Pilates At Home Workouts for Busy Moms (Babies and Kids, Too)

Inside: The benefits of practicing Pilates at home for busy moms explained, as well as 3 Pilates exercises for you to do with your baby or kiddo!

Busy Mom, you want to workout at home. But how?

Finding time to workout as a busy mom is a challenge in itself. Finding a gym that has child care, and classes that work with your schedule, is nearly impossible. Plus, we haven’t even mentioned loading up the car to get there on time! All of this can be very daunting, stressful and also intimidating if you’re new to fitness or training programs.

As a busy mom, let’s face it, you already have so much on your plate. So trying to manage getting to the gym for a short workout can be a serious challenge. Luckily, there’s a type of mom workout that increases strength and mobility, promotes mental clarity, and relieves stress – all of which us busy moms need! Did we mention this type of exercise can be done in the comfort of your home, requires minimal equipment, and is relatively inexpensive?

Okay, okay, get to it already! Yes, of course, we are talking about Pilates at home workouts. There are countless benefits to doing online Pilates classes, especially if you desire convenience and a sculpted, toned Pilates body.

Let’s start with the basics:

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What Is Pilates?

Pilates is a system of exercises designed to move the body from the core out. This low-impact exercise and body conditioning trains your mind to move your muscles. Using controlled movements, it enhances your balance, mobility, core strength, flexibility, breathing techniques, and even mental state. It focuses on quality movements instead of heavy load and repetition. Pilates is especially popular for busy moms due to the fact that you can accomplish a lot in only one session.

Joseph Pilates, the man who created the Pilates Method to grow the mind-body connection, started with exercises only on the mat and with body weight. Equipment, such as resistance bands, balls, and light hand weights, are used to enhance the exercises and increase results to achieve that desired Pilates body look and feel. If you are new to this low-impact exercise method, all of the equipment can look and sound intimidating. But we like to think of Pilates as physical therapy on steroids! After just a few online Pilates classes, you will find your groove and start to reap the benefits of Pilates at home.

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What Is an Online Pilates Class Like?

The online Pilates classes you take should always be guided by a certified instructor. A class will generally take place on an exercise mat with props and sometimes even on a reformer machine (if you have one available in your home). Each class generally has a personalized approach or focus to help give in-depth exercise guidance based on what your body needs. Online Pilates classes generally aim to meet moms at any stage their body is at. Whether you’re recovering from an injury, looking for pre- or postnatal exercise, or are needing something more intense, low-impact Pilates at home helps moms feel at ease. It is also a way many moms feel they’re getting in their self-care and workout at the same time in one fabulous hour!

Of course, our goal at Pilatesbody by Kayla is to help moms feel empowered and good in their workout choices. I, as your certified Pilates instructor, help you meet your body and mind where they are at during whatever season of life you’re in.

Why Is Pilates Good for Busy Moms?

In those early postpartum weeks, moms are quickly reminded of the importance of staying active or may be feeling the need (and maybe societal pressure) to lose the baby weight and get back in shape. However, rushing back into a strenuous fitness program or routine can do more harm than good. Pilates at home bridges the gap of enjoying the early newborn stage and slowly starting to get your body moving again in a gentle way.

Staying healthy is not just for ourselves anymore, it is also for our kids! The more our children see us move, the more likely they will follow suit and want to move their bodies too. So, what better way to start Pilates at home than right alongside your precious babe as they watch you during their tummy time!

Doing an online Pilates class is a wonderful way to incorporate play with your little one to help them develop fine motor skills while you develop strength! It’s a win-win for the both of you. If your children are older and enjoy joining in on your online Pilates class, the exercises are often attainable for young kids and can help boost their confidence and increase your bond together. Here is a fun video of me doing some basic core work while using my daughter, Bobbi, as extra resistance.

Pilates and Core Strength for Moms

As mentioned above, Pilates is centered around the core. The core can often be misinterpreted for only being your “abs” when, in fact, it also includes the muscles in our back and booty (glutes). If you are determined to eliminate the “mommy pooch” and get that tight tummy again, Pilates will help you achieve it by activating your rectus abdominis strength, and also the deep abs of the transverse abdominis.

Pilates also promotes awareness and strength in the obliques and back. Having an all-around strong and stable core is so important for all of the heavy lifting you are going to be doing as your little one grows heavier and heavier! Pilates at home will not only keep you healthy, but strengthen you physically and mentally for everyday life activities, such as carrying your toddler around the zoo or lifting them up at the park!

Pilates and Mental Clarity for Moms

Stress amongst parents is on the rise. Raising children in itself is a full-time job, and adding in an actual full-time work schedule is demanding, stressful and tiring. Feelings of stress and constantly rushing around are unwelcoming to deal with and can trigger bigger health concerns such as obesity, diabetes, and furthermore, depression. Online Pilates classes can offer a natural way to keep the stress at bay and doing the classes in the comfort of your own home minimizes the feeling of being rushed out the door – a great way to lower the stress hormone of cortisol. Online Pilates classes teach mindfulness in breath work and movement, and have an immense focus on how to execute exercises correctly to achieve the proper Pilates body alignment.

Pilates and Weight Loss for Moms

Whether you’ve just had your first baby or are well rehearsed in the postpartum field, you understand the importance of movement to keep a healthy body mass index (BMI). If weight loss and achieving that desired long and lean Pilates body is on your mind, adding in Pilates at home alongside the usual recommended aerobics and strength training routine can help reduce injuries, increase balance and develop long lean muscle tone.

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3 Pilates Exercises for Busy Moms (Babies and Kids, Too)

We’ve discussed mainly why Pilates at home is good for moms, but in reality, it can be practiced by anyone. Pilates classes for kids can help improve motor skills, and the same along with coordination for elders. The important thing to keep in mind is finding an online Pilates class that focuses on stretch, stability, stamina and strength.

Give these 3 movements a try! I’ve outlined step-by-step instructions for each exercise below along with photos (featuring my baby, Nash, and fur-baby, Waylon).

1. The Hundred Exercise

STEP 1: Begin reclined on your back with knees bent or legs extended.
STEP 2: Engage the abdominals by lifting your head.
STEP 3: Pump your arms 100 times while trying to breathe and make faces at your babe.

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2. Spinal Balance Exercise

STEP 1: Bring yourself to a tabletop position on all 4’s.
STEP 2: Engage the abdominals by lifting your naval in and up.
STEP 3: Extend one arm and its opposite leg long, keeping the core lifted and stable.

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3. Kneeling Side Plank Exercise

STEP 1: Begin by kneeling down with one hand and the same knee in a line.
STEP 2: Extend your opposite leg long (lift for extra challenge).
STEP 3: Raise your top arm to the sky and hold or play with a leg lift, or try rotating the top arm under the bottom rib.

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How to Start Online Pilates Classes at Home Today

At PILATESBODY by Kayla, we offer some of the best online Pilates classes on our app, PILATESBODY On-Demand. Take advantage of a 1-Month Free Trial on the app using code FREETRIAL at checkout – Create your account HERE! We have over 180 classes designed for busy moms, just like you, and new classes are added monthly. A few of our best online Pilates classes are highlighted below:

Pilates for the Pelvic Floor Class #116
Join Kayla Brugger in this circuit-style workout focused on strengthening and releasing the pelvic floor. This on-demand workout can be done daily to prepare for an easier birth, faster recovery after birth, and to help prevent leaking when you sneeze or laugh.
15 Minute Pilates Abs Class #82
This on-demand workout is perfect if you are looking to rebuild your core strength. Expect to increase your spinal mobility in extension and flexion in this class, working forwards and backwards over the foam roller. Kayla Brugger guides you through a gentle extension and supportive crunch progressing the upper abdominals work with rotation.
Mommy Butt Lift Class #77
This on-demand Pilates class is designed to develop a bigger, perkier, and rounder bottom. Kayla Brugger tests your glute and hamstring strength by circuiting through movements that target the gluteus medius, gluteus maximus, and hamstrings independently.

To take these on-demand Pilates classes today, click here!

For even more online workouts, try PILATESBODY by Kayla’s guided 8-Week Core & Booty Challenge. Through this 100% online, on-demand challenge, you can expect to challenge your stabilizers, build long lean muscles, and flatten your tummy. Only 6 small pieces of equipment are required, such as Pilates resistance bands, light hand weights, and an exercise mat, to name a few.

Your Friend & Pilates Expert,

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Kayla Brugger
Founder of PILATESBODY by Kayla
Founder of PILATESBODY On-Demand

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