Power Buggies: Mum’s day out

Don’t be surprised if you come across the unusual spectacle of new mums racing their prams at the jogger’s trail at Safa Park.

The regime is part of a workout programme, PowerBuggies, designed to enable new mothers to exercise with their babies.

"New mothers can be depressed for hormonal reasons and the fact that they are far away from their relatives," said Linda Clucas, who founded the programme a year back.

PowerBuggies outdoor classes, held from October through June, are a combination of cardiovascular, strength-training and flexibility exercises targeting major muscle groups – essential for bending and lifting and everyday activities. "The exercises are chosen to address changes that take place during pregnancy and following birth," said Clucas, the mother of a three-year-old.

The advantage of PowerBuggies is threefold. Mothers get a workout and socialise with other mums while their babies enjoy playtime and fresh air. Mums must be at least 16 weeks postpartum to participate in the programme.

Dutch expat Marloes Ecertsz, 29, has been taking PowerBuggies classes twice a week for more than a month with her 12-month-old boy.

"He likes it when we’re running really fast. He starts waving and laughing," she said. "We don’t have a maid or a nanny so it’s the only chance for me to work out. I’m losing weight, getting rid of the baby fat and I feel more energetic.

"It’s nice you get to meet other mums. Their babies are about the same age so we can ask questions or seek advice."

Held at Safa Park on Mondays and Wednesdays and Jumeirah Beach on Sundays and Tuesdays, the 60-minute classes begin with the new mothers walking briskly for five minutes while pushing their buggies. "Then we do a cardiovascular session with a mixture of power walking or jogging," said Clucas.

The women then park the buggies and do toning exercises. Through this resistance workout, the mothers work the legs, abdomen, shoulders and arms.

"Sometimes I ask mums to carry their baby in front of them so they can act like a weight," Clucas said.

Strengthening the back, chest and shoulders is very important as it helps prevent kyphosis which is an excessive forward curvature of the spine which develops during the period of pregnancy.

The regime ends with a number of stretch exercises which help the body to cool down and the muscles to relax.

Olga Danilova, 27, has been participating in PowerBuggies with her 16-month-old girl. "It’s very helpful to get into shape and also have the little one next to you.

"I wanted to find something to do together with my little girl. This programme suited me as it has dual benefits. For my baby, it’s playtime and fresh air, and for me it’s exercise and socialising," said Olga who has been with the programme for the last five months.

About 10 women participate in each of the early morning beginners classes at Safa Park and advanced classes at Jumeirah Beach Park.

In the advanced classes, the emphasis is on increasing cardiovascular endurance, muscle strengthening and core strength.

Mothers have to do more challenging muscle-strengthening and abdominal exercises which help them manage weight, tone muscles and improve stamina.

After ten advanced class sessions, the mothers get a free one-on-one personal training session, including a body fat assessment.

A health professional conducts a seminar on the last Sunday of each month addressing various health issues like cervical cancer and postnatal nutrition.

"I am happy to teach the mums how to take care of themselves and also look after their babies," Clucas said.

Powerbuggies facts

• When and where: PowerBuggies runs from October through June (May and June classes are indoors). Beginners classes are on Mondays and Wednesdays from 8.30am to 9.30am at Safa Park (meeting point, Gate 2). Advanced classes are on Sundays and Tuesdays from 8.30am to 9.30am at Jumeirah Beach (meeting point, Gate 3).
• Cost: Dh25 per class or Dh300 for 12 classes.
• Who can join: Mums must be at least six weeks postpartum to participate.
• Kids’ Age: Mothers with kids from six weeks old up to preschool age.