Trouble Shooting
Talking Tips

  • Be sensitive to the Moms, example, be sure that someone is expecting before assuming.  They may just want to take your class to lose weight pre or post baby
  • Facilitate a discussion during class about something baby or mom related.  IE, a new gadget you saw at a store, “baby wearing”, hospital tours, pre-baby education classes, good family trips
  • Try to discuss why we are working on the muscles we do, carrying around babies, lugging a diaper bag around, etc
  • Don’t be judgmental…even if you have strong feelings about a subject, you must keep a middle groun​d

Overall Modifications

  • Someone with a bad back should do mid-water exercises against the wall.
  • Someone with bad shoulders should not use weights on shoulder exercises.
  • If the participant has a large belly, she should do exercises in deeper water, especially for cardio
  • If the participants arms hurt, use a noodle
  • Advise participants with a sore chest to wear 2 sports bras.







 Core Exercises:
  • Do NOT hyper-extend the back - No arching.
  • Do NOT put strain on the lower back.
  • Tighten abdominal muscles whenever possible to take pressure & strain off of back.

Upper Body Exercises:
  • Do NOT hunch nor roll shoulders forward (unless specifically instructed to).
  • If you see a participant doing this, advise her to use a lighter weight or use no weight at all.
  • Advise participants to keep shoulders relaxed & down.
  • Keep shoulders relaxed and square at all times (unless exercise specifically requires otherwise).
  • Do NOT hyper- or hypo-extend the neck.
  • Keep neck in neutral position.
  • For triceps exercises advise participants to keep their elbows in & close to the body.  Do NOT "flare outwards".
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Lower Body Exercises:
  • When performing squats & lunges do NOT lean forward (unless exercises specifically requires this).
  • Back should be kept straight & flat.
  • Do NOT extend chest over knees during squats & lunges.
  • Imagine you are sitting in a chair when doing squats and do NOT lean forward on toes.
  • If a participant experiences calf cramping have her STOP doing the exercise & switch to a different lower body exercise.
  • Ankle rolls & flexes can stop or prevent cramping.
  • When performing hopping, jumping or running exercises land with "soft" knees.
  • For wall exercises, keep back flat against the wall without arching & shoulders relaxed.