Turning tips into memories

Mum and baby exercise classes in London

By Jen Barton Packer on 6/1/2020

Having a baby doesn't have to put an end to your fitness routine – instead, baby can become a part of it in those early days thanks to the plethora of mum and baby fitness classes on offer across London.
Easing back into fitness post-baby can be good for your confidence, as well as social life – you might just meet a new-mum BFF next to you at yoga, who wants to listen to your adorable weaning stories and hear all about your 72-hour labour.
Since having a baby can be an isolating experience – even in a metropolis as busy as London – finding common ground with other mums, and finding fitness trainers equipped to deal with all your postnatal niggles, can be transformative.
It's worth a mention that you should wait to get the all-clear from the GP at your six-to-eight week postnatal checkup before starting any mum and baby workout classes.
So, ready to work out with baby on board? These are the mum and baby fitness classes you need to know about...

Best for the hardcore: CrossFit Tooting and CrossFit Streatham

Once you have a baby, you realise you basically have superpowers: your body is just so much stronger and more resilient than you ever imagined. Which is why you may find yourself heading to your local CrossFit box and doing a kettlebell farmer's walk while your little one chills on a play gym with on-site childcare – even if you never set foot in a gym before baby. Mums who have joined the cult of CrossFit absolutely adore it: they're stronger, fitter and more energised than before, and they make time for the classes even once they're back at work post-mat leave. Bonus: you can sign up for a free trial week and see how you like it. Memberships for mums from £65.

WHERE

22a Langroyd Rd, Tooting, London, SW17 7PL and 292d Streatham High Rd, London, SW16 6HG

Best gym workout: MumHood at Frame

Offering classes in postnatal reformer pilates, fitness PT sessions and yoga, Frame's MumHood breaks down your exercise regime into rehab immediately post-baby (phase 1), low-impact strengthening from eight weeks (phase 2) and high-intensity training (Fit Mum) – don't worry, it's still low-impact. There are also a variety of prenatal offerings, and Frame hosts helpful workshops for new mums, like weaning intros, sleep tips and diastasis recti information sessions. Also good? Some classes allow babies; others don't, so if you have a grandparent or friend visiting you can do postnatal rehab without your tot. You'll be amazed at how much you can accomplish in an hour. Including getting interiors inspo thanks to fabulous House of Hackney wallpaper in the studio. #goals

WHERE

locations in Fitzrovia, Hammersmith, King's Cross, Victoria, Shoreditch, Queen's Park and Farringdon

Best for beats: Mum & Baby class at Latino Bambino

Babies shake their maracas while mummies shake their hips in this fun dance class, where mums learn to salsa dance to Latin beats while babies giggle away (or scream, in our case) in their carriers. Gets you socialising with other parents, burns cals and is ideal for releasing any inhibitions. You may never have been much of a dancer before, but amazing things can happen when you're suddenly moving with a six-month-old on your body. Bailamos!

WHERE

Locations in Islington, Wandsworth, Canada Water, Greenwich, Stoke Newington and South Kensington

Best for exercising outdoors: Buggyfit

Buggyfit is a postnatal workout ideal for mums who love being outdoors and who enjoy walking and running with the pushchair. It's brilliant because there are classes all over London (and the UK) so you'll be able to find a location convenient to you, and it's also possible to work out with another child in tow – if you have a two-year-old toddler in the buggy as well, for example, which can be hugely helpful. Classes are typically 60 minutes and will cover three to five miles of your local park and also include cardio and strengthening exercises. We even made some fellow mum friends in our local class – which somehow made the sleep deprivation post baby number 2 less painful.

WHEN

various times

WHERE

locations across London and the UK

Best for baby bonding: Babies on Board at XTend Barre

A 55-minute workout which combines ballet exercises at the bar and mat Pilates, Babies on Board integrates babies in a fun way: they're strapped onto their mummies in a carrier for the first part of class; the second half is spent with mums and babies doing exercises together on the floor. The emphasis of the class is on strengthening the core, back and arms, conditioning muscles and getting a cardio workout in. Classes are also suitable pre-natally.

WHEN

Mondays, Fridays,10:30am

WHERE

49 Marylebone High St, Marylebone, London, W1U 5HH

Best for postnatal rehab and pilates: Four Sides London

Pregnancy brings with it all kinds of pleasant things (baby!) and some not-so-pleasant ones (erm, pelvic floor issues). If you're feeling any discomfort, pain or weirdness, it's worth being assessed, and, unfortunately, a full post-natal MOT is unlikely to happen at your six-week NHS check. That's where Four Sides come in: they have a dedicated team of women's health physios who can help diagnose and treat your issues. Once you start Pilates (mat and Reformer) and Strength & Conditioning classes, you feel confident you're in good hands because the teachers can tailor exercises to suit your specific needs. There are even targeted classes like DRAM Pilates, for those with diastasis recti. Babies in buggies or pre-crawlers can sit in on the ante and postnatal offerings.

WHEN

Monday-Saturday, times vary

WHERE

Ground Floor, 179 Northcote Road, London, SW11 6QF

Best for body and soul: Mummy & Me baby yoga, Triyoga

Yoga is a spiritual, emotional and physical practice that stretches and strengthens, calms the mind and challenges both mind and body. So it's pretty much exactly what the doctor ordered for mums at all stages of the parenting game. Triyoga offers Mummy and Me baby yoga classes for 75 or 90 minutes (£17 per class or £13.50 per class with a 10-class pass). In addition to helping new mums regain core and pelvic floor strength, stretching the neck and shoulders, and creating a calming and energising experience, the class brings together a like-minded group of parents and is a safe space to discuss any concerns. Yogic dads also welcome. Shanti.

WHERE

Shoreditch, Camden, Ealing and Chelsea locations

Best for getting away: &Breathe Postnatal

&Breathe offers family wellness retreats in France, Morocco and the US that are sure to entice both children and their exhausted parents, but it's the day retreats that we think are especially useful to new mums who are feeling sleep-deprived and like they've been neglecting themselves. Escape your daily routine for a night and treat yourself to some five-star pampering in Hampshire, which includes food, workouts, walks, treatments, mindfulness, spa time and a cooking demo. Bliss. The best bit is you don't need to abandon baby back home – they can accompany you on the stay and get looked after by on-site nannies. There are also plenty of other mums on the retreat with you, so you can have me time – and we time. From £495, &Breathe also offers home sessions in London, where you can have cookery demos, fitness lessons and a massage – with a group of mum friends – in the comfort of your own home, while childcare experts keep little ones entertained.