Let’s start off by saying that I think every body type is beautiful. This isn’t meant to body shame anyone or criticize their lifestyle. However, I personally know that after delivering my daughter, I was desperate to get back in shape.
There are plenty of gyms in Beijing and various groups for playdates, but I’ve never been more excited than when I discovered a class that combines the two. And much to my surprise, it’s a class that actually makes you break a sweat, so you leave feeling great about a morning workout with your baby.
Bump Fit was started by Alessia Chizzoniti. Anyone who’s met Chizzoniti falls in love with her. She’s bubbly, she’s fit, and she’s a doula with more knowledge about babies than any new parent could digest. Simply put, she’s stunning inside and out. Her latest fitness brainchild is the ideal morning for new and expecting moms alike, a place to both workout and enjoy some bonding time with their babies and each other.
“Motherhood has many faces. My aim is to create a safe place for moms to connect with themselves, their baby, and other moms,” Chizzoniti tells Jingkids. “Mommy and Me is just a vehicle for taking the brightest side of motherhood out of us and showing ourselves how incredible we are! As a doula and Dancing for Birth instructor, I structure the classes in a way that harmonizes dance, gentle stretching, and specific pre/postnatal exercises (breathing, posture, pelvic floor rehabilitation etc). Work on your physical and mental health while bonding with your little one.”
I expected my first Mommy & Me dance fitness class to be more like circle time where moms sit (maybe free dance around in a circle) with their babies and watch the kids play. But boy was I wrong. There was definitely dancing and our kids did in fact play, but there were also squats, lunges, yoga, and general cardio. The classes are held every Friday at 10.30am at Warrior One and as Chizzoniti explains, you get a workout from every class, however, each one is a little bit different so that even if you go every week, you’re not going to be doing the same workouts each time.
“Motherhood can sometimes throw a woman’s regular routine out of gear and leave her with very little time for herself,” says Evelyn Figueroa, a regular Mommy & Me dance fitness goer and new mom to a beautiful baby girl. “It was great to find this fun experience for me and my daughter, as it not only keeps my body flexible and healthy but also helps me bonding with her.”
Evelyn and her daughter
It’s a safe space where new moms and expecting moms can work out and get an endorphin high. There’s no judgment here. No need to feel like you should suck in your stomach or wear oversized shirts to hide your giggly postpartum belly.
My little girl seemed to enjoy every minute of it and even squeezed in a quick snooze mid-class. It’s fun for them to socialize with other babies and rock out to some cool beats. And as an extra perk, Warrior One is super on top of their photography game. Owner Yonina Chan pops in and out of the studio throughout the class to take beautiful photos of all the participants, and then shares them within a few hours after the class ends! No matter how you feel about posting pictures of your babies online, it always puts a smile on my face to see candid photos of my daughter and me enjoying life together.
Want to join us for a class? Add WeChat ID: alessia_chizzoniti to be added to the Mommy & Me Dance Fitness group. Classes are every Friday morning and to join the first one, simply shoot a message in the group and they’ll book it for you.
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Images: Courtesy of Warrior One
