empowered
motherhood
through
movement

program plan

weekly foundations

(AIM FOR 2+ TIMES PER WEEK)

Exercise

sets

reps

video

COACHING CUE

Diaphragmatic breathing “happy baby” position

1-2

6-8b

Lie comfortably on your back and bring your knees toward your body, holding onto your feet with your hands. Relax into the position without forcing the range. Inhale slowly through your nose, allowing your ribcage to expand while your pelvic floor lengthens and relaxes. Exhale gently through your mouth, allowing your pelvic floor to gently lift and your deep core to engage. Continue breathing slowly and diaphragmatically throughout.

Bench-supported squat pry

1-2

6-8

Set up in a comfortable squat stance with a bench behind you to shorten the range of motion. Lower until you gently make contact with the bench, keeping your feet firmly grounded. Place your elbows inside your knees and gently press them outward. From here, inhale as you lift your hips slightly, then exhale as you lower back into the squat, moving up and down through a comfortable range.

Standing IYT

1-2

6-8

Stand with soft knees and a slight forward lean, maintaining a stacked position through your ribs and pelvis. With long arms, intentionally reach and draw the shape of an I, followed by a Y, then a T. Move slowly and with control, focusing on reaching through your arms while keeping your trunk stable. Breathe naturally throughout.

Copenhagen plank with block

1-2

4-6b/es

Lie on your side with your elbow underneath your shoulder and top knee pressing firmly into the block. Maintain pressure into the block to engage your adductors. If comfortable, gently lift your hips away from the floor and hold; otherwise, remain supported and focus on maintaining strong adductor pressure.

Banded big toe isolation - alternating toe raises

1-2

45s

Stand with a short band around both big toes, maintaining full foot contact and soft knees. Lift both big toes while keeping the other toes grounded, then press the big toes down as you lift the other toes. Continue alternating slowly and with control, keeping your feet grounded and toes relaxed throughout.

Day 1

WARM-UP

Exercise

Sets

reps / time

video

COACHING CUE

Quadruped single-leg block elevated hip hike

1-2

8-10/es

Set up on all fours with one knee supported on the block and press your fingertips firmly into the floor. Inhale as you lift the opposite knee by shifting through the hips. Exhale as you slowly return, keeping the movement at the hips and your lower back stable.

DB 1/2 kneeling lateral adductor dip

1-2

6-8/es

Set up in a lateral half-kneeling position with one knee supported on the floor and the opposite leg extended out to the side. Hold a light dumbbell close to your body. Inhale as you gently shift your hips laterally toward the extended leg, allowing the knee to bend and feeling a comfortable stretch through the adductor. Exhale as you press through the foot and return to the starting position. Keep the movement controlled and work within a comfortable range.

Hinge to squat with ball

1-2

6-8

Set up with your feet slightly wider than hip-width apart and hug the ball close. Maintain full foot contact. Inhale as you hinge, then exhale as you return to standing. Take a new inhale as you lower into your squat, then exhale as you press through your feet and return to standing.

Hinge to squat with ball

1-2

6-8

Set up with your feet slightly wider than hip-width apart and hug the ball close. Maintain full foot contact. Inhale as you hinge, then exhale as you return to standing. Take a new inhale as you lower into your squat, then exhale as you press through your feet and return to standing.

FULL BODY STRENGTH

Order

Exercise

sets

reps

tempo

rpe

rest

video

COACHING CUE

A1

2-DB front squat

2-3

6-8

2111

6-7

2min

Stand with your feet comfortably positioned and hold both dumbbells supported at your shoulders with your elbows pointing forward. Inhale as you lower into a squat, moving through a comfortable range of motion while maintaining full foot contact. Exhale as you press your feet firmly into the floor and return to standing. If preferred, place a box, bench or stable elevated surface behind you to lightly tap at the bottom of the squat.

B1

Kickstand single-arm DB row

2-3

8-10/es

2111

6-7

1min 30s

Set up in a kickstand position with most of your weight over the standing leg. Keep the knee soft and sit back into the hip. Maintain a strong grip and inhale as you row, leading your elbow toward your hip. Exhale as you lower with a long, controlled reach.

C1

Abducted single-leg RDL

2

8-10/es

4111

5-6

Set up with one leg supported laterally on a bench, box or any elevated surface at a comfortable height, and centre your body over the standing leg. Maintain a stable tripod foot with a soft standing knee and hold the dumbbell in the opposite hand. Inhale as you hinge, keeping your body centred over the standing leg. Exhale as you press firmly through the standing foot and return to standing.

C2

1/2 kneeling DB press

2

8-10/es

2121

5-6

1min 30s

Set up in a half-kneeling position with ribs atop hips. Inhale as you press the dumbbell straight overhead, maintaining your stacked position. Exhale as you slowly lower with control.

D1

Block-elevated bird dog

2

8-10/es

2121

BW

Set up on all fours with one knee elevated on a block. Maintain a stable pelvis and ribs atop hips. Inhale as you extend the opposite leg back and the opposite arm forward. Exhale as you bring your hand and knee toward each other into a cross-connect, feeling your deep core gently engage. Inhale as you extend back out with control. Keep the movement slow and controlled throughout.

D2

Standing DB biceps curl

2

8-10

3111

5-6

1min 30s

Stand tall with your feet firmly grounded and hold a dumbbell in each hand with your palms facing forward. Keep your elbows close to your body. Inhale as you curl the dumbbells up toward your shoulders. Exhale as you lower them with control back to the starting position.

day 2

WARM-UP

Exercise

sets

reps / time

video

COACHING CUE

Hip smash with ball press

1-2

6-8/es

Set up in a lateral half-kneeling position. Inhale as you press into the ball and shift your weight laterally over the kneeling leg, allowing the hip to move into a comfortable range. Exhale as you return to the starting position.

90/90 with side body opener

1-2

6-8/es

Set up comfortably in a 90-90 position and maintain a tall posture. Inhale as you reach one arm up and overhead toward the opposite side, creating length through your side body and allowing your ribcage to expand into the reach. Exhale as you return to the starting position, then alternate sides. Perform seated on a bench if more comfortable.

Wide stance hinge with ball

1-2

8-10

Stand in a comfortable wide stance and hug the ball in front of your body. Maintain full foot contact and soft knees. Inhale as you push your hips back into the hinge, feeling length through your hamstrings. Exhale as you press firmly through your feet and return to standing.

Lateral 1/2 kneeling overhead reach with ball

1-2

6-8/es

Set up with one knee supported on the floor and the opposite leg extended out to the side. Inhale as you reach the ball overhead with the arm opposite your kneeling leg, creating length through the side of your body and allowing your ribcage to expand. Exhale as you slowly return to the starting position.

FULL BODY STRENGTH

ORDER

Exercise

sets

reps

tempo

rpe

rest

video

COACHING CUE

A1

1-DB sumo deadlift tempo on return

2-3

5-6

1131

6-7

2min

Set up in a wide stance with full foot contact. Push your hips back as you reach toward the dumbbell, keeping your arms long and shoulders positioned over the weight. Inhale as you press through your feet and use your legs and hips to stand tall. Exhale as you slowly lower the dumbbell with control, sitting your hips back and maintaining a long, neutral spine throughout.

B1

90/90 seated lateral lat pulldown

2-3

8-10/es

2111

Long band

1min 30s

Set up in a 90-90 seated position sideways to the band attachment, with the band anchored securely above you and your non-working hand supported on the floor. If more comfortable, sit on a pillow, block or elevated surface for additional support. Inhale as you pull the band down, leading your elbow toward your hip. Exhale as you slowly return, reaching back toward the attachment point and controlling the band throughout.

C1

Split squat 1+1/4 rep

2

6-8/es

2111

5-6

Centre your weight over the front leg and maintain full foot contact. Inhale as you lower, allowing the front knee to travel forward. Exhale as you rise a quarter of the way, lower again, then press all the way back up, extending the exhale throughout. Take an additional breath if needed rather than holding your breath, and add support for extra stability if preferred.

C2

Bench-supported bridge alternating DB press pronated grip

2

8-10/es

2011

5-6

1min 30s

Set up with your upper back supported on a bench or sofa, feet firmly grounded and hips gently lifted. Start with both arms extended toward the ceiling, holding the dumbbells with a pronated grip, palms facing forward. Maintain a stable bridge throughout. Inhale as you lower one dumbbell, bending your elbow and allowing it to travel slightly below your trunk through a comfortable range of motion. Exhale as you press the dumbbell back toward the ceiling. Alternate sides with control, keeping the opposite arm extended. If more comfortable, perform the exercise on the floor in a hook-lying position.

D1

Kickstand DB chop

2

8-10/es

Controlled

5-6

Set up in a kickstand position with most of your weight centred over the standing leg and maintain a stable tripod foot. Bring the dumbbell toward the opposite hip with a slight hinge. Inhale as you drive through the standing foot, gently extend the hips and bring the dumbbell diagonally up toward/above the shoulder on the standing-leg side. Exhale as you reverse the movement with control, returning the dumbbell toward the opposite hip.

D2

Bench and knee supported Copenhagen adductions

2

4-6/es

2111

BW

1min 30s

Set up side-lying with your top knee supported on a bench, box or stable elevated surface and your bottom leg supported on the floor. Inhale as you press your knee into the surface and lift your hips, engaging your adductors. Exhale as you lower with control. Adjust the support from the bottom leg to load the adductors as much as feels comfortable. If a higher elevated surface is not available or comfortable, a block can be used for a lower setup.

day 3

WARM-UP

Exercise

sets

reps / time

video

COACHING CUE

Standing floating heel knee roll

1-2

6-8/es

Use support in front of you and allow both heels to float. Maintain gentle pressure from your knees into the ball as you reach one knee forward, allowing your hips to shift naturally. Alternate sides slowly, feeling a deep stretch through the pelvis.

1/2 kneeling lateral reach with ball

1-2

6-8/es

Set up in a half-kneeling position with ribs atop hips. Inhale as you reach the ball overhead and across toward the side of your front leg, creating length through the opposite side of your body. Exhale as you slowly return to the starting position.

Knee-supported hip airplane

1-2

6-8/es

Maintain full foot contact with a soft knee on the standing leg, keeping that knee gently in contact with the bench throughout. Hug a light ball or med ball close to your body and rotate your pelvis over the femur of the standing leg, allowing the free leg to move with the rotation. Inhale as you rotate inward, then exhale as you press through the standing foot and rotate outward.

Lateral hip shift t-spine rotation with ball

1-2

6-8/es

Set up in a wide stance and shift your weight into one hip, maintaining full foot contact. Inhale as you rotate through your upper back and reach the ball toward the ceiling, following it with your eyes. Exhale as you slowly return.

FULL BODY STRENGTH

order

Exercise

sets

reps

tempo

rpe

rest

video

COACHING CUE

A1

Kickstand RDL with rotation and foam roller wall support

2

8-10/es

4111

6-7

2min

Set up in a kickstand position close to a wall, centring your body weight over the standing leg furthest from the wall. Place a foam roller between the knee closest to the wall and the wall, maintaining gentle pressure into the foam roller throughout. Keep your standing knee soft and the dumbbell close to your body. Inhale as you slowly hinge, sitting your hips back while rotating your pelvis toward the standing leg. Exhale as you press firmly through the standing foot and return to standing. Maintain pressure into the foam roller throughout the movement. If more comfortable, perform the exercise without a dumbbell.

B1

Push press with DB

2-3

8-10

Explosive

6-7

1min 30s

Stand with feet approximately hip-width apart and maintain ribs atop hips. Inhale as you bend your knees slightly and lower the dumbbells. Exhale as you press firmly through your feet, using your leg drive to press the dumbbells overhead. Lower the dumbbells with control, bending your knees again as you inhale to prepare for the next rep.

C1

Alternating rotational goblet split squat

2

6-8/es

2111

4-5

Set up in a comfortable wide stance, holding the dumbbell in a goblet position. Inhale as you rotate your whole body toward one side and lower into a split squat as far as your mobility comfortably allows. Exhale as you press through your feet and return to the starting position. Rotate toward the opposite side and repeat, continuing to alternate sides with control.

C2

1/2 kneeling banded lat pulldown

2-3

8-10/es

2111

Long band

1min 30s

Set up in a half-kneeling position with the band anchored securely above you and maintain ribs atop hips. Reach your arms overhead and inhale as you pull the band toward your upper chest, engaging your lats and bringing your elbows slightly below shoulder height. Exhale as you slowly extend your arms overhead, controlling the return. Complete the prescribed reps, then switch your half-kneeling stance and repeat on the opposite side.

D1

Hip thrust 1 + 1/4 rep

2

8-10

Controlled

BW

Support your upper back on a bench or stable elevated surface with both feet firmly grounded and maintain a stacked position. Inhale as you press through your feet and lift your hips. At the top, lower your hips slightly, then press back up to complete the quarter rep. Exhale as you lower your hips with control.

D2

Standing banded single-arm triceps extension

2

8-10/es

2121

Long band

1min 30s

Anchor the band securely in front of you, slightly below shoulder height, and stand with your non-working hand supported. Keep your knees soft, gently shift your hips back and lean forward into a comfortable position. Inhale as you extend your working arm behind you, straightening your elbow and engaging your triceps. Exhale as you slowly return to the starting position with control. Keep your upper arm stable throughout the movement.