Leisa Hart's FitMama: Postnatal Workout / FitMama & Me

Leisa Hart's FitMama: Postnatal Workout / FitMama & Me

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DVD Reviews of Leisa Hart's FitMama: Postnatal Workout / FitMama & Me

DVD Review: Burn that baby fat and have fun with your baby as a bonus!
Summary: 4 Stars

In the introduction, Leisa Hart shows off her four month old baby and then sends him off for a nap to begin the workout. If your baby takes shorter naps than hers, you have the option of doing only one or two 10 minute segments. The cardio segments are fun and well-paced for a few months after delivery. There are many styles of yoga and I'm no expert, but after doing Iyengar style yoga for over a year I'm used to a slower more restful yoga practice which allows me to spend time in each pose. Her yoga segment seems more like a traditional aerobics strengthening and toning segment to me rather than yoga, but it's still worthwhile. The rigorous pilates segment uses a yoga ball (one of my few complaints about the program is that although she says the yoga ball is optional, none of the instructors demonstrate the segment without it.) Throughout the workout she offers modifications for different levels and for C-section and abdominal separation where appropriate, however all new moms should wait until cleared by their doctors to do the workout.

The DVD has some great special features, including:
* Workout to music without narration
* 2 bonus postnatal workouts (Coming Home and Bonus Yoga Ball)
* The entire FitMama and Me workout

Coming Home, the first bonus postnatal workout provides a gentle program that new moms can start doing on the first day post-partum, even while still in bed. The program builds gradually, adding more exercises for days 3-4, 5-14, and until your doctor gives you full permission to exercise.

In contrast, Bonus Yoga Ball is much more challenging, targeting those poor abdominal muscles need to get back in shape. Even Leisa Hart at four months post-partum gets out of breath on this one. My tummy hurts just watching it. As the title suggests, this workout requires the yoga ball.

Another special feature, FitMama and Me, is the reason I bought the DVD. How do you exercise when you can't put you baby down for even five minutes? Simple. You workout with your baby. It's not as comprehensive as the full Postnatal program and it's short, but it really is a workout and in many cases it may be the only workout a busy mom can manage. Because you lift your baby for the dance and tummy time segments, the workout gradually becomes harder as your baby grows. My baby and I love it, especially the baby dance segment. For this workout, you would probably want to wait until your baby has good head control.

The DVD format makes it easy to access any of the short workout segments (5 minutes or less):
* Dance With Me - a fun "baby dance" that gets mom moving using baby as a weight
* FitBaby - exercises for baby while mom sits on the floor
* Tummy Time - mom holds baby while doing abdominal exercises
* Quiet Time - mom does a few leg stretches while giving baby a massage
* Stroller Boogie - a demonstration of arm exercises to do while walking with the baby (I don't have an exercise band and my stroller doesn't handle well with just one hand, so I don't use this one).

This DVD is not quite perfect. For example, the Postnatal workout with music option should skip the intro and go straight to the first cardio segment. Also, I'd like more baby dance segments and stretching segments to provide some variety in the FitMama and Me workout. Also, you should look elsewhere for instruction on baby massage; this program simply uses informal rub downs (which is fine for this context). Even though there is room for improvement, this is a great DVD for a new mom from those first few days after having the baby up through the first year or so afterward.

Description of Leisa Hart's FitMama: Postnatal Workout / FitMama & Me