited and quite valuable! Use your time to harness that greatness inside; your Dream Body!

One Healthy Breakdown: is it weird that Michelle makes me want to have a baby just to work with her?! I’ll just stick with her fitness classes for now…but one day…!