Dossier: Sport after childbirth

Fitness training with your baby in a sling

Kanga is a complete fitness programme for new mums, designed to train cardiovascular endurance, flexibility and strength. What’s really cool is that instead of using weights, you carry your baby in a sling.

Kangatraining is specifically tailored to the needs of women who have recently given birth. It targets specific problem zones and muscle groups such as the pelvic floor and abdominal muscles and women are able to exercise in a gentle manner with their baby essentially replacing the dumbbell. Because children get heavier and heavier, the training benefits for the mother steadily increase. “It’s quite a feat to train with a child weighing 10 kilogrammes,” says Silvia Hengartner, Kangatrainer in Zurich.

Suitable for children up to around two years old

Kanga is ideal exercise until your child is around two years old. “But you can actually keep doing Kanga for as long as your child is having fun and is happy to take part,” says Hengartner. Some of the mothers training with her have two kids. In this case the bigger child does the same as mum, with a doll in its sling.

Kanga burn

Anyone looking to take their Kanga training to the next level might be interested in Kanga burn. It’s a continuation of Kanga without children that emphasises endurance, and is designed to help you burn off 800 calories per session.

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