empowered
motherhood
through
movement

program plan

weekly foundations

(AIM FOR 2+ TIMES PER WEEK)

Exercise

sets

reps

video

COACHING CUE

Kneeling single-leg block elevated hip hike

1-2

8-10/es

Set up in a kneeling position, with one knee supported on the block and your hands supported on a bench in front. 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.

Three point quadruped glute rockback

1-2

8-10/es

Set up with both hands supported on the floor, one leg bent underneath your body and the opposite leg extended straight behind you. Inhale as you slowly rock your hips back, sensing a comfortable stretch through the hip. Exhale as you return to the starting position. This can also be performed with the bent leg supported on a bench if more comfortable.

Quadruped t-spine rotation

1-2

6-8/es

Set up in an all-fours position with your hands under your shoulders and knees under your hips. Reach the opposite arm underneath your trunk, then inhale as you rotate through your upper back and reach that arm toward the ceiling, following your hand with your eyes. Exhale as you rotate back underneath your trunk with control. Move through a comfortable range, allowing the rotation to come through your upper back.

Standing hip CAR

1-2

6-8/es

Stand tall and hold on to support on the same side as the standing leg. Centre your weight over the standing leg with a stable tripod foot and soft knee. Lift the opposite knee and slowly circle the hip through the largest comfortable range available, keeping your pelvis and trunk as stable as possible. Breathe comfortably throughout.

Supported ball squeeze calf raise

1-2

10-12

Stand tall with your hands supported for stability and place a ball between your heels. Maintain gentle pressure into the ball throughout. Raise your heels off the floor into a controlled calf raise, then slowly lower back down while keeping the ball securely between your heels.

Day 1

WARM-UP

Exercise

Sets

reps / time

video

COACHING CUE

Cat cow pose with block elevated knee

1-2

6-8/es

Set up on all fours with one knee elevated on a block and sit slightly back into your hips. Press your fingertips firmly into the floor for stability. Inhale as you gently extend through your spine and open your chest. Exhale as you round your spine, allowing your head and tailbone to follow the movement. Repeat with the opposite knee elevated.

Heel click

1-2

4-6/es

Sit in a 90/90 position and lift one leg, leading with the heel as you rotate it around your body. Tap the opposite heel, then reverse the movement back to the starting position. Move slowly and maintain control through the hip throughout. Sit on a block or elevation if more comfortable.

Alternating lateral shift and rotational reach with stick

1-2

8-10/es

Set up in a wide stance with the stick behind your lower back. Maintain full foot contact as you shift into one hip and inhale as you rotate and reach the opposite hand toward the standing foot. Exhale as you press through the foot to return, then alternate sides.

Seated alternating t-spine rotation

1-2

6-8/es

Sit on a bench/box and reach same side hand toward the same side ankle. Inhale as you rotate your ribcage and reach the opposite arm toward the ceiling, following your hand with your eyes. Exhale as you slowly return.

Block-elevated bird dog

FULL BODY STRENGTH

Order

Exercise

sets

reps

tempo

rpe

rest

video

COACHING CUE

A1

Single-arm DB front squat

2

4-5/es

3111

5-6

2min

Stand with your feet comfortably positioned and hold one dumbbell at your shoulder with your elbow pointing forward. Reach your free arm slightly away from your body for balance. Inhale as you slowly 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

3-point DB single-arm row

2

6-8/es

2112

5-6

1min 30s

Support one hand on a bench or a stable elevated surface and maintain ribs atop hips. Allow your knees to bend and your heels to slightly elevate off the floor as needed. Maintain a strong grip. Inhale as you row, leading your elbow toward your trunk. Pause for 2s at the top. Exhale as you lower the dumbbell with control, reaching long at the bottom.

C1

Seated banded hamstrings curl

2

6-8

3111

Long band

Sit on a bench, box or chair with the band anchored securely in front of you, slightly below knee height. Position the band around the back of your ankles, just above your heels, and hold onto the seat with your hands for support. Maintain contact through your sit bones and keep ribs atop hips. Inhale as you bend your knees and pull your heels back, engaging your hamstrings. Exhale as you slowly extend your legs and return to the starting position with control.

C2

Standing DB front raise

2

6-8

2111

5

1min 30s

Stand tall with ribs atop hips and maintain a strong grip on the dumbbells. Keep your elbows slightly soft. Inhale as you raise the dumbbells in front of you to approximately shoulder height. Exhale as you slowly lower with control.

D1

Single-leg stand iso with alternating DB swing

2

6-8/es

Controlled

4-5

Maintain a stable standing foot and trunk as you hold the opposite leg elevated and swing the dumbbell from side to side. Breathe continuously throughout, resisting rotation and keeping your body as stable as possible.

D2

Hip thrust

2

8-10

2112

BW

1min 30s

Support your upper back on the bench or stable elevated surface with both feet on the floor. Inhale as you press through your feet and extend your hips. Pause for 2s at the top. Exhale as you lower with control, maintaining your stacked position.

day 2

WARM-UP

Exercise

sets

reps / time

video

COACHING CUE

Quadruped hip CAR

1-2

4-6/es

Start on all fours and elevate one knee on a block, keeping your pelvis and spine as still as possible. Inhale as you circle the opposite knee out and back through the largest range your hip comfortably allows, focusing on rotating the femur within the hip. Exhale as you slowly reverse the circle back to the starting position.

Lateral kneeling adductor rock

1-2

6-8/es

Set up in a lateral kneeling position with one knee supported on the floor, the opposite leg extended out to the side, and both hands supported on the floor. Inhale as you shift your hips back, feeling a comfortable stretch through the hip and adductor. Exhale as you shift your hips forward and return to the starting position.

Three-way hip shift tap

1-2

6-8/es

Keep most of your weight over the standing leg, with a soft knee, as you sit back into the hip. Reach the opposite foot to tap the floor in front, to the side and slightly behind you. Maintain full foot contact on the standing leg and breathe naturally throughout.

Wide stance hinge with t-spine rotation

1-2

6-8/es

Set up in a comfortable wide stance and push your hips back, reaching both hands toward one ankle. Hold a light dumbbell in the outside hand, or perform without weight. Inhale as you rotate through your upper back, reaching the outside arm toward the ceiling as far as your mobility comfortably allows. Exhale as you return with control.

FULL BODY STRENGTH

ORDER

Exercise

sets

reps

tempo

rpe

rest

video

COACHING CUE

A1

1-DB sumo deadlift double pause below knee

2

4-5

1111

5-6

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, performing two brief pauses on the way up — one just above the ankle and one below the knee. Exhale as you slowly lower the dumbbell, sitting your hips back and maintaining a long, neutral spine throughout.

B1

Seated single-arm DB overhead press

2

6-8/es

2111

5

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.

C1

Walking lunge

2

6-8/es

2121

5

Step forward and centre your weight over the front leg, maintaining a stable tripod foot and allowing the knee to travel forward. Inhale as you lower into the lunge, then exhale as you press through the front foot to return. Bring the back foot forward to lightly tap the floor and regain control before taking the next step. Use dumbbells or body weight depending on what feels most comfortable.

C2

Kickstand banded archer row

2

6-8/es

2121

Long band

1min 30s

Set up in a kickstand position with the band anchored securely in front of you, slightly above hip height, centring your weight over the front leg with a stable tripod foot and maintaining a stacked, upright position. Inhale as you row, rotating your forearm into a neutral grip while reaching the opposite arm forward and allowing your ribcage to rotate. Exhale as you reach the rowing arm forward and return with control.

D1

Incline shoulder tap

2

6-8/es

Controlled

BW

Set up with your hands supported on a bench and feet on the floor, maintaining a long, stacked position. Inhale as you lift one hand and tap the opposite shoulder, resisting rotation through your trunk. Exhale as you return your hand to the bench, then alternate sides.

D2

Standing banded diagonal hip abduction

2

8-10/es

Controlled

Short band

1min 30s

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 diagonally away from your body, working at an angle between directly lateral and straight back, then return to the starting position with control. Breathe comfortably throughout, keeping the movement controlled and your pelvis stable.

day 3

WARM-UP

Exercise

sets

reps / time

video

COACHING CUE

All-fours wall supported knee roll

1-2

4-6/es

Set up on all fours with your feet supported against the wall and a ball between your knees. Lift both knees slightly off the floor, maintaining gentle pressure into the ball. Inhale as you reach one knee forward toward the floor, allowing the movement to come from the hips. Exhale as you return to the elevated position, then alternate sides with control. If this position feels too challenging, perform the exercise in a side-lying position instead.

1/2 kneeling lateral stance halo

1-2

6-8/es

Set up with one knee supported on the floor and the opposite leg extended laterally, maintaining heel contact. Keep your head still and eyes facing forward as you circle the weight closely around your head. Inhale through the rotation, then exhale as you complete the circle and return to the starting position.

Wall-supported hip airplane

1-2

6-8/es

Lean slightly forward with both hands supported on the wall and centre your weight over the standing leg. Maintain a stable tripod foot and soft knee throughout. Lead the movement from the hip, keeping the standing knee stable. Inhale as you rotate your pelvis inward over the femur. Exhale as you press firmly through the standing foot and rotate the hip open, allowing your upper body to follow the movement.

Couch stretch med ball rotation

1-2

6-8/es

Set up with one knee on the floor and the rear foot elevated on the bench, with the opposite foot grounded in front. Hug the med ball close to your body. Inhale as you rotate diagonally over the front leg, then exhale as you return with control. If the couch stretch position feels uncomfortable, perform the movement in a regular half-kneeling position instead.

FULL BODY STRENGTH

order

Exercise

sets

reps

tempo

rpe

rest

video

COACHING CUE

A1

Supported kickstand DB RDL

2

6-8/es

3111

5-6

2min

Set up in a kickstand position with your hand supported on the same side as the standing leg. Centre your body weight over the standing leg, with the opposite foot lightly supported behind you. Maintain a soft knee throughout and keep the dumbbell close to your body. Inhale as you slowly hinge, sitting your hips back and maintaining a long, neutral spine. Exhale as you press firmly through the standing foot and return to standing.

B1

Banded straight arm lat pulldown

2

8-10

2111

Long band

1min 30s

Set the band securely above you and stand with your knees and hips soft, maintaining a slight bend through both. Grip the band approximately shoulder-width apart with your arms reaching forward around shoulder height and your elbows soft. Inhale as you pull the band down toward your hips, keeping your arms long and engaging your lats. Exhale as you slowly return to the starting position, controlling the band throughout. Maintain ribs atop hips and keep the movement controlled throughout.

C1

Goblet front foot elevated split squat with rotation

2

6-8/es

2111

5

Centre your weight over the front leg and choose an elevation that feels comfortable, or perform without elevation. Maintain full foot contact and inhale as you lower, sitting into the front hip while limiting excessive forward knee travel and allowing the back leg to rotate inward. Exhale as you press through the front leg and return to the starting position.

C2

Seated Arnold press

2

6-8

2121

5

1min 30s

Sit tall with your feet firmly grounded and maintain ribs stacked over hips. Start with the dumbbells in front of you, palms facing toward your body. Inhale as you rotate the arms outward and press the dumbbells overhead. Exhale as you lower with control, rotating the palms back toward you as you return to the starting position.

D1

Suitcase march

2

6-8/es

Controlled

5

Stand tall with ribs atop hips, holding one dumbbell by your side and reaching the opposite arm slightly out for stability. Inhale as you lift one knee, then exhale as you return the foot to the floor. Alternate legs while maintaining a stable trunk and avoiding leaning toward or away from the dumbbell.

D2

Seated single-arm DB triceps extension

2

6-8/es

3111

5

1min

Sit tall with ribs atop hips and hold the dumbbell overhead. Keep your upper arm relatively still. Inhale as you bend your elbow and lower the dumbbell behind your head. Exhale as you extend your elbow and return the dumbbell overhead.