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Hot mamas at the mall

Mothers take some much-needed time for their own physical (and mental) health without leaving baby behind.

By LATEEFA MOREHOUSE
Published September 23, 2005

BRANDON - As the babies chuckle and gurgle in their strollers, the mommies pant and sweat while power-walking.

"Drop those shoulders and push that stroller, and remember to suck in those abs," yells Ginger Couden, an instructor for Stroller Strides, a fitness program for new mothers in Brandon.

At the Westfield Brandon Town Center, the mothers skip-jump past Abercrombie & Fitch to JCPenney, where they stop to use resistance bands to work their shoulders.

From there, they stop in front of Dillard's to use a water fountain and benches for pushups and triceps lifts. Then they power stroll to the Gap and do leg lunges, some mothers holding their babies in their arms for added resistance.

This is a fraction of the Stroller Strides fitness routine that these women participate in every Tuesday and Thursday morning in the mall. The program runs in many states across the nation and started locally in July.

Stroller Strides is also about healthy minds. Since its inception in 2001, the program has gained national attention because of the social support it provides for new mothers.

"Being a mother can be isolating," said Couden, 33, who is pregnant and has a 2-year-old.

The program helps women get out of the house, lose postnatal weight and have fun with other mothers, she said.

Couden, who moved to the Tampa Bay area from Hawaii in December, started the program in early March. Instructors are mothers and are certified in pre- and postnatal fitness.

The Stroller Strides fitness routine consists of a warmup and a 50-minute power walk circumventing the whole mall with stops for strength, toning and flexibility training.

Many of the routines include activities to entertain and occupy the baby. That way, parents don't have to get sitters.

"If your baby is crying it doesn't matter because there are 10 other women whose babies are crying, and you can stop and take care of her," said Barbie Emaus, 21, who exercises with her 3-month-old daughter, Rylee Anne.

Emaus said that since she joined the program she feels stronger and has lost 25 of the 45 pounds she gained during pregnancy.

"It gives you the chance to interact with other mothers," she said, "and get tips on things like how to get to sleep if the baby is not taking the bottle."

Tracy Guthrie, 30, said the program had increased her energy level and confidence in being a good mother.

"I went through postnatal depression," she said. "It's really helped me come out of that."

Amber Grant, 24, said that besides helping her lose weight, Stroller Strides improves her mentality.

"I missed last week. I just didn't feel the same," she said. "It helps keep me happy, my entire mind and body."

For more information about Stroller Strides in Brandon, New Tampa or Tampa's Hyde Park, call Ginger Couden at 813 394-7754 or go to www.strollerstrides.net/tampa

[Last modified September 22, 2005, 10:20:06]