On Getting Your Body Back
I strengthen women (period) My goal is to educate and empower women and by doing so allow them to access a healthier lifestyle and enhanced inner being. The body is a marvelous machine and as a result, a “look” my client desires may come along with that. But it’s not my intention nor my goal.
A woman after labor is a lot like a solider after battle. Often there are psychological, emotional, and yes sometimes physical changes that may need to be addressed. Businesses that push a “Get Your Body Back NOW” philosophy are that battle’s war profiteers.
Can a woman feel self-conscious about her body after birth? Yes, and we should validate that if they trust us enough to approach us with this. Should a woman feel self-conscious about her body after birth? In a perfect world, I’d say no but this isn’t a perfect world and it’s just as harmful to dismiss it too quickly by either ignoring or brushing it off with a good intentioned and seemingly supportive, “What are you talking about? You look amazing”.
Validating someone’s feelings means not having to do anything but really listen and understand. What should never be done, but unfortunately often is (especially online) is use this vulnerability as a selling tactic in the hunt for new clients.
For me, there is a slippery slope where encouragement ceases to be empowerment. I try to be mindful. More often than not a postpartum body will recover on its own unique timeline and with proper training with a certified postnatal specialist may even become stronger than it was pre-pregnancy.
But sometimes helping a new mamma means letting her know that it is possible her body won’t go back to what it was and letting her know that that’s okay. Sometime it means not ever saying that, but instead trying slowly and patiently to help her understand and be okay with that fact on her own. If giving birth is the Olympics of woman’s life then her postpartum body is her gold medal and she should wear it proudly!
This corporate insanity controlling the postpartum fitness world is doing a lot of real physical harm to women’s bodies, as well. In addition to the psychological squeeze, women are basically being told that once you get your body to look the way you want- you’re done being postpartum! The truth is, that the “looks” of the body is often just the tip of the iceberg when defining postpartum recovery. We need to be educating women on the need to shift focus onto the internal- core and pelvic floor. Women who feel accomplished just because the online man told them that they can now go to the beach again, are often at risk. Ignorance to proper postpartum recovery can lead to leakage, incontinence, and sexual pain, which often go untreated and continue for years after the birth.
Why? Because they were told that looking sexy is the goal!
Though I’m passionate here on this post, it’s also just as important to remain impartial and non-judgmental. Many women come to me asking me to help them get rid of their pregnancy weight. That’s okay. I’m not here to start a political movement against postpartum fitness marketing. I’m here to help these women. I know what they want but it’s also important to give them what they need.
So, I smile (or the text equivalent), congratulate them on the ridiculous feat of strength that they just accomplished called labor and respond, “I can make you be and look stronger and help you with your postpartum recovery”. And I do.
How do you feel about the fitness industry as it deals with women and pre/postpartum women? Have you ever taken one of these “body-back” programs? How did it make you feel?
We would love to hear your story in the comments section ⇓
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