Aussie Pilates for LowerBack Pain

$39.95, from Mum and Me Fitness,
(02) 8901 5488, mumandme.com.au.
The Deal : A local no-frills Pilates workout . Like most women, you’re probably standing and breathing incorrectly, but, luckily, there’s a good half hour of instruction about posture and respiration. The routine itself is slow and gentle and you should experience more flexibility and less lumbar pain once you master the positions.
Who it’s for : Anyone with lower back pain.
Why we like it : It’s more medically-insightful than most. Plus you’re sure to find someone wanting to borrow it.

Appearing in Shop 4 Kids, Issue 6, Autumn/Winter 2009

My DVD player helped me get toned

Lucy, mum to 1-year-old Sam, gained 13kg during pregnancy and is now back to her original weight of 57kg by walking and using an exercise DVD.

“I am allergic to structured exercise or sport in any shape or form but I
do love walking. A friend of mine put on 25kg during her pregnancy and as Iam quite short I knew that amount would be impossible for me to lose.

“For the first seven months of my pregnancy would walk 5km from home to the city for work. I also bought an exercise DVD and used it regularly, and I found the exercise I did really helped during the delivery and with my recovery.

“When Sam was born I bought I a postnatal yoga DVD online – I got it through Mum And Me ( www.mumandme.corn.au ) – it was brilliant.

“I went for the yoga DVD because I found breastfeeding quite hard on my neck and back. The yoga was relaxing and calming, and was good for helping to get rid of round shoulders. Just doing something made me feel really positive, so it wasn’t I hard to put the DVD on when Sam
was asleep. We also went along to Mums and Bubs Yoga once a week and I kept up the regular walking.”

Appearing in Practical Parenting, October 2008