It all started when…

My journey to becoming a specialist in postpartum fitness has been a lifelong passion for movement and well-being. Movement has always played a large role in my life: I was that child who was constantly rolling around the floor lifting up into shoulder stands. My parents initially took me to ballet class because I’d circled the aerobics outfit in the Argos catalogue, desperate for Santa to bring it for me, their reasoning was well if I wanted the outfit, I might as well use it. As the years passed, my passion for movement led me to London, so I could pursue a full-time dance training, an incredible experience that not only earned me a BA honours degree but also ignited my fascination with understanding how best to train the body. My curiosity eventually drew me into the world of fitness, where I strategically landed in David Lloyd Kensington, with Body Control Pilates and Pure Sports Medicine in the same building. Up until this point my training had been about my own body but now, I needed to understand how different body types functioned. And here in this building alone was a treasure trove of resources right at my fingertips.

The wide range of yoga styles, specialized Pilates modes, The Franklin Method, NASM certifications, and Les Mills programs, combined with interactions with experienced trainers and physiotherapists, provided me with a remarkable advantage in developing the ability to train diverse and unique physiques. Immersed in this supportive environment with inspirational mentors and cutting-edge resources, I was driven to deeply understand how to tailor training programs to each individual's needs. Looking back, I realise how invaluable that immersive experience in London was in shaping my approach to training various body types in a customised and effective way. The expertise and insights I gained during my formative fitness years continue to serve me well today in working with clients to help them reach their fitness goals in a healthy, sustainable manner. 

I was a fully qualified personal trainer, with a steady client base when one of the more established PT’s at the club approached me to take on my first postpartum client. Up until this point I’d shied away from the whole postpartum realm, it had intimidated me and felt like such a huge responsibility, I was concerned with what could go wrong. I wanted to get it right for her; so even though I was fully certified, I delved into extensive research and sought guidance from the club’s resident pregnancy and postpartum fitness expert. This marked the beginning of my journey into postpartum fitness and although I initially felt like I was playing catch-up my fear-driven determination paid off as I witnessed my clients' remarkable transformations.

Such as Karen, who had the luxury to afford 4 sessions a week. Being an ex-dancer, we got on like a house on fire, she was highly dedicated and enjoyed the work. She and her partner were a transatlantic couple and during the first 3 months of our training her partner was working in a bank back in America. He came over to visit his young family 12 weeks into our training, declaring Karen’s body was better now than it had ever been before baby!

However, you can never get complacent with success; one must continually grow and keep in touch with the day-by-day obstacles facing each unique client. The more new mummies I trained, the different array of challenges they presented. Now after nearly two decades of training clients, I’ve encountered a wide array of physical impingements. I grew with each client, I knew if our training was to be a success, I needed to understand the root cause of their problems. I have gained the experience and confidence to manage a multitude of postpartum rehabilitation cases, collaborating with physiotherapists when necessary. I have thrived on solving challenging cases, as they continued to expand my knowledge and skill set. 

One crucial lesson I've also learned is that exercise should complement one's life rather than consume it entirely. A balanced approach to life is essential, and over the years, I have pursued my other passions alongside my fitness journey, including dancing, acting, art, writing, meditation, nutrition, and cooking. This well-rounded approach to life has been a source of personal fulfilment and growth.

All my life I’ve been fortunate to be bolstered by true friends. When I suddenly lost my mother, those friendships anchored me as I paved a new way forward in Nottingham. Around the same time one of those stellar friends gave birth to her first child and keen to get her body back wanted a buggy exercise class. What she needed, was already within me, it was second nature to me. So, I built it for her and other new mums in Nottingham, with the knowledge I developed over the years about the best practices for the postpartum body. That was the birth of Pram Yourself to Perfection: a weekly exercise class in the park for mum, baby and buggy. 

Being part of a community, focusing on others and being physical, out in the fresh air, fully connected, helped me navigate my grief. The wonderful new mums with their individual struggles gave as much to me, as I gave to them. Us humans all need each other, that’s something that will never change, we don’t survive in isolation. Being involved with these wonderful mums, hearing their touching story’s, being a life line to the mum whose baby screamed 24/ 7 with acid reflux, the ones whose partners worked away, the one with mummy wrist, it was a space for us to be real, to breathe, to laugh through the sleep deprivation.

Nottingham presented a contrast to my previous training in Kensington, as here, I needed to adapt my training style to cater to mothers who could only commit to one or two sessions per week. My goal was to make fitness more affordable and accessible, emphasising the importance of the work itself over expensive gym memberships. 

Covid had an impact and left a mark on us all. I was in Nottingham and going nowhere due to the lockdown restrictions whilst my best friend was in London expecting her first child. She yearned for my guidance in the same way I had assisted countless others on their postpartum fitness journeys. I would recommend resources for her to read, but she would say, I don’t want to read Jay, I just want you! All she needed was in my head so I needed a way to share it. I needed a different method of teaching to fix this? After all this was a time when people were needing community more than ever.

I’d also been wrestling for years with the idea of how I could offer the same comprehensive training; I’d delivered to the yummy mummies in Kensington within their 4 sessions a week postpartum training at an affordable price to all. Let’s face it new mum’s have to spend money left right and centre during pregnancy and once baby arrives, some are on a reduced wage during maternity leave, others have decided to step away from work to focus on motherhood.  

I envisioned a four-month program, "THE MUMMY FORMULA," consisting of four weekly sessions, designed to safely rebuild new mothers' bodies postpartum in a gentle and progressive manor. By filming it as a virtual library course, I could pass on all the benefits I’d experienced over the years in a more cost-effective way and save more new mummies from falling prey to the pitfalls, I’d witness many make over the years with exercise.

The challenges many new mothers face in achieving postpartum fitness results often stem from falling for fads, neglecting the basics, lacking commitment and consistency in a tailored program, and choosing exercises that are too intense for their current fitness level. Fad workouts and programs can lead to injuries and neglect the fundamental aspects of postpartum recovery. Intense cardio exercise is not the answer to post-pregnancy fitness; a balanced, progressive approach is essential.

For me one of the most important elements I’d need to cover within THE MUMMY FORMULA was Active Dynamic Pelvic Floor Training. As there is a drastic re-education needed within not only postpartum fitness but pelvic floor health in general. It’s not enough for one to just do Kegel exercises. We need to learn how to train the muscles of the individual layers of the pelvic floor for not only strength but also elasticity and balance. Gone are the days where you just tighten up everything downstairs and hope for the best, we need to be able to perceive and train the individual muscles under relaxation- as opposed to clenching.

In "THE MUMMY FORMULA," I focus on the basics, drawing from a variety of exercise disciplines to provide real, sustainable results that benefit your body for life. My training philosophy emphasises proper technique, ensuring that clients execute exercises with precision and safety. From my experience, through the years of training others and my own body, I know the work I teach inside and out. Also having trained to be a professional dancer, I’ve attained a heightened level of physical awareness. Understanding the mistakes most people are going to make before they even start to move their body, I teach each exercise with a thorough and detailed explanation, so my clients are able to execute all movements with the upmost precision their unique body is capable of. So, they feel confident and safe within their training.

I’ve witnessed first-hand the advantage points of having a constant companion throughout the postpartum fitness journey, one is statistically more likely to attain their goals if your part of a community. Clients are never alone; I am right there, performing the exercises alongside them, guiding them step by step through the process. I’ve also created an online community in the Postpartum Power Tribe to provide unwavering support and create a safe space for clients to be their authentic selves throughout this special phase of training. Whether you are having a good or bad day, my aim is to inspire, motivate and continually challenge clients while celebrating their successes.

Education empowers people to make safe decisions about their body. We only have one body and we can’t afford to pay the cost of any damage that might result from those miss steps. I honestly wish I’d known all I do now, when I was starting out. I’ve created “MUMMIES BABY STEPS” and a host of other free resources so as to empower individuals through education to make informed decisions about their bodies when initially stepping back to exercise.   

My focus and top tips for any new mum coming back to exercise postpartum is to find the discipline to stay consistent, with a balanced, progressive and maintainable approach, utilising a specified plan specific for your current fitness level and goal to gradually rebuild the body back up postpartum. Be patient, focus on the journey not the results, and bear in mind most can expect to see noticeable adaptions 8 weeks from starting a new training routine. Don’t fixate on weight loss, if you take the right steps, find a support system, stay disciplined, consistent, don’t neglect nutrition, eat enough, stay hydrated and take into consideration your whole life style, the weight will take care of its self. 

I’m thankful for what all my wonderful clients over the years have taught me. Their diverse struggles have built my expertise and enabled me to create a host of invaluable postpartum fitness resources. My goal is to help as many women as possible rebuild stronger bodies through an affordable, balanced training approach. No fads, just sticking to the basics from an array of exercise disciplines to bring you real, maintainable results, benefiting your body for life. These programs distil two decades of experience into virtual courses that guides mums step-by-step through safe postpartum rehabilitation. I’ve embodied the training, collaborated with other professionals, and constantly evolved, and now I’m confident guiding women through the postpartum journey because I’ve helped thousands do it safely.

Little did my mum know, that those first dance steps would be the start of this lifelong journey. But if you take action in life, no matter how small, it always openness up more possibilities for you. So why not try something new with us today?  Who knows where it might lead you.