About FitMama Online

Welcome to FitMama Online.  I am the creator of The FitMama Method pregnancy and postnatal exercise classes and the author of the commissioned book of the same name.  (You can read my full story dating back to the 1980s in this book).

 

I developed this concept in 2005 (first, under the name Perfectly Pregnant), after my second pregnancy when I couldn’t find suitable active exercise for pregnancy in Hampshire, England, other than yoga. So after some research, I trained with the Canadian company “Fit to Deliver” and was inspired by these fantastic women’s health professionals to create an active program for mums to be in the UK. I started out in the North Warnborough Village Hall with just two pregnant ladies. Within the year I moved to The Park Health Club in Hook, with full classes and added on my postnatal sessions, which included pelvic floor repair and a power walk on the running track with buggies. We were all having great fun being with each other as mums. The community spirit was the key to helping us all cope with life as mums.

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Then, in 2006, I moved down the road to Basingstoke and Fitness First became the new home of FitMama. The classes were so popular, I took on an apprentice and began the teacher training program for new locations including Richmond, Reading and Windsor. Amidst this busy schedule, I was commissioned by Ernest Hecht of Souvenir press to put my methods into a book, and so The FitMama Method, Your Guide to Confidence and Fitness for Birth, was  published in 2012. I could not believe he paid me to write it!

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Then FitMama obtained its own premises with the help from my wonderful investor, Mrs D, an inspiring woman in business who believed in my work and commitment to women. Over the years I have had the privilege to be able to train up 7 women to become FitMama instructors, and help them to help other women in their area. Many other women who have participated in my classes have been inspired to start their own maternity classes. FitMama grew and we even had a teacher in Botswana!

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Then in March 2020, Covid hit. We took everything immediately online and supported our mums the best we could at a distance. I trained up to become a BirthBliss Doula and had high hopes for continuing to help women through this time. A year later, however, the restrictions had taken their toll and the FitMama classes ceased.

 

Even the Guild of Pregnancy and Postnatal Teachers eventually stopped supporting maternity instructors as so many professionals were forced to stop their classes. That was 2021, and instead, for a few years, I focused on the business I share with my husband, Studio 41 Fitness Ltd.

 

The fitness industry has been a challenging place to work since Covid. Against all odds, we pulled through and in 2024 we relocated to much bigger, brighter premises with a wonderful landlady, made possible by our incredibly loyal members.

 

A few months in, I realised it was time to get back to helping expectant and postnatal mums, and now, perimenopausal ladies. FitMama still has work to do and I have many women to instill with confidence and bravery, knowledge and strength.  The rebuild begins with this website, the relaunch of classes and a bundle of optimism to help, support and inspire. 

 

Come and join our FitMama family... and never look back!

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Marie x

August 2024

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Marie Behenna is an advanced pre-postnatal instructor, advanced personal trainer and fitness coach specialising in womens' health, doula and womens' health author. She also teaches Tai Chi Qigong Shibashi, The Hypopressive Method and is a Mental Health Practitioner.qualified in supporting people living with autism, as well as mental health diagnoses.