Balanced Bodies 4 Birth

Balanced Bodies 4 Birth is a program run by Kyla Thomas

“Helping women during their pregnancy, postpartum and even pre-pregnancy stages has become something that I am truly passionate about. Having gone through a twin pregnancy, from which I developed Diastasis Recti due to having a dysfunctional core, I now realise how important it is to create a balance in the body which incorporates breathing, posture, strength, stability, and most importantly functionality. Exercise is so important at this special stage in life and not only can it prepare the body and mind for the big event ahead – labor and childbirth – but it can prevent a dysfunctional diastasis recti if done correctly and help one come out stronger than before.  Your pregnancy is a great time to have fun, learn more about your body and get strong – and it helps that the benefits for both mommy and baby are endless.”

Kyla has completed both her pre and postnatal corrective exercise specialist course as well as a  Diastasis Recti and Core Consultant course through a company called Fit For Birth, based in Miami, USA. She is also currently a Head Coach at Fit for Birth.

The Balanced Bodies for Birth program covers a variety of different areas:

• Pre and Postnatal corrective exercise and functional strength training – this is muscular strength training based on correcting muscle imbalances to prevent the common pregnancy “aches and pains” and prepare the body for labor and for postpartum.
• Diastasis Recti and Core strengthening – this training has a huge focus on strengthening the inner unit that makes up the core. You are taught how to use the muscles of the inner unit correctly and to apply it to daily activities as well as exercise to enable your body and baby have the best support structure possible.
• Diaphragmatic breathing and Pelvic Floor awareness and strengthening – pelvic floor awareness is so important during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum. It is pelvic floor issues which can lead to incontinence, pelvic pain, sexual pain, and issues with vaginal childbirth (to name a few) if left untreated. We tend to be either overactive or underactive when it comes to our pelvic floors, this training focuses on having awareness and being able to both contract and relax the pelvic floor as needed.
• Labor training – the concept behind this training is simply to prepare the mind for labour using different exercise as well as visualization techniques.
• Postpartum recovery – after delivering your baby there can be a certain disconnect in your core. It is more important now more than ever to reconnect your core awareness and start to strengthen the core and pelvic floor. Gentle techniques are used which incorporate diaphragmatic breathing, pelvic floor and transverse abdominus strengthening.