Juggling a partner, children, relatives, friends AND a boss may mean some mothers have no time for exercise but chartered physiotherapists believe exercising with children is the best time to get fit and ward off the ill-effects of a hectic lifestyle.
On an average weekday, full time working mothers, in a couple, spend nearly four and a half hours caring for their children. This figure increases to six and a half hours at the weekend with almost half of this time spent on housework or watching television in the company of children.
This new initiative by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) is urging working women to stop putting exercise on the backburner and incorporate time spent with children with physical activities to help boost energy levels and keep in overall good shape.
Alex Welman, chartered physiotherapist in women’s health, says: ‘Exercise should be an integral part of your life just like brushing your teeth or combing your hair. It should be stress relieving - not stress provoking.
‘Doing exercises with your new baby, toddler or school age child can help to keep you both happy and give you a sense of wellbeing. Regular exercise not only helps to improve your strength, suppleness and stamina but is also important for relaxation, restful sleep and confidence building, which can be fragile if you are a new mum.’
Struggling to manage a busy work and home life can take its toll on your mental and physical health. Exercise helps to relieve stress, anxiety, mild depression and low self-esteem, Alex says.
‘It is important mothers give themselves some “me-time” which isn’t wasted on domestic chores. Using the time spent with children on weekdays and weekends is a great opportunity to combine exercise with quality playtime.’
The CSP has devised the following tips mothers can carry out with their children. If you are new to exercise, be sensible and start gently. If you experience any backache, pelvic girdle pain or incontinence, consult your local women’s health chartered physiotherapist.
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