Staying Active During and After Pregnancy, Part II
We're kicking off the new year with new #HERstory posts from two local moms involved in helping fellow moms on health and fitness journeys: Kira Sullivan of One Fit Mother Cville, and Robin Truxel of tru PILATES. Up now: Robin!
Robin Truxel is a local Charlottesville mom who owns tru PILATES (@trupilates on IG, @trupilatescville on FB). tru PILATES offers “exercises that align, relax and strengthen bodies for the important and consuming work of laboring and mothering.” Below, Robin shares some of #HERstory about how her experience of becoming a mom led her opening tru PILATES and what tips she has for moms who are on both sides of being pregnant!
Photo credit: Sarah Cramer Shields
When did you become a mom?
Dr. Owens delivered my first child (on Thanksgiving day!) 7 years ago. The birth was fast, as I arrived at 10 cm and she was born about two hours after we arrived. Dr. Owens was the greatest, cool as a cucumber as she gently removed the cord from my daughter's neck. It was a truly otherworldly experience! Dr. Arnold delivered my son, who is now 5. He was born 6 weeks early and again, Dr. Arnold, was so relaxed and calm and funny! My son was born about two hours after entering the hospital. It was my first time meeting Dr. Arnold and he totally put me at ease (and let me pull my son out!)
What prompted you to start tru PILATES?
I wanted to have a business that helps people feel better in their bodies since I was 14 years old (my mom is a PT and a great inspiration). I took a Pilates class while I was working as a Physical Therapist and it opened my mind to more holistic spheres of moving and healing. I became certified in Pilates in 2003 and moved to Charlottesville to open tru PILATES in 2005. I feel so lucky that I get to help give people the gift of feeling more at ease, more comfortable and more confident in their bodies, whether they are healing from birth or surgery, getting started with a movement practice or training for the Olympics!
What is a challenge new moms face when it comes to fitness?
In terms of returning to fitness, there is a lot of pressure out there to get "back" to something, how you used to look or what you used to be able to do with your body, all in a certain ridiculously short time period. The postpartum time for healing is one of the most important times of rest and returning to movement slowly and appropriately and with someone's guidance who specializes in postpartum healing and fitness. I work with a lot of post-menopausal women who went back to exercise too soon and too intensely and are still suffering from different ailments as a result. I try not to teach by fear, but it is SO important to be guided back by someone with experience. I went back to running both times too quickly and suffered pelvic floor issues and back and hip pain as a result. Luckily I also learned a lot that I am able to share with my mama clients! There is also a lot of bad information about diastasis rectus (abdominal separation) on the internet, so moms need to be careful with the source. There are also a lot of great resources out there too! I have been lucky to study with some of the leading PTs in women's postpartum health and they all have great resources, books, blogs, etc.
Do you have any tips or advice for new moms?
I have been working with mamas since 2003 but more intensively since 2014 where I used my pregnant body as a scientific experiment. I adored being pregnant and especially birthing my babies, but struggled a LOT postpartum. I think having new mom friends is critical, having a support plan before going into labor (postpartum help and a plan), working with specific mental health wellness people like Mother Tree Wellness and learning how to ask for help would be my best advice. I think there are a lot of mom hacks out there and having mom friends can be so helpful not only to learn these hacks but also for perspective as you have someone else going through the same experience as you are.
