Pulse Fitness & Active Mums runs the Central Otago branch of Active Mums, a fitness programme for mothers, mums-to-be and their babies. The branch is at 21 Shannon Street in Alexandra, and the programme is run by its trainer, Camille, who is a mum to four children. Active Mums NZ started in 2006, when a personal trainer, Anna Gibbons, set up weekly exercise sessions for mums after the birth of her first child. Children come along to the sessions, and the space is set up for them to play while the mums exercise, so no childcare is needed.
The programmes are the Mums in Motion post-natal course, an eight-week course focused on core stability, pelvic floor control and strength. Mums in Action is an advanced post-natal class of 45 to 60 minutes, with circuit and boot camp style workouts. Mum-to-be training is offered as small group or one-on-one personal training, with exercise adjusted to the stage of pregnancy and fitness level. Times for each programme depend on the local trainer, so the branch should be contacted for the schedule in Alexandra. For a Central Otago mum who wants structured exercise after pregnancy with her children close by, this is the programme to try.