Bringing Up Baby, Building Up Brawn

At a park in Cameron Station in Alexandria, parents and caregivers bring their children along for Stroller Strides, a one-hour exercise program. (Photos By Gerald Martineau -- The Washington Post)

Not often do you see a group of women building their biceps to the tune of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star." But that was the scene on a recent Thursday morning at a class called Stroller Strides.

In Cameron Station, a planned community in Alexandria, about 15 moms stood near a fence, stretching green and orange exercise tubes with their arms. Each sang while facing her baby or child, who sat (for the most part) peacefully in a stroller, munching on the likes of crackers or raisins, drinking a juice box, playing with small toys or just smiling back at mom.

The exercises are one component of a 60-minute class geared toward mothers (or dads or caregivers) of newborns or very young children. It also includes a warm-up and power walking or jogging interspersed with strength training and toning exercises done standing or on the ground using tubes or other props, such as balls, hula hoops or mats.

But the class offers much more than a fitness lesson, says Lisa Druxman, chief executive of California-based Stroller Strides, the company that developed the program. "It's a support group exercise class where you can go to feel connected with other moms," she says. Druxman is a personal trainer and longtime fitness instructor who started the company in San Diego after her son's birth in 2001. At the time, she wanted to get back in shape while spending time with her newborn, so she began working out with a few neighbors and their babies. Today, the business is franchised and has more than 20,000 participants at more than 300 locations nationwide. Sessions are held in neighborhoods, walking trails, lakes, malls and indoor soccer arenas. Besides the classes, Stroller Strides offers outings with and without children -- play groups, park visits, hikes and "Mom's Night Out."

Stroller Strides differs from other "Mommy and Me" groups. Instead of moms helping the children exercise and gain skills, here the mom gets the workout while kids come along. "I played Division I soccer in college so I was tentative to try it, but it's a great workout," says Kathrin Bachrack, a Stroller Strides franchise owner and instructor in the District, adding that moms at all fitness levels are welcome.

And unlike mother-child classes where kids have to be on good behavior, in Stroller Strides occasional meltdowns are accepted. "The great thing is that other moms understand if your child is cranky," says Lisa Echeandia, a franchise owner and instructor in Montgomery County.

Bringing a baby along on a workout appeals to some moms because they don't want to leave their children in the child-care room of a health club or at home with a sitter, or to have to squeeze in exercise while the baby sleeps. Others find the class appealing because they set a good example for their children by working out and because the children get to play with one another. Still others like their toddler or preschooler's willingness to sit in a stroller for an hour, which may happen only when they see kids around them doing the same thing.

Whatever the motivation for exercising with their children, moms may have much to gain from these classes, experts say. It's a great idea for getting back in shape after pregnancy, says Nancy Sanders, an obstetrician-gynecologist in the District, explaining that about six weeks postpartum, women are usually not back to their pre-pregnancy weight. "Statistically this is the time when moms may start down the path toward lifelong weight issues," she says.

The classes also can offer much in the way of needed adult stimulation, says Susan Newman, a social psychologist at Rutgers University and the author of "Little Things Long Remembered: Making Your Children Feel Special Every Day" (Random House/Crown, 1993). "It's a break from the routine, which is important because when a mom's life is devoted to infant care or chasing around a toddler, there's very little opportunity to have a discussion with other adults," she says. This workout, she says, "can energize your brain so you can better cope later in the day."

"I went on a lot of walks in my neighborhood when my daughter was born, but it felt lonely," says Sara Dunton, a stay-at-home mom in Alexandria who attends the Cameron Station class with 14-month-old Amber.

Megan Sullivan, a part-time film editor from Arlington, says she brings her 17-month-old son, Kieran, to the class because "this is my only chance to talk to other moms with kids his age." She doesn't do much talking while exercising, she says, but before and afterward she picks up plenty of parenting tips. "I find out how other moms get their kids to eat their vegetables and to sleep through the night."

The camaraderie and workout have led Arlington and Alexandria franchise owner Jennifer Lungren to teach and attend four classes each week. But another element factors in: Her two daughters, Julia, 18 months, and Reagan, 3 1/2 , love to come with her in their double stroller. How can Lungren tell? In their living room at home, they often pretend they're in a Stroller Strides class.

STROLLER STRIDES 866-348-4666.http://www.strollerstrides.com. E-mail:info@strollerstrides.com. Check Web site for locations in the District, Maryland and Virginia. Classes, usually offered in the mornings, are outdoors except in severe weather. Prices may vary by location but are about $15 for a single class; $100 for 10 classes. Monthly memberships and block passes are available. Some classes charge about $8 for exercise tubes.

Babies should be at least 6 weeks old, and new mothers should not begin until they have had a postpartum checkup. Toddlers and preschoolers are welcome as long as they can sit in the stroller during the workout. All parents and caregivers are welcome. Any stroller can be used as long as it doesn't tip over while walking. Mothers should bring water, hat or sunblock, and a towel or mat for exercises. Children should have a hat and sunblock, drinks, snacks and toys to keep them busy.