Building a Healthy Future: Morris Prenatal Fitness Class Benefits Mothers

The Y is always grateful to play a role in the important lifetime moments of those who walk through our doors. This is especially the case when it comes to the Morris Community YMCA’s Prenatal Exercise class, which is designed to help soon-to-be-mothers maintain a healthy fitness level during pregnancy.

“The primary goal for any expectant mom is to maintain her fitness level if she had an established workout routine before her pregnancy,” instructor Leigh Anne Hall said. “For the non-exerciser, it is to have her establish a fitness routine so that she will hopefully have an easier delivery and recovery period.”

For Morris resident Kim Haiduke, the class was a new experience that helped her prior to having her fourth child.

Morris resident Kim Haiduke gave birth to her fourth child, Lillian, this past summer. Haiduke said attending the Morris Community YMCA’s Prenatal Fitness Class ultimately helped her post-delivery recovery.

“I had never done any of the classes at the YMCA but I saw a flyer at my doctor’s office for the prenatal class and could not wait to try it out,” Kim said.

Kim said she rarely missed a class and was extremely pleased with the guidance she received from Leigh Anne.

“Leigh Anne motivated me to push myself and to want to be fit throughout my pregnancy,” Kim said. “She was the reason I continued to attend class week after week. She went above and beyond to challenge me, support me, and get to know me on a personal level. I felt like I was working out with a friend, which made the time fly by!”

Leigh Anne said that she always reminds class members to stay hydrated during the process and that they must listen to their bodies as tasks become more difficult in the later stages of pregnancy.

“We have tried to remove all of the barriers and provide a place where women can be with others who are experiencing the same changes. They are pregnant, not sick, but as they get into the third trimester they cannot always do the same things they did when they were only one month along,” Leigh Anne said.

Kim gave birth to her daughter, Lillian, this past summer and said the class helped make the recovery process go quicker. Though her time in the class came to an end, she is already looking forward to the next stage of her relationship with the Y.

“I can’t wait until my daughter is old enough for the daycare so I can try some new classes,” Kim said.

The Morris Prenatal Exercise class is offered on Mondays and Wednesday from 5:30-6:20 p.m. and on Fridays from 9-9:50 a.m.

“When moms come in they always leave feeling great and glad they made the effort. We hope the word will get out and more will join us along this wonderful journey,” Leigh Anne said.