Yay Kathy! We’re glad you’re here and congrats on bringing an entire human into this world! I agree with comments before me and we have so many fabulous mommas around.

While some classes are themed, I find just about any M/BODY class engages full body muscles. We engage our core strength and pelvic floor strength a bunch. Please tune into your body and listen to Marnie’s words- those form notes may seem minor but ‘proper’ form helps us activate and engage all the muscles properly. There are so many cues and guidance for modifications and options; the best is when we listen to our body and see what helps us engage rather than let our silly egos determine the modification. I prefer to do classes in front of a mirror so I can check alignment visually and not just by feeling my hips are even or my chest is up.

Choosing classes marked as “low impact” can help you get the sweat and heat via anaerobic movements and have more pulses than jumps. That might be your sweet spot for the first few weeks or months. You’re in your own space; feel free to wear a big old pad for any possible leaks with jumps or bounces and pee before class (pause and use restroom if you need!). Maybe also explore some of the classes under the “Pregnancy” section; while you can lay on your back and such now, it may offer mindful guidance about modifications that are gentler on the abdominal muscles that all stretched and shifted in the magical ways they do during pregnancy. Your balance may feel different after all you’ve experienced too.

Any time in the mat is great; I agree with starting with 20 minute classes. I rely on those when short on time and I often am still working up a sweat, breathing much more deeply, etc. Every class in the catalog has a description from M/BODY and lists the equipment needed, and also includes comments from people who have done the class and that may help you choose a class or at least know what you’re about to experience.

We’re glad you (and your fam) are here!

Tried and true classic for quick fire-y abs. 🔥 

Quick-paced, no equipment, bouncy class that felt challenging to return to several years later. Don't sleep on these classics earlier in the M/BODY catalog!

Upbeat class where 45 minutes fly by to a great playlist. Choreography includes a lot of crossing center line (in front of course but also crossing our center behind us, such as the kneeling curtsy move), and our posture feels like a focus (soft and open heart/strong back). Cardio dance is bouncy, arm dance is strengthening with weights, and Movement ball can be squeezed in between thighs at the barre, support our knees in some kneeling moves, and is under foot/calf while laying down on the mat tummy skyward. The barre choreography combos were fun and required brain engagement for me. Have space for wide second facing your barre (feet mat width or wider) and further to each side for a tabletop side kick. Felt full-body engagement with front abdominal muscle work included. No P&Ps in this class (unless you consider tabletop position with one leg dancing to be plank-adjacent, but my lack of quiet cussing means I do not).

Happy Birthday, Molly G!

So exciting! Post a sweatpant pic, momma!

Alyssa, thank you for sharing and how awful to go through this physical pain journey and process of healing. I hope your chosen path works for you, but perhaps it’s good to know surgery is a backup plan IF necessary. We are here with you, so making things known helps us know when to rally around and lift each other up. Whether you need an organ to go (appendixes are overrated, right?) or whether you need community and reminders to soften your heart and strengthen your back as you recover from spinal/nerve injuries, speak up and we show up. This community is a living, breathing, pulsing realm of safety and support and I am so grateful to be here with you and with others. I know I don’t always check/keep up with the Community Board or group chats, but when I do it’s this awe-inspiring reminder of what is here to tap into and give and receive. Sending you all the love and healing and being seen and supported, whether that’s comfortable or not, to you!

So good for a no-equipment class where you want to release and get a bit sweaty in just 30 minutes. It's cardio dance with jump options and moving down to the mat for some P&P dancing (planks and push-up) then pilates-esque abdominal work. 

So elongating! I almost forgot the power of how we shift the direction of our toes, purposefully flex or point, and this class reminded me of the simplistic and powerful purpose of these moves with our own body weight. All on our knees or in table-top with brief stepping up to standing and back down again. 

Class can use both the traditional and mini size movement ball (the smaller ball for behind the knee down on the mat). Next time I’ll try this with ankle weights; I bet that adds a lot of power (and cuss words?) with kicks and pulses in lunge and leg dancing in forms of tabletop on the mat. When in doubt, tuck to align posture/form again and again (every single spoken reminder from Marnie had me shifting this). 

HBD to mama of Marnie & Spagz!! Happy 5 year Marnieversary to Julia H!

PS: I deleted “correcting” and typed “shifting” b/c doing frequent M/BODY classes each week helps make different shapes with your thoughts too. 🫶

jennyg ohhh I love this! I’m glad it was most awesome so far and I hope you like the option of picking up hand weights or adding light ankle weights!