Pregnancy Fitness at The Honeycomb Hub

No, that is not a football
up there!!

Back in 2012, my husband and I decided that we ought to join the gym. So we signed up, had the tour, took advantage of the free personal training session and set off with great enthusiasm the first week.. and the second week… and then I started to find the excuses. So imagine my delight when I discovered I was pregnant and had, what I thought, was the excuse to beat all excuses not to go to the gym! However, the trump card I thought I was carrying soon turned out to be not so good as it was pointed out to me the many benefits of continuing with the right exercise while pregnant.

My go-to gift for mums-to-be!
For many, exercising when pregnant may continue in the way you did before you were pregnant. However, as I did not attend regular formal exercise pre-pregnancy, I wanted to ensure that I found a safe way to keep fit and active while I was pregnant. Thankfully at the gym, I spent a fortune on not attending, was the incredible Marie Behenna, author of The Fitmama Method TM, who ran fitness classes specifically for pregnant ladies. Her classes were eye opening and I still can’t hear the song ‘Jump’ by Atomic Kitten without thinking of one of the routines!

These classes not only kept me active throughout my pregnancy but they also gave me insight into what to expect while preparing me both mentally and physically for birth. I was even attending them at 1 week overdue with my second to attempt to squat him out!

 Thanks to these pregnancy fitness classes I knew that I could have an active labour and didn’t have to simply lie on the bed; I knew different positions for birth and I knew the different types of breathing needed for different parts of the labour. (If I’m honest, I still use the relaxation breathing whenever I need an injection or while having a bikini wax!)

Marie Behenna:www.fitmamastudio.com

Our Fitness Director, Phillida McLaggan, was inspired by Marie Behenna to become a pre- and post-natal fitness specialist. Marie offered to become her mentor and Phillida got to spend time learning from her through her training. (Phillida is now an HFPA qualified PT specialising in pre-and post-natal fitness and registered with Reps SA.) Our collaboration and Marie's mentorship continues  and we are planning for Phillida to go back over to UK next year for further professional development. 


Exercising safely with
appropriate equipment.



At The Honeycomb Hub, we hold pregnancy classes at 6pm on a Wednesday to help the pregnant women of Gaborone keep fit and exercise safely while also preparing them for birth. Part of the fee includes a signed copy of Marie Behenna’s book The Fitmama Method. TM. 

As part of the class we discuss any issues or questions our ladies may have and point them in the right direction for further advice. They are then led through a series of exercises specifically for pregnant women to keep active and fit while utilising the muscles that will be so important during labour and in the weeks after birth. We practise breathing techniques, which can be so useful to know even if you are having a planned C-section. The relaxation breathing, in particular,  is beneficial for the insertion of epidural needles!

Keeping a stable pelvis
while exercising


On top of this, you meet a great group of women who are all going through exactly the same thing as you and will continue to be on the same timeline as you with night-time feeds, teething babies and the merits of baby led weaning or pureeing when it comes to introducing solids. There is solidarity in the sisterhood of motherhood and it is great to have a network who are there with you, no judgement just love and support.






If you would like more information about our pregnancy fitness classes please send us an email at thehoneycombhub@outlook.com, give us a call on 75935900 or drop into The Honeycomb Hub in Phakalane. We always make time for a chat over a free cup of tea or coffee!
The session ends with a relaxing meditation
-Chillmama by Marie Behenna  https://store.cdbaby.com/Artist/MarieBehenna

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