NO. MORE. EXCUSES.

If working out has taken a backseat because you became a super hands-on mum (good on you!), know that it doesn’t have to be that way. These ingenious ideas – courtesy of fitness pros who are mums themselves – will give you all the inspiration and motivation to get moving, no matter what rocks your exercise boat.

Portrait of Tammy Strobel

If working out has taken a backseat because you became a super hands-on mum (good on you!), know that it doesn’t have to be that way.

These ingenious ideas – courtesy of fitness pros who are mums themselves – will give you all the inspiration and motivation to get moving, no matter what rocks your exercise boat.

IMPROVISE SOME FUN

Big, open spaces are blank canvases to make up any play.

if you love the outdoors...

FIND FUN

We asked some of the most adventurous mums we know how they stay active as a family in nature.

Storm the beach

“We don’t sit still when we hit the beach. We boogie board, play tag, and play soccer. I also love to practise yoga out there—it’s more challenging because of the instability of the sand—and I have the kids come up with partner poses. I get extra work holding the pose, and the boys have fun climbing up.”

– JOSEPHINE JACOB, SHOWN ABOVE (@YOGA_MAMI)

Play in the park

“I push the kids in their stroller while Rollerblading around the park, then I shoot hoops with my 3-year-old. At the playground, I’ll do squats while pushing them on the swings or do tuck-ups as I hang with them on the monkey bars. A lot of times, they want to join in!”

– KRISTY ARDO (@BABY_FITGYM)

Go into the woods

“Each summer we do a very active camping trip. We go hiking and kayaking, and the kids climb trees. We have rock-throwing contests to see who can make the biggest splash or hit a certain tree. Half the fun is exploring: I wear a step counter, and I walk at least twice as far when camping.”

– SARAH MURDOCK (@NORTHCOUNTRYSTYLES)

Row, row, row

“As soon as my daughter could sit up, we got her a life jacket and started bringing her to the local lakes to paddle, boat, kayak, and even stand-up paddleboard. She sits on my board, and I encourage her to name wildlife that we pass as we paddle.”

– SARA OZIM (@THEOUTDOORMOM)

Train together

“I’m an ultramarathoner, and each summer we organise a Kids’ Trail Running Club with all their school friends. We meet weekly and start by walking with short run intervals, with the goal of running a 5K at the end of the season. It’s a great confidence booster for the kids and a blissful way for me to do my recovery runs.”

– ASH WALSH (@ASHRUNS100S)