empowered
motherhood
through
movement

program plan

weekly foundations

(AIM FOR 2+ TIMES PER WEEK)

Exercise

sets

reps

video

COACHING CUE

Right side-lying respiratory scissor slides

1-2

6-8

Lie on your right side with your hips and knees in a 90-90 position and feet supported against the wall. Place a block or foam roller between your knees and gently tuck your hips. Inhale through your nose as you pull your left leg back, maintaining gentle pressure into the block. Exhale fully through your mouth as you slowly return the left leg to the starting position, feeling your left oblique and adductor engage.

Wide stance hinge with ball

1-2

8-10

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

All-fours foam roller t-spine reach

1-2

6-8/es

Set up on all-fours with the foam roller positioned between one knee and the same-side hand. Lift the opposite hand, turn your palm to face upward and place the back of your hand on the foam roller. Inhale as you roll the arm underneath your body, reaching across as far as your mobility comfortably allows and rotating through your upper back. Exhale as you return to the starting position with control.

Side-lying hip raise with ball

1-2

6-8/es

Set up in a side-lying position with your knees bent and a ball positioned between your knees. Maintain gentle pressure into the ball. Exhale as you lift your hip away from the floor. Inhale as you slowly lower back down with control.

Seated toe spread rotations

1-2

8-10/es

Sit comfortably and place one foot across the opposite knee. Gently place your fingers between each toe, going only as far as feels comfortable while encouraging the toes to spread. From here, slowly rotate the foot in controlled circles through a comfortable range. Keep the movement intentional and gradually work into the toe spread as your mobility allows.

Day 1

WARM-UP

Exercise

Sets

reps / time

video

COACHING CUE

90/90 side-lying knee roll

1-2

6-8/es

Lie on your side in a 90/90 position. Inhale as you reach the top knee forward, allowing the movement to come from the hip. Exhale as you slowly return, keeping the rest of your body relaxed and controlled.

Kneeling alternating lateral reach with stick

1-2

6-8/es

Set up in a tall-kneeling position and hold the stick with a wide grip overhead. Inhale as you reach laterally through one side of your body. Exhale as you return to centre, then alternate sides.

Lateral hip shift with contralateral foot tap

1-2

8-10/es

Maintain full foot contact as you shift your hips back and sideways, sitting into the hip while limiting excessive forward knee travel. Reach across with the opposite hand to tap the opposite foot if your mobility allows, or shorten range of motion, then return with control.

Kneeling glute hinge

1-2

6-8b/es

Set up with the working-side knee elevated on a block and both hands supported on a bench. Inhale as you shift your hips over the elevated knee and hinge until you sense a stretch in your glute/hip. Maintain the position and bring the opposite leg across behind you to deepen the stretch. Hold the position and breathe diaphragmatically, allowing your body to relax into the stretch.

FULL BODY STRENGTH

Order

Exercise

sets

reps

tempo

rpe

rest

video

COACHING CUE

A1

1-DB Paused goblet squat

2-3

5-6

2211

6-7

2min

Stand with your feet slightly wider than hip-width and maintain full foot contact. Inhale as you lower, allowing your knees to travel forward as your hips descend, bending through the knees and hips together. Pause for 2s at the bottom of the squat while keeping tension through your legs, then exhale as you stand back up. If preferred, place a box, bench or stable elevated surface behind you to lightly tap at the bottom of the squat.

B1

Full range bench-supported DB row

2-3

8-10/es

2111

6-7

1min 30s

Support one knee and your non-rowing hand on a bench or a stable elevated surface, with the opposite foot firmly grounded a step away. Position the DB slightly further away to allow a longer reach. Inhale as you row, leading your elbow toward your hip. Exhale as you lower with control into a long reach, using the full available range of motion.

C1

Bench-supported wide stance DB RDL

2

8-10/es

3111

5-6

Set up in a wide stance with one knee supported on a bench, box or sofa, and your same-side hand supported on a stable elevated surface, such as a chair. Hold the dumbbell comfortably between your legs and maintain full foot contact through the standing leg. Inhale as you push your hips back, feeling length through the hamstrings and loading the hip. Exhale as you press firmly through the standing foot and return to standing, extending your hip.

C2

Around the world shoulder raise

2

8-10

Controlled

5-6

1min 30s

Stand tall with ribs atop hips and maintain a strong grip on the dumbbells. Inhale as you raise the dumbbells out and around in a controlled arc until they meet overhead. Exhale as you reverse the movement and slowly return.

D1

Standing banded 2-angle hip abduction

2

10-12/es

Controlled

Short band

Stand with your hands supported in front of you and position the band around your ankles. Centre your weight over the standing leg and maintain a soft knee and hip. Slowly move the opposite leg laterally away from your body and return with control, then move the same leg diagonally away from your body at an angle between directly lateral and straight back. Return to the starting position and continue alternating between both angles. Breathe comfortably throughout, keeping the movement controlled and your pelvis stable.

D2

Seated hammer curl

2

8-10

3111

5-6

1min 30s

Sit tall with your elbows close to your body and palms facing inward. Inhale as you curl the dumbbells toward your shoulders, exhale as you slowly lower with control.

day 2

WARM-UP

Exercise

sets

reps / time

video

COACHING CUE

Bird dog with knee elevated on block

1-2

6-8/es

Set up on all fours with one knee elevated on a block, maintaining a stacked position with your ribs over your pelvis. Inhale as you extend the non-elevated leg behind you and reach the opposite arm forward. Keep your trunk and pelvis stable, avoiding movement through your lower back. Exhale as you bring your knee and opposite hand toward each other underneath your body. Move slowly and with control throughout.

90/90 hip transition

1-2

6-8/es

Sit on the floor with both knees bent and maintain heel contact throughout. Slowly rotate your hips from side to side, allowing both knees to move toward the floor while keeping the movement controlled.

Lateral step out hinge

1-2

8-10/es

Start with your feet together. Inhale as you step laterally and shift your weight into the stepping leg, allowing your hips to travel back as your torso inclines slightly forward. Maintain full foot contact and keep the movement controlled. Exhale as you press through the stepping foot and return to the starting position.

Seated DB halo

1-2

6-8/es

Sit tall with your feet firmly grounded and maintain ribs stacked atop hips. Hold the weight close to your body and guide it slowly around your head, keeping the movement controlled and allowing your shoulders to move naturally. Inhale as you rotate the weight around your head and exhale as you return to the starting position. Alternate directions between reps.

FULL BODY STRENGTH

ORDER

Exercise

sets

reps

tempo

rpe

rest

video

COACHING CUE

A1

2-DB conventional deadlift tempo on return

2-3

5-6

1131

6-7

2min

Set up with your feet hip-width apart. Reach down with long arms, allowing your knees to soften, and take a strong grip. Keep the dumbbells close and lats engaged. Inhale as you press through your feet and use leg drive to stand. Exhale as you slowly lower with control, pushing your hips back. If preferred, elevate the dumbbells on a box approximately 6–10 cm high to make the starting position more accessible.

B1

1/2 kneeling banded lateral lat pulldown

2-3

8-10/es

2111

Long band

1min 30s

Set up in a half-kneeling position sideways to the band attachment, with the band anchored securely above you. Keep the leg closest to the band supported on the floor and the opposite knee in a kneeling position. Grip the band with the arm furthest from the attachment and maintain ribs atop hips. Inhale as you pull the band down, leading your elbow toward your hip while gently flexing laterally through a comfortable range of motion. Exhale as you slowly return, reaching toward the attachment point and controlling the band throughout.

C1

Lateral step-up

2

8-10/es

2121

5-6

Set up sideways to an elevated surface approximately 15–30 cm high, choosing a height that allows you to move comfortably, with your working foot supported. Maintain a stable tripod foot and keep most of your weight over the working leg. Inhale as you press firmly through the foot and step up, extending your hip while keeping the knee soft. Exhale as you lower with control, keeping the working leg loaded throughout.

C2

Seated single-arm DB overhead press

2

8-10/es

2111

5-6

1min 30s

Sit tall with ribs atop hips and position your elbow approximately at shoulder height. Inhale as you press the dumbbell straight overhead. Exhale as you slowly lower back to the starting position.

D1

Farmers carry

2

8-10/es

Controlled

5-6

Hold a kettlebell or DB in each hand with a strong grip, lats engaged and ribs atop hips. Walk slowly and with control, maintaining a tall, stable position. Breathe continuously throughout each step without holding your breath.

D2

Side-lying hip drive with knee open

2

6-8/es

2111

BW

1min 30s

Set up in a side-lying position with your elbow, forearm, knee and foot supported on the floor, and your top hand resting on your hip. Apply pressure through the knee supported on the floor. Inhale as you drive your hips forward and up, opening the top knee and rotating your trunk toward the open position. Exhale as you lower your hips with control, bringing the top knee back down and allowing your trunk to rotate with the movement. Keep the movement slow and controlled throughout.

day 3

WARM-UP

Exercise

sets

reps / time

video

COACHING CUE

All-fours ball lift

1-2

6-8

Set up on all fours with the ball positioned between your knees. Exhale and gently connect to your pelvic floor as you lift the ball. Inhale as you slowly return.

Seated knee drop hold

1-2

4-6/es

Sit with your hands supported behind you and maintain heel contact with the floor. Allow one knee to drop inwards as far as your mobility comfortably allows, and hold for 5 seconds within a comfortable range. Return through centre and alternate sides. Sit on a block or elevation if more comfortable.

DB loaded hip airplane

1-2

6-8/es

Centre your weight over the standing leg with a slight hinge, soft knee, stable tripod foot and keep the same-side hand supported. Hold a dumbbell in the opposite hand, keeping it close to your body throughout. Inhale as you rotate the pelvis inward over the standing leg. Exhale as you press firmly through the standing foot and rotate the hip open with control.

Standing open-book t-spine rotation

1-2

6-8/es

Set up in a staggered stance with the leg furthest from the wall in front and reach both arms forward. Inhale as you rotate the arm on the same side as the standing leg up and around, following your hand with your eyes as you open through your upper back. Exhale as you slowly reverse the movement back to the starting position.

FULL BODY STRENGTH

order

Exercise

sets

reps

tempo

rpe

rest

video

COACHING CUE

A1

Suitcase DB RDL

2-3

8-10

4111

6-7

2min

Stand with your feet approximately hip-width apart. Keep your knees soft, dumbbells positioned outside your legs and a strong grip. Inhale as you slowly hinge, maintaining full foot contact and big-toe pressure and feeling length through your hamstrings. Exhale as you press firmly into the floor and return to standing.

B1

1/2 kneeling contralateral banded row

2-3

8-10/es

2111

Long band

1min 30s

Set up in a half-kneeling position with the band anchored securely in front of you at approximately hip height and maintain ribs atop hips. Inhale as you row the band toward your body, leading your elbow toward your hip while reaching the opposite arm forward. Exhale as you slowly return to the starting position with control. Continue alternating arms while maintaining a stable position through your trunk. Complete the prescribed reps, then switch the leg in your half-kneeling stance and switch the rowing arm.

C1

Deficit reverse lunge with support

2

8-10/es

2111

5-6

Stand on a 4–6 cm elevation with a stable front foot and hold on to support on the same side. Inhale as you take a step back and lower, sitting into the front hip and lightly tapping the back knee down if your mobility allows. Exhale as you press through the front foot and return to standing. Remove the deficit if more comfortable.

C2

1/2 kneeling banded face pull

2

8-10/es

2121

Long band

1min 30s

Set up in a half-kneeling position with the band anchored securely at shoulder height and maintain a stacked position with ribs atop hips. Inhale as you pull the band toward your ears, leading with your elbows out to the sides. Exhale as you slowly return with control.

D1

DB overhead march

2

8-10/es

Controlled

5-6

Hold one dumbbell with both hands and reach it overhead, maintaining ribs atop hips and a stable trunk. Inhale as you lift one knee into the march. Exhale as you return the foot to the floor, then alternate sides.

D2

Seated DB triceps extension

2

8-10

3111

5-6

1min

Sit tall in a stacked position and hold the dumbbell behind your head, keeping your elbows relatively still. Inhale as you bend your elbows and lower the dumbbell behind your head. Exhale as you extend your elbows and use your triceps to bring the dumbbell back up.