5 Gym-Free Ways to Get Fit

We all know that exercise is important for our health and well-being, and being a mom means you need all the energy, stress-relief and good health you can get from your work-out. Unfortunately, motherhood also means having plenty of excuses to skip exercising, from 2 a.m. feedings to 8 a.m. board meetings. Meet five fitness-minded exercise instructors who’ve found fun and creative ways to help other moms get fit and stay motivated—no excuses!

“How can I exercise with a new baby to take care of?”
Daphne Walter teaches Stroller Strides® classes in Elk Grove. The fitness program lets new moms work out with their babies (no sitter required). Her classes, which include both pregnant moms and moms with children up to age four, begin in a local park where moms meet up with babies strapped in their strollers. Walter then takes them through a 60-minute exercise routine that involves power walking, resistance bands and using nearby walls for wall squats. “We use the environment and do something different each time.” Walter’s passion for fitness has made an impact on her two-year-old daughter as well. While watching her mommy work out, Walter’s daughter “stops, drops and does push-ups, sit-ups and lunges too!” Walter offers the first class for free for all moms who want to see if Stroller Strides® is right for them.

Alyssa Rose has been a Stroller Strides® instructor for two years in Sacramento and Natomas. Rose says, “Stroller Strides has allowed me to do something I’m passionate about while enriching the lives of other women. [Moms] bond... and we get to do something good for ourselves while spending time with our kids.” Rose offers one week of classes for free for all moms interested in trying Stroller Strides®. For more information on Stroller Strides® classes, contact Daphne Walter (Elk Grove) at (888) 430-5005 or Alyssa Rose (Sacramento/Natomas) at (916) 712-4190. www.StrollerStrides.com

“I’m too tired.”
Exercising is energizing, and Wendy Hoag, an Elk Grove mother of two and instructor with StrollerFit®, is proof of that fact. Hoag says, “StrollerFit® helped me get back in shape after having children,” but she’s quick to add that the program offers more than just exercise. “We’re about fitness first, then fun and philanthropy. And you’ll always have a friend here.” Hoag encourages moms of all ages and stages to give fitness and exercise a chance. She says getting involved with StrollerFit® not only changed her life, but it’s been a good influence on her family too. “My husband works out now, and both of my kids can do a perfect squat!”

StrollerFit® has three types of classes for moms: StrollerFit®, which focuses on strength and cardio, includes lots of interaction between parent and child (with indoor or outdoor classes offered); Mommymuscle® Sculpt is an indoor strength and toning class moms can attend with or without kids in tow; and RestoreTheCore® is a Pilates-based class focused on the abs, back and core muscles. Hoag lets moms try their first class for free, so they can see if StrollerFit® is a fit for them. For more information, call (916) 690-7624. www.StrollerFit.com

“Isn’t working out boring?”
Looking for a more “out-of-the-box” workout that doesn’t include the kids? FitForce Bootcamp in Placer County offers both indoor and outdoor workouts that combine strength, cardio, abs, core conditioning and flexibility training. Founded two years ago by former paramedic/firefighter and Certified Fitness Trainer, Krista Duval, each FitForce Bootcamp class is different: one day you could work in teams at six different exercise stations, the next day you’re pulling a heavy fire hose! Duval, who offers both women-only and co-ed classes, wants everyone to know that her Bootcamp is a “non-yelling, non-intimidating” program. She encourages moms to check it out: “Come with a friend and attend your first class for free. You won’t know if you like it unless you try it.” For more information, call (916) 704-4470. www.FitForceBootcamp.com

“I can’t afford a gym membership/daycare/personal trainer…”
The economic crunch has a lot of people cutting back on “extras,” including gym memberships and trips to their favorite fitness studios. That might be good for your budget but it's not so great for your health. If you’re looking for a free alternative, SeeMOMMYRun.com might be the answer. This online exercise resource is an interactive site of “free running/walking groups for moms of all ages and stages,” all across America. Founder Andrea Vincent says that her site is for “all women, not just moms, and you don’t need a stroller,” necessarily. Anyone can use the free site to start a walking or running group, or join one already started in your neighborhood. www.SeeMOMMYRun.com

N. E. Francis is a journalist and businesswoman raising a high-spirited three-year-old daughter in Sacramento County. Email her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .