empowered
motherhood
through
movement
program plan
weekly foundations
(AIM FOR 2+ TIMES PER WEEK)
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Exercise
sets
reps
video
COACHING CUE
Deep squat holds on birth ball
1-2
6-8b
Support your arms on the birth ball and lower into a deep squat as far as your mobility comfortably allows. If more comfortable, place a pillow, block or bench underneath you for additional support. Relax into the position and inhale slowly through your nose, allowing 360° expansion through your ribcage, sides and back, while allowing your pelvic floor to lengthen and relax. Exhale gently through your mouth, feeling your pelvic floor and deep core gently engage. Continue breathing slowly and diaphragmatically throughout.
Wide stance squat on birth ball
1-2
8-10
Stand in a comfortable wide stance with your fingertips supported on the birth ball in front of you. Inhale as you lower into a squat, rolling the ball forward as you descend. Exhale as you return to standing, rolling the ball back toward you. Work within a comfortable range of motion throughout.
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.
Adductor rock with birth ball
1-2
8-10/es
Set up in a lateral kneeling position with your hands or forearms supported on the birth ball. Inhale as you shift your hips back, allowing the ball to roll forward as you move into a comfortable stretch through the adductor. Exhale as you return to the starting position, rolling the ball back toward you. Work within a comfortable range of motion throughout.
Staggered stance multi angle pronation drill
1-2
6-8/es
Keep the front foot grounded with a stable tripod foot and relaxed toes. Slowly shift your weight forward over the front foot, allowing the knee, hip and pelvis to follow the direction of the movement and the arch to soften naturally as you load. Explore all three angles with control, feeling the pressure move through the foot.
Day 1
WARM-UP
Exercise
Sets
reps / time
video
COACHING CUE
90/90 side-lying knee roll
1-2
6-8/es
Set up side-lying 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 movement controlled.
90/90 side-lying knee roll
1-2
4-6/es
Set up in a diagonal half-kneeling position, with the front leg positioned at an angle between a traditional half-kneeling and lateral half-kneeling position. Place your hands on your front knee. Inhale as you shift your hips forward, allowing comfortable knee forward travel. Exhale as you shift your hips back and return to the starting position. Move slowly and work within a comfortable range of motion throughout.
Standing supported elevated hip hike
1-2
6-8/es
Stand on an elevation with support in front of you and keep the standing knee slightly soft throughout. Allow the opposite hip to drop as the foot reaches toward the floor, then lift the hip back up with control. Keep the movement focused through the pelvis without straightening the standing knee.
Quadruped t-spine rotation
1-2
6-8/es
Set up on all fours. Keep one hand supported on the floor and 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.
FULL BODY STRENGTH
Order
Exercise
sets
reps
tempo
rpe
rest
video
COACHING CUE
A1
2-DB front squat
2
4-6
2111
5-6
2min
Hold one dumbbell at each shoulder with your elbows pointing forward. Set your feet in a comfortable squat stance with full foot contact. Inhale as you lower, allowing your knees and hips to bend together and creating space for your belly. Exhale as you press firmly through your feet and return to standing. Use a bench, box or ball to squat to if preferred. If you are still comfortable using a barbell at this stage of pregnancy, see performing the front squat with a barbell as an option as well.
B1
Full range bench-supported KB row
2
6-8/es
2112
5-6
1min 30s
Set up with one knee and your non-rowing hand supported on the bench, with the opposite foot firmly grounded. Position the kettlebell slightly further away to allow a longer reach. Inhale as you row, leading your elbow toward your hip. Add a 2s pause at the top. 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
6-8/es
3111
5
Set up in a wide stance with one knee and the same-side hand supported on the bench. 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
6-way lateral fly
2
6-8
Controlled
5
1min 30s
Stand tall with ribs atop hips, keeping your knees and hips relaxed and elbows slightly soft. Inhale as you raise your arms laterally to shoulder height, bring them forward and continue overhead. Exhale as you reverse the movement with control back to the starting position.
D1
Seated abduction machine 1/4 reps
2
10-15
Controlled
5-6
Sit tall in a stacked position with a strong grip on the handles. Use a slightly lighter load and press your knees outward into the end range. From there, perform small, controlled ¼ reps, maintaining tension throughout. Keep the movement dynamic and continue breathing comfortably throughout.
day 2
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.
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 if preferred. 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.
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.
Shoulder airplane
1-2
8-10/es
Support both hands on the bench with soft knees and hips. Press each finger of the supporting hand firmly into the bench. Inhale as you reach the opposite arm underneath your trunk, then open and rotate toward the ceiling within your available range. Exhale as you return with control.
FULL BODY STRENGTH
ORDER
Exercise
sets
reps
tempo
rpe
rest
video
COACHING CUE
A1
Barbell elevated sumo deadlift tempo on return
2
4-5
3011
5-6
2min
Set up in a wide stance with your toes slightly turned out, keeping your knees tracking in the same direction as your toes. If using a barbell, elevate it approximately 6–12 cm using blocks or boxes, adjusting the height based on what feels comfortable. If you choose not to add weight to the bar, elevate it approximately 20–25 cm using blocks or boxes. Reach down with long arms and grip the bar approximately shoulder-width apart. Inhale as you press firmly through your feet and stand tall. Exhale as you lower the bar with a slow, controlled 3-second return, sitting back into your hips. If you feel more comfortable using dumbbells instead of a barbell, see this as an option as well.
B1
Alternating lat pulldown machine
2
6-8/es
2111
6
1min 30s
Sit tall with ribs atop hips. Inhale as you pull one arm down, maintaining a slight forward intention through the elbow while allowing the opposite arm to reach long overhead. Exhale as you return with control, then alternate sides.
C1
Supported reverse lunge
2
6-8/es
2111
5
Maintain a stable foot on the standing leg and use support as needed. Inhale as you take a step back, sitting into the front hip and lightly tapping the back knee to the floor if your mobility allows. Exhale as you press through the front foot and return to standing.
C2
Incline alternating DB press
2
6-8/es
3111
5
1min 30s
Set the bench to approximately a 30° incline and elevate your feet on a comfortable support if preferred. Start with both arms extended. Inhale as you lower one dumbbell until approximately shoulder height. Exhale as you press the dumbbell back toward the ceiling, then alternate sides with control. Keep the opposite arm extended throughout.
D1
Standing bird dog row
2
6-8/es
2111
5
Set up standing with a slight hinge through the hips, stabilizing over one leg while reaching the opposite leg behind you. Maintain a stable tripod foot and keep your hips and pelvis controlled. Exhale as you row, bringing your elbow toward your hip. Inhale as you return, reaching the arm forward with control while maintaining your balance and position.
D2
Standing band adduction
2
8-10/es
1111
Long band
1min 30s
Stand sideways to the band attachment and use the rack for support. Attach the band to the leg closest to the rack and maintain a stable tripod foot with a soft knee on the leg furthest from the rack. Reach the banded leg slightly forward. Inhale as you bring it across the standing leg, focusing on the inner thigh. Exhale as you slowly return to the starting position with control.
day 3
WARM-UP
Exercise
sets
reps / time
video
COACHING CUE
Standing cross-connect with ball
1-2
8-10/es
Centre your weight over the standing leg and maintain a stable tripod foot with a soft knee. Exhale as you bring the opposite knee up and reach the ball toward it, creating the cross-connect. Inhale as you return with control.
90/90 hip transition
1-2
6-8/es
Sit on the floor, or if more comfortable, sit on a bench/step up box, with both knees bent and maintain heel contact with the floor throughout. Slowly rotate your hips from side to side, allowing your knees to move toward the floor while keeping the movement controlled. Breathe naturally throughout.
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.
FULL BODY STRENGTH
order
Exercise
sets
reps
tempo
rpe
rest
video
COACHING CUE
A1
Trap bar RDL
2
6-8
3111
5-6
2min
Place your feet approximately hip-width apart and reach down with long arms to take a strong grip on the handles. If using an empty trap bar, place blocks or boxes underneath the sides to elevate the bar approximately 8–12 cm. Press through a stable tripod foot and use leg drive to stand. From the standing position, inhale as you hinge with soft knees, feeling length through your hamstrings. Exhale as you press firmly into the floor and return to standing, extending your hips. If preferred, use dumbbells instead, holding them by the sides of your legs and following the same technique.
B1
Bench-supported alternating KB chest press
2
6-8/es
2010
5
1min 30s
Support your upper back on the bench with full foot contact and maintain your hips lifted with ribs stacked over your pelvis. Start with both kettlebells pressed up and your arms extended. Inhale as you lower one kettlebell, bringing your elbow slightly below your torso. Exhale as you press the kettlebell back up, then alternate sides with control. Maintain your bridge position throughout.
C1
Lateral box squat with ball
2
6-8/es
2111
5
Set up in a wide stance next to a box or bench, hugging a med ball or light ball close to your body. Shift your weight toward the leg closest to the box, maintaining full foot contact. Inhale as you lower, allowing the knee to travel forward and lightly tapping the box while keeping tension through your leg. Exhale as you press firmly through the foot and drive laterally back to standing.
C2
Kickstand cable archer row
2
8-10/es
2121
5
1min 30s
Set up in a kickstand position, centring your weight over the front leg with a stable tripod foot. Inhale as you row, rotating your forearm into a neutral grip while reaching the opposite arm forward and bringing your hip forward. Exhale as you reach the rowing arm forward and sit the hip back, maintaining control throughout.
D1
Banded hip thrust
2
6-8
2112
BW
Support your upper back on the bench with both feet on the floor and a band positioned above your knees. Maintain gentle outward pressure into the band throughout. 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.