Two-year-olds make excellent associates of training session. I discovered this after test of a new programme of physical form in the shopping centre just of valley of San Jose which combines the power going, formation of force and the exercises of floor for moms and poussette-leap to them of the children.
I'm not a mother, but for my mommy friends and a pregnant sister who will be itching to lose her baby weight after she delivers, I was willing to give Stroller Strides a whirl. The class sounded promising and fun -- even for a baby-less single gal -- especially on a stormy Thursday when I had missed my morning run.
Wendy Johnston, a Menlo Park mother of two, opened the Silicon Valley franchise of the national chain at several outdoor locations three years ago and began classes at Valley Fair in January. Johnston guaranteed I would feel the burn.
I caught up to the stroller clan at 9 a.m., an hour before the stores open. So I could get the true experience, Ana Daz, a regular, was happy to lend me her son Diego, an amiable 2-year-old in a sturdy jogging stroller. Daz kept Diego happy by working out by my side. With my munchkin workout buddy to push around, I was ready to hit the retail pavement.
I was skeptical. A 60-minute, full-body routine so efficient that we could entertain children, gab with friends and go window shopping? Would I really break a sweat? Our group of six motivated moms and nine kids gathered in a circle in front of the Sanrio store, the usual meeting spot. Deborah Crews, our perky instructor, led us with a warm-up of touch-step footwork followed by arm, leg and waist stretches.
"A lot of us can't afford gyms or don't want to leave our kids in day care to exercise," said Johnston, who bought into the franchise after quitting her job as a medical device sales manager to become a stay-at-home mom. "If we can be with them, get a workout and have a built-in social network, it's a win-win."
Lower-in classes are $15, or 10 per $120. The moms meet also from time to time apart from class for the club of book, the dinners, the walks of thermal spa or the rises. After a pre-heating 10 minute, is used as team-member separated in a sharp walk with its heavy walker and children, of two-seater, Chloe, 2, and Hailey, 8 months, in the towing. The remainder of us trailed behind in a beeline transporting in cart after Starbucks, Kenneth Cole and the store of Apple, because the curious store clerks looked at above.
Our first strength training stop: a corridor near Nordstrom where we parked our buggies in a line and took our places in front of our respective kids. We leaned against a wall in a sitting position working our thighs and glutes. "Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes!" the mothers sang in unison, maintaining their sitting stances while gesturing with their hands through the air.
"Eyes and ears and mouth and nose. ... Head, shoulders, knees and toes!" The tots, who ranged in age from 8 months to 3 years old, sat in their strollers gurgling and giggling, amused at the site of an impromptu mommy chorus. A couple of squirmy toddlers who were set loose to explore looked mesmerized by the nearby escalators. One mom kept careful watch so they wouldn't bolt up the moving stairs.
Two-year-old Ben Peters stood near his stroller, mimicking his mom, Pam Peters, 35, who was pointing to her toes. It was an energetic scene of organized chaos. After six minutes of propping myself against a wall and singing to Diego, I felt my knees getting weak and slid down to the floor for a quick break. The rest of the gang stuck it out for several more minutes. I enjoy a good run a few times a week, but did I forget to ever flex those muscles?
Johnston was right: I was already feeling the burn! Crews, 34, directed the striders to strap the babes back in and push our way around the first floor of the mall. I got behind a smiling Diego and fell into line, making my way past Banana Republic, Gap and Macy's Men. Pausing in front of Guess, we did a series of thigh-crunching plies, using our strollers as makeshift ballet bars. Slightly out of breath, I made a quick mental note of items in store windows: white trench, khakis and red patent pumps. Perfect additions for my spring wardrobe.
"Ooh, cute top!" said Christina Sudin, 25, pushing her 2-year-old son, Alex, as she passed the Bebe store. "Look at that outfit," replied Peters, as she pushed Ben past Ann Taylor. Apparently, I wasn't the only one window shopping. We were at a near jog by the time we reached Nine West, about a half-mile from our starting point. We lined up our strollers on both sides of a staircase and let some of the antsy toddlers out to stretch.
A couple of moms paused to hand out Cheerios and sippy cups. Following Crews' lead, I took out a resistance band she had given each of us earlier. Holding a handle in each hand, we stepped onto the giant rubber band with both feet and did bicep curls. Afterward, we used the ledge of the staircase to do several sets of push-ups. By this time, I was hot and wishing I had worn shorts instead of sweats. I was also wishing I were Diego, relaxing in his stroller, lulled by our deliberate movements.
The group resumed the same pattern for another 20 minutes: quick bursts of power stroller walking alternated with stops for more resistance band exercises, singing the "ABCs" and "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" while lunging -- and the occasional mom breaking away to breast-feed.
"It's nice to be with moms who really understand what your body is going through," said Crews, who started taking classes two months after giving birth to Chloe. The program encourages different levels within a class -- from pregnant women to moms easing into postpartum exercise. "There's no pressure to all do the same exact thing," she said. "I've even had mothers breast-feed while doing squats."
Our workout came to a full circle in front of the main Macy's store not far from where we started. We spread out mats and baby blankets stored under our strollers to do 10 minutes of stretches, floor exercises and to let the kids loose for their long-awaited social hour. Happy to roam, tumble and crawl, the kids played with each other and their moms.
Johnston lay down to do leg lifts with Madeleine resting on her shins. Crews lead the group in sit-ups with Hailey nestled in her lap. A few of the mothers, including Daz and Peters, broke away early to chase after their wandering tots as the stores began to open. "It's a lot of fun and he really enjoys it," said Peters, retrieving Ben, who had meandered into the Picture People photography studio. "It's mommy-friendly and I get a good workout." I felt invigorated and had so much fun, I wondered: Should I come back? I don't have a pint-size workout buddy of my own -- but perhaps next time I could borrow Ben.
Reach Nerissa Pacio of the San Jose Mercury News at npacio@mercurynews.com or 408-920-5827.
FIND CLASSES
Stroller Strides classes are offered all over the Bay Area, from Redwood City to Brentwood, Castro Valley, Oakland and Dublin. To find a class near you, visit www.strollerstrides.com or call 866-fit-4mom (866-348-4666).
Another way to get a health and do body care is by doing a workout regurarly.
By Nerissa Pacio
Source: www.contracostatimes.com
March 14, 2007
Stroller Strides delivers a workout
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