15. The Ways We Move: Pre Baby, Pregnancy, and Postpartum

Our relationship with movement changes throughout our lives—and pregnancy and motherhood can completely redefine it. In this episode of the Woman Within Podcast, we take a deep dive into our personal histories with **movement, exercise, fitness, dance, gymnastics, strength training, and yoga**, and explore how the way we move has evolved as we've grown, become mothers, and moved through pregnancy and postpartum. We talk about the difference between moving for performance, appearance, and achievement versus moving for **connection, mental health, strength, mobility, nervous system regulation, and simply feeling at home in your body.** We also get into how pregnancy can be an invitation to slow down, listen to your intuition, and let go of expectations about what your workouts “should” look like. Then we explore **postpartum movement and recovery**—rebuilding your relationship with your core and pelvic floor, reconnecting with your body after birth, and learning to move again alongside your baby rather than feeling like you need to “get your body back.” Ultimately, this is a conversation about moving **with your body rather than against it**, and allowing your relationship with movement to change as you change. **In this episode, we talk about:** - Our childhood relationships with movement, gymnastics, swimming, and dance - How competitive fitness shaped our relationships with our bodies - Moving from performance and achievement toward embodiment and connection - Our journeys through strength training, CrossFit, yoga, and functional movement - How pregnancy changes your body, nervous system, and relationship with exercise - Why pregnancy may be an invitation to slow down and soften - Movement during pregnancy and preparing the body for birth - Postpartum recovery, core and pelvic floor rehabilitation - Reconnecting with your body after pregnancy and birth - Body image and the pressure to “get your body back” - Moving as a way to connect with your baby - How movement can support nervous system regulation and mental health - Learning to trust your intuition and meet your body where it is **New Episodes drop every Monday!** **Join our email list** to get reminders about new episodes and future offerings ⁠https://womanwithinpod.myflodesk.com/joinus⁠ **Follow us on Instagram** @womanwithinpod @nicole\_mejia @soulfully\_sarah\_stew If this episode resonates with you, **don't forget to like and subscribe.** *Thank you so much for listening!*