If you’ve ever been to your local mall before it officially opens, you’ve probably seen the following: dim lights, employees getting ready for the day and accordion-style doors barring you from entering your favorite stores.
But for a group of local moms, this image is one of opportunity and community — an opportunity to connect with like-minded moms wanting to prioritize their wellness.
Whether you’re a first time mom or a mother of multiples, finding a reason to get out of the house and prioritize yourself can be challenging — but momtrepreneur Jillian Hess works to break some of those boundaries.
Six months ago, Hess became the owner of FIT4MOM Longmeadow — a mother-oriented fitness group that invites mothers to bring their kids with them to their workouts while connecting with other moms there for the same reason.
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“We are absolutely dedicated to building a mom community — it already exists but we’re just trying to expand it,” Hess said.
“We have workouts where you can bring your kids. It makes it totally accessible for all moms in our area to not require childcare to actually get their movement in.”
FIT4MOM Longmeadow members gather in front of ROUND1 at the Holyoke Mall for a Stroller Barre session.MassLive
When the weather is 40 degrees or warmer the women gather outside for class. But in the cooler months, they meet up at local malls including Enfield and Holyoke.
Helping moms find strength
FIT4MOM is a nationwide franchise with over 200 chapters across the country, including two in Massachusetts — FIT4MOM Longmeadow and FIT4MOM North Shore.
“We have certified teachers teaching these classes and you can bring your kids along with you, which is really a highlight,” Hess said.
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FIT4MOM Longmeadow offers a series of different fitness classes designed to meet the mother wherever she’s at in her fitness journey.
Stroller-based classes, such as Stroller Barre, Stroller Strides and Strides 360 cater to moms with littles who are in strollers.
FIT4MOM Longmeadow owner Jillian Hess.Courtesy of Jillian Hess
These classes incorporate the use of strollers such as group walks, sprints to and from strollers and more.
FIT4MOM Longmeadow Stroller Barre instructor Bree Desmarias said the organization teaches its instructors to incorporate exercises in their routines that target muscles mothers need to be strong for preforming “all of those lovely motherhood duties,” like lifting baby carriers.
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“That’s why we do those biceps curls, to be able to have the strength to pick up those baby carriers,” Desmarias said. “So a lot of our workouts are helping moms find that strength in motherhood.”
Being a mother-based fitness group, some of the benefits mothers have of joining FIT4MOM is having an opportunity to connect with other moms and workouts that meet the mom where they’re at in their fitness journey.
From right to left is Stroller Barre instructor Bree Desmarais joined by FIT4MOM members incorporating their strollers into their workout routine.MassLive
“So if that is a newly postpartum mama, we give modifications where you don’t want to incorporate too much core as her body is recovering from childbirth,” Desmarais said.
Stepping up
FIT4MOM also offers classes that range in intensity and follow both the progression of mothers and their children.
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According to Hess, many moms “end up kind of graduating into the more mom-based classes that are moms only.”
While part of it may be that their children are no longer in strollers, another part of it is that as the children grow up, the moms’ and their families’ schedules change, so FIT4MOM tries to accommodate those changes.
One of those accommodations includes offering a nighttime class where “maybe the kids are already in bed or in that routine and the mom can sneak out,” Hess said.
Shown are a pair of little feet overhanging a stroller of one of children joining their mom for a Stroller Barre session. Instructor Bree Desmarais is prepared with yoga mats for participants.MassLive
One option is a Body Boost class which is “a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workout designed to challenge, empower and energize you.”
The Body Boost program combines cardio, strength training, core work and meditation for a total body workout targeting your physical and mental wellbeing.
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Mothers have the option of joining FIT4MOM as a member or signing up for individual classes.
FIT4MOM Longmeadow serves the Greater-Springfield area and beyond, Hess said.
To join or learn more about FIT4MOM and your local chapter, you can find a schedule and contact information online here.
