Working Out with Baby in Vancouver

I was recently chatting with a young father who was celebrating a personal best Sun Run time. I asked him how he had time to train for that as a busy dad. He confessed he squeezed in a daily run at 5:40am every morning, while his baby is still sleeping and before his wife heads off to work.

I was impressed, but knew that I would need to find another way to squeeze in exercise, one that didn’t involve getting up before dawn (I’ve had enough of that with a newborn, thank you).

Finding time to exercise is tough with a new baby. Childcare is expensive, and it can be challenging for a lot of parents to sacrifice what little sleep they get to squeeze in a morning workout.

Luckily, there are lots of great fitness classes that are baby-friendly. Vancouver parents can bring along their little one to all of the following classes:

1. Fit 4 Two (http://www.fit4two.ca/) offers fitness classes such as spinning and bootcamp in locations around Vancouver. Babies watch mama from the comfort of their stroller.

2. Happy & Healthy Tough Treks (http://happyandhealthy.ca/services/tot-treks/) are group hikes in local parks, with little ones in baby carriers, interspersed with body-weight exercises (like lunges). Participants can take breaks whenever they need, to nurse or settle baby, and the fresh air is fantastic for helping baby sleep.

3. Open Door Yoga (http://opendooryoga.bc.ca/specialty-classes/prenatal/#MomBabyMain) offers baby-and-mom yoga classes on Main Street and Commercial Drive. These classes are for pre-mobile babies and offer socializing afterward.

Getting back into your pre-pregnancy jeans doesn’t have to include sacrificing morning sleep or time with baby. Participating in classes with your little one is a great way to socialize, sweat and get fit, and still enjoy an extra few minutes of sleep in the morning.

Make sure to get your Doctor’s approval before starting up a new postpartum exercise regime.

Sarah Murray

happylittlefamily.ca