The group of women and babies is in the basement of the Liverpool Baptist United Church on Main Street. It’s 10:45 a.m. on a Tuesday, and they’re participating in Avramenko’s Happy Fit Mom and Baby Fitness class.
Each of the women holds their babies as they follow Avramenko’s lead.
If the babies are willing, mothers can use their children as resistance.
“So holding them and doing squats and that sort of thing, it just helps increase the resistance,” says Avramenko.
She says mothers’ holding their babies during exercise also really helps with bonding. Babies normally like being held and lifted up and down, she adds.
“This group is to let moms get together in the daytime when they’re otherwise home with their babies,” says Avramenko.
So the two main ideas behind the group are to allow mothers to socialize and get some exercise.
Avramenko says the group is good for mothers because they can take their babies to the classes rather than pay for babysitters.
Meaghan Roberts attends classes with her daughter Adelyn Roberts, who was born on July 28, 2011. She helped Avramenko organizes classes last year through the Region of Queens Recreation Department.
“I think that health, fitness and physical activity is so important, so from a young age I want to instill in Adelyn how important it is to be physically active,” says Roberts as to why she joined the group.
Come the new year, Avramenko says there will be more classes.
“It just gets organized on an interest basis, so we need eight moms and babies to participate,” she says.
Roberts says she looks forward to going to the class because it’s nice to get out and see other mothers, see others who are experiencing similar challenges and successes.
She says she plans to continue to take the classes in January because she would like to continue to set an example for her daughter.
Prices for the classes vary, depending on how many people are registered. The cost helps to contribute to the church’s heating, and Avramenko’s time and travel.
“We are all very thankful for such a great opportunity to start to get back in shape,” says Roberts.
Those interested in finding out more about the class may visit www.happyfit.ca or call Lisa Avramenko at 541-9896.
