Being a mom, especially a new mom, can be scary and challenging. Local franchise Fit4Mom Bryan College Station seeks to empower moms and connect through physical, mental, and emotional health.
“We really strive to bring a community aspect for moms,” says owner of Fit4Mom B/CS Lauren Wolfe. “We definitely bring the aspect of connecting you with other moms who are in the same chapter of life. Then our classes are specifically designed to be appropriate for all stages of motherhood.” This includes pregnant, newly postpartum, or years beyond postpartum.
Fit4Mom provides workouts Monday through Saturday, designed to meet the needs of each mom, no matter their stage of motherhood or level of fitness. Most workouts also incorporate the kids, too, so moms don’t have to worry about arranging for child care. It also gives the kids an opportunity to build their own community of friends.
The different classes offered are Stroller Strides, Strides 360, Fit4Baby, Body Back Transformation Course, and a summer run club.
Stroller Strides incorporates the stroller (and kiddo) in each full-body workout — Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Strides 360 is a cardio class with strength, agility, and quickness training, which Wolfe says is a great compliment to running. The Fit4Baby class on Mondays is for expecting moms only, and other kids are not allowed. The Body Back Transformation course is an eight-week commitment small group, where the focus is high intensity interval training with a nutritional aspect to help postpartum moms. Finally, the summer run club is a six-week mini course.
“We are just friendly, inviting, no judgement, you can come however you are, your outfit doesn’t have to have to match, we don’t care, very laid back in that sense,” says Wolfe.
In addition to the workouts, Fit4Mom has village events like field trips, mom’s night out, and crafts on Fridays. “That’s free for anyone to attend,” says Wolfe. “You don’t have to have a membership with us to do those types of events.”
The community aspect of Fit4Mom is important not only for the mommas, but for the kiddos as well.
“It was so welcoming right off the bat from my very first class,” Wolfe explains. “I just felt like the coaches and the other women there really wanted to get to know me and my kiddo and they’ve just become some of my greatest friends and I just love that everyone who is a part of our village wants to reach out to all of our moms here in Bryan College Station. We just want you to know that if you’re struggling at all being a new parent or a new mom and trying to find your place in our community that we would love for you to come hang out with us and just spend some time. Because that is truly, truly what we are all about. We just want people to know that you’re not alone in this journey and it can be tough, for sure.”
Every trainer at Fit4Mom goes through a foundations course and format training through the national headquarters, backed by ACE certifications, Wolfe explains. Each trainer is also CPR certified for adults and pediatrics. The B/CS location also includes in-house training for form and presentation. The trainers really focus on having in-depth knowledge of what the body goes through during and after pregnancy, as well as how to exercise postpartum. “A lot of our members appreciate that we take notice of those things and make sure we get modifications for our pregnant mommas and that sort of thing,” she says.
Wolfe encourages everyone to at least give Fit4Mom a try. “You don’t know your own strength,” she says. “A lot of moms say, ‘I haven’t worked out since high school and I’m afraid.’ Our instructors, we’ve all been there, one. And we are all certified to help you go at your own pace. We are not a typical gym fitness organization where we expect people to be at a certain level. Throughout our entire classes we provide modifications because we want you to honor your body.”
Fit4Mom offers several free classes throughout the year for mommas to try before becoming a member. Additionally, anyone can try a class for free once before joining. As businesses continue to reopen amidst COVID-19 restrictions, Fit4Mom plans on continuing virtual classes throughout the summer, while offering in-person options for those comfortable joining.
Not only does Fit4Mom provide a great community and a healthy lifestyle, but it also emphasizes support through mental health. Several moms who have joined dealt with postpartum depression or anxiety.
“They will say [Fit4Mom] was an [integral] part of helping them move through that period in their life, and now they are an advocate for taking care of yourself and self-care, as well as taking care of your body,” says Wolfe. “That is definitely a main motivator of why we show up and do this every day because we want moms to know there’s a place for them here and to know they are not alone in any of those struggles.”
For more information on Fit4Mom Bryan College Station, visit www.collegestation.fit4mom.com.
