My name is Kelsey. Mom of 2 wonderful boys, wife to my best friend, and a physical therapist. When I had my first son in 2014, I was in physical therapy school. The midwives that I saw throughout my pregnancy and delivery were great, but I learned more about recovery and healing during the postpartum period at school than I did from my medical provider. I was given the “warning signs” to watch for for postpartum depression and “cleared” for exercise at 6 weeks. I can tell you right now, that after delivering a 10 pound baby, I was NOT ready for exercise at 6 weeks. My pelvic floor was in need of strengthening, my abdominals were stretched out and separated, and if I hadn’t been taught in school about healing postpartum, I would have jumped right back into my workout routine, which included some pretty intense running.

Even with the knowledge that I had of postpartum recovery, I still jumped in early and started back to my old routine sooner than I should have. No, I didn’t suffer any devastating injury, but my body just wasn’t ready. I didn’t have the support, someone to remind me to slow down, take my time, heal my body, and ease back into it. I ran a marathon 6 months after having my baby. Was I proud of this? You bet. Was my body ready for it? No way.

Fast forward 8 months later, and I found out I was pregnant with baby #2. This time it was different. I shifted my focus from running to lifting weights. I still ran (and still do), but my main workouts were lifting workouts at home. After 9 months of lifting, I had a quick and easy delivery, and a beautiful baby boy. This time around, I took my time. I worked on my pelvic floor, I healed my abdominals, I had support. I wasn’t in a hurry, there was nothing to prove. I started running when I was ready. I started lifting when I was ready. If I needed the rest, I took it. If I felt I could push it, I did. And let me tell you something, sitting here now with a 17 month old, I have never felt better physically. I feel stronger, more in control, more balanced. I can jump without peeing my pants. I can do a plank without worrying about any abdominal separation. It wasn’t a magic formula, no magic pill, no magic program. I was NOT working out to “get my body back”. My body will never be the same as it was before kids and I wouldn’t want it to. I am stronger now that I was then. I am more capable now than I was then. I am more CONFIDENT now than I was then. And it feels great.

So that is why I am here. I am here to help. I am here to educate. I am here to support. Whether your baby is 6 weeks, 6 years, or 16 years old. Whether you have a knee injury or have been told you will never do something ever again. I am here for you. You don’t have to go through this journey alone. Our bodies can do amazing things, if we give them the right foundation and take care of them as we progress. Whether you start today, a week from now, or a few months from now, let’s do it together. And someday you will look back at where you are today and be happy to see how far you’ve come, because you decided to make a change for you! You can do it, and you are WORTH it.