ML Interest Tag: strength-training

11 Easy Ways to Fit in Fitness As a New Mom

by Oz Spies

Your sweet bundle hasn’t mastered the art of the nap yet and you’re still maneuvering between never-ending piles of laundry. But, you’re also ready to jump-start your fitness routine. What’s a new mama to do? Here’s a hint: Consider your baby to be your new fitness partner, not your biggest obstacle. Scroll down for a few simple ideas that will help you find the time to break a sweat.

photo: fui via Flickr

1. Walk It Out
Go for a hike or take your baby on outings where you’ll have to walk, like the zoo or, when it’s cold out, to a museum or even the mall. Make sure to pack your carrier. It not only makes strolling with a wee one easier but hefting that extra baby weight burns extra calories.

2. Try an App for That
Make naptime your workout time using Sworkit, an app that leads you through short, customized exercises. You set a time—as little as five minutes—and go through a series of guided stretches, cardio blasts, or strength training exercises that you can do anywhere and anytime.

photo: Nelson Kwok via Flickr

3. Give Everyone Tummy Time
Make tummy time exercise time by fitting in a few planks and crunches while your baby is doing her own belly workout. Then, squeeze in some squats and lunges, using your baby as a weight. Chances are, she’ll find the up and down motion as you hold her quite entertaining.

4. Find Your Tribe
Invite a fellow-new-mama friend to join you for a walk around the park for you, then a session on the baby swings for the little ones. Having a buddy helps keep you accountable and you can up your commitment by signing up for a 5k and working toward that goal together.

5. Have a Good Clean Workout
Don’t forget, when you break a sweat mopping your floors, you’re burning calories. Turn on the radio or your favorite podcast, then move through your work quickly: squat up and down while cleaning cabinets, and lunge while vacuuming. Hey, it’s all about getting creative, right?

photo: aktivioslo via Flickr

6. Get Down Dog
Yoga classes are a great way to ease back into exercise, and Mommy and me classes abound. Plus, you’ll get the chance to meet other new mamas, and since they’re full of babies, no one will mind if your kiddo loses it in the middle of class.

7. Sweat It Out at Home
Can’t make it out of the house? That’s okay. Thanks to the magic of the internet, there are hundreds of at-home workouts you can do in your own living room. Here are a few of our fave workout videos to do with your baby.

8. Channel Your Inner Tiny Dancer
Put on music and have a dance party, getting your heart rate up to your fave tunes. Let your wee one watch from his bouncer or pick him up and make him your partner. Older babes can join in with a few claps and bounces of their own. Need a list of tunes? Check out our ultimate dance playlist here.

photo: Serge Melki via Flickr

9. Pimp Your Baby’s Ride
Splurge on a good jogging stroller. You’ll be able to get back into running with your kiddo (when she reaches six months and can safely ride in the jogger), take stroller classes, or just push your little one to the park in cushioned comfort.

10. Enjoy Baby-Free Time at the Gym
If you have the time to make it to a gym, be sure to find one with childcare so you can break a sweat while your little one safely plays or snoozes. You’ll get there twice as much if you know that your baby will be safely cared for while you use the treadmill. No judgments if you take an extra long baby-free shower while you’re there!

11. Give Yourself a Break
Most important, go easy on yourself. Wait to start serious workouts until you have the doctor’s green light—usually six to eight weeks after labor—and remember: there are days that just climbing up the stairs will be all the exercise you can manage. You’ve got this, mama!

How do you find time to exercise as a new mom? Share your secrets below.

— Oz Spies

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The Best Hidden Exercise You Should Do Every Day

By Rachel Spurrier

Recently, a friend of mine mentioned that she didn’t like running that much.  It wasn’t because she wasn’t in shape, or she wasn’t fast, or she didn’t have the time…it was because she felt like she had to pee every time she took a step and that was holding her back from doing what she once loved to do years ago.

Ladies, if you had to pick ONE exercise to do every single day, it should be training and toning your pelvic floor. 

I used to think that the pelvic floor, or “doing your Kegels” had more to do with enhancing your sexual pleasure than really anything else.  We’ve all seen Sex and the City and heard the talk (mainly from Samantha) about the importance of doing Kegels and why.  It’s true that having a strong pelvic floor can definitely help in this department but that’s only one reason.  The other (in my view, even more important) reasons why having a strong pelvic floor is so important isn’t really discussed as much, or at least as openly, as it should.  Yet it affects everyone (men and women, of all ages), not just post partum or post menopause women.  Especially if you are active, here are some reasons why strengthening your pelvic floor NOW is so helpful:

●The pelvic floor is part of your general core. When you think “abs” and “core”–this also includes your pelvic floor muscles.  In fact, your Deep Core Stability Muscles include the pelvic floor.  Having strong pelvic floor muscles help support your overall core stability and strength.  When you have a strong core, it helps with your overall stability, posture, and form, all of which make you a better runner and athlete.  If you want to be a faster and stronger runner, you should be doing your pelvic floor exercises.

●The pelvic floor supports your lower back (lumbar spine area) and your hips.  If your pelvic floor is weak, it further increases your risk of injury to this area (or other areas that are supported by the pelvis, lower back, and general core…like glutes, hamstrings, groin).  Doing pelvic floor strengthening can also help with any pain management you may have in your have lower back pain or pain in your hips.

●A strong pelvic floor will help with incontinence issues.  Just because you feel like you may need to urgently pee when you are exercising at a higher intensity doesn’t mean you’re exempt from training your pelvic floor.  Or that one time you sneezed and you felt like you needed to pee (or maybe you even leaked a bit of urine)…or even worse–you sneezed during exercise, that’s probably when you really noticed an issue.  Developing a stronger pelvic floor can help with any incontinence issues, no matter how minor they may seem. 

●A weak pelvic floor can make constipation worse.  The pelvic floor muscles are really a hammock of support for your bladder, uterus, vagina, and rectum.  So if your pelvic floor muscles are weak, these areas won’t function as well as they should.  When you train your pelvic floor, you are more able to have a healthy elimination.

●A strong pelvic floor helps with childbirth and postpartum recovery.  If you are thinking about having a child, whether you are a first time mom or not, having better control of your pelvic floor will help with delivery (it helps move the baby down the birth canal, and during the “pushing” phase of birth).  And doing pelvic floor exercises immediately after giving birth can be a great way to help regain strength in this area (again, it’s part of your core), and also promotes healing from any tearing sustained during childbirth.  Your pelvic floor muscles get stretched out in just a matter of hours during childbirth vs. the 40 weeks that it takes your abdominal muscles to stretch out, so it’s extremely important to begin a regular strengthening routine for your pelvic floor.  Once you are “cleared” for other exercise, having a well-established deep core routine and stronger pelvic floor muscles will be so beneficial to a mother’s mental and physical wellbeing.  While there is a lot of discussion in our culture about “getting our bodies back” and “getting rid of our mommy’s pooch,” working towards a strong pelvic floor should be the primary go-to exercise in the postpartum exercise routine.

●Your pelvic floor muscles will get weaker with age and non-activity.  Just like any other muscle, if you don’t focus on strengthening or using it properly on a regular basis, it becomes weaker over time.  And hormones won’t help, which is why postmenopausal women suffer more from pelvic floor dysfunction. 

So, how do you begin?  There are lots of variations, but the most basic one is that of a Kegel.  You can do this sitting or standing, anywhere and everywhere.  Begin by tightening your pelvic floor muscles, starting from the back to the front (anal sphincter to vaginal sphincter), and hold for a few seconds.  Then release, allowing your muscles to soften and then gradually relax for a few seconds.  Remember to breath throughout this process (have your breath start with your diaphragm, then chest), as you would when you are doing any other strength training exercise. You can repeat this sequence 10 times, and do 3 reps. You can gradually work up to tightening your hold for more seconds at a time, increasing the intensity of your effort, and the frequency of these exercise.  Like any strengthening routine, it takes time to see results.  But doing them on a regular basis, especially combined with diaphragmatic breathing, will eventually give you a stronger inner core.

For those that think they have more of a severe issue, the good news is there is additional help out there.  You can talk to your OB GYN (who should be checking your pelvic floor strength as often as they see you, but many of them do not), or you can also go to a Physical Therapist who specializes in the pelvic floor.  If you also practice yoga or Pilates, you can also talk to your instructor about additional exercises to do to help with pelvic floor awareness and strengthening.

In my own practice, I have found that incorporating them into my daily activities like putting my makeup on, eating breakfast, riding the subway, or washing dishes help me to be as regular about doing them as I am about brushing my teeth.  Aside from the stated benefits above, training my pelvic floor has helped me become more aware of my entire body, especially my core, and not just the “outer unit” muscles. As an athlete, it’s extremely important to be attune to not only the muscles that you think you may use in a specific exercise, but to be aware that your body is a system of interconnectivity.  If one area is (or becomes) weak, it’s going to eventually affect another area that is more dominant. The pelvic floor is unfortunately a very common weak area for most everyone, and yet if affects us in so many ways when we’re exercising or going about our daily lives.  The benefits of doing these exercises on a regular basis last a lifetime, so start today. 

Rachel Spurrier, Founder of Go & Glow, is an RRCA Certified Running Coach and Pre and Post Natal Corrective Exercise Specialist.  A seven-time marathoner and Boston Marathon qualifier, she is also a mom to a two year old and currently pregnant with her second child. 

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Incredible 9-Year-Old Completes an INSANE Course Designed for Navy SEALs

by Red Tricycle

Photo courtesy of millastarfma via Instagram

The 24-Hour BattleFrog Xtreme Challenge is an intense obstacle race designed by the U.S. Navy SEALs. It includes running 36 miles, swimming 8 kilometers, and completing 25 obstacle courses (six laps worth). Geez, right?! Well, 9-year-old Milla Bizzotto finished the race, and was the youngest person to ever complete it.

Milla started strength training after she was being bullied in school. Her training helped her build confidence and lets just say, no kid wants to mess with this little powerhouse.

Video courtesy of INSIDER people via Facebook

 

 

 

 

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Raise the Barre! Head to Daileyfest 2015

by Shannon Reed

Those of you who familiar with barre classes know that you likely leave the workout with sore muscles for days. But what if that workout and sore muscles went hand-in-hand with family fun and benefits a local charity? That’s exactly what’s in store for you at Daileyfest on Sept. 13, put together by the three San Diego Dailey Method studios. Whether you’re a seasoned yogi, barre enthusiast or haven’t seen the inside of a gym in ages, this fitness festival has you covered! So pull on the yoga pants, grab the kids and read on to get your barre on!

Photo Credit: Stephanie Firenze

What to Expect at Dailyfest
Daileyfest is a family friendly fitness festival created to celebrate health, wellness and positivity. This family-friendly event will feature three different barre classes, massages, a live DJ, healthy treats, a braid bar and two different sessions of kids programs and childcare. Kids will love the laser maze, obstacle course, dane programs, hula hooping and more. The entire event will benefit Heartlight San Diego, a non-profit organization that provides after school fitness programming for kids. The day will also be an entirely green event completely powered by solar.

The even begins with a 45 minute Dailey Interval class that combines low and high intensity movements, followed by another 45 minute Dailey Express class that will focus more on alignment and low intensity moves. Next, is a group meditation and then a Dailey baby barre class, which gives mothers of infants the opportunity to experience a barre class with their baby and actually incorporate him or her in the workout.

Attendees are welcome to try or attend any or all classes but there is absolutely no pressure or competition — just fun and encouragement. After the classes, there will be different performances to check out and plenty of health and wellness vendors to peruse.

Photo Credit: DAILEYFEST 2015 Facebook page

Fun for the Kids
Heartlight has put together two 90-minute dance program for kids ages 4-12 where they will learn the basics of jazz, hip-hop and aerobic dance. Participants will also be able to challenge their agility in an obstacle course, laser maze, lawn games and be treated to an amazing aerial yoga performance. For little ones aged 6 months to 3 years, there will be two 90-minute childcare sessions. This will allow for parents to partake in a Dailey Method class and enjoy the festival all while knowing their little ones is safe and close by.

Photo Credit: Heartlight San Diego

What is Heartlight?
Heartlight San Diego is a non-profit organization that offers after school fitness programs for students. Their mission is to create an atmosphere that appeals to every kid whether they are a top athlete or ones who are not interested in sports. The organization focuses on non-competitive fitness activity where there is no “winner or loser” just an emphasis on individual achievement. The focus of Heartlight is to get all kids excited about fitness and moving and having fun! All net profits from Daileyfest will go to Heartlight to help keep our kids healthy and strong.

Photo Credit: The Dailey Method Facebook page

What is The Dailey Method?
The Dailey Method fitness studios offer a variety of classes that uniquely blend Pilates, yoga and strength training using ballet principles. While it may technically be a fitness studio, most members would agree the classes actually transform your body from the inside out. The focus of the studio and classes truly is health, well-being and learning to trust and honor your body. You will see women (and men) of all ages and fitness levels at each class. Everyone is encouraged to work at their own pace and take as many breaks as needed, all while pushing yourself to feel successful so you leave the class centered and balanced. There are Dailey Method locations in Rancho Bernardo, Carlsbad and Downtown San Diego. All three studios offer childcare for many classes so moms can get a workout in and enjoy the camaraderie of the studio.

Dailyfest
Sept. 13, 2015
8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Embarcadero Marina Park North
400 Kettner Blvd.
San Diego, Ca 92101

Price: $50/general admission; $20/Heartlight Kids Program, 90-minute session (ages 4-12); $10/daycare, 90-minute session (6 months – 3)
Online Tickets: eventbrite.com/e/san-diego-daileyfest-2015-tickets-17787174919

Will you be attending Dailyfest this year?

—Shannon Reed

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Six Prenatal Fitness Classes to Keep You (and Baby) Moving

by Angela Alanis

You already know there are many benefits to staying active throughout pregnancy, for both you and baby. But did you know that exercise can shorten labor and delivery? What mom doesn’t like the sound of that? If getting your tired, achy self to the gym or out for a walk is is easier said than done, perhaps having a class that you love might be the extra motivation you need. Click through the photo gallery for six prenatal fitness classes to keep you moving as well as make sure that bump stays more baby than burgers and ice cream.

Burn, baby, burn!

If you cringe at the idea of trading in your intense cardio and strength training for stretching and a yoga mat, Fit4Baby is the place for you. Classes are done in interval style, combining strength training, cardio, stretching, and balancing exercises that will make you sweat. Fit4Baby instructors are trained and certified so they are fully equipped to lead safe and appropriate exercises for women in every stage of pregnancy.

Benefits for Mom: Regular Fit4Baby classes can help ease aches and pains, increase energy, and may speed the labor and delivery process.

Fit4MOM Bellevue
Extreme Fitness, 777 108th Ave. N.E.
Bellevue, Wa 98004
Online: bellevue.fit4mom.com

Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.
Cost: $240 for two classes per week for eight weeks; register online.

FIT4MOM South Seattle
Lakewood Seward Park Community Club
4916 S. Angeline St.
Seattle, Wa 98118
Online: southseattle.fit4mom.com

Time: Wednesdays at 7 p.m.
Cost: $90 for one class per week, plus one at home workout for 6 weeks; register online.

FIT4MOM Mill Creek & Lynnwood
Online: millcreek.fit4mom.com

Playdate Café - Tuesdays at 7 p.m
4114 198th St. S.W., Suite 3
Lynnwood, Wa 98036

babyGap - Saturdays at 8:30 a.m.
Alderwood Mall
3000 184th St. S.W.
Lynnwood, Wa, 98037

Cost: $150 for two classes per week for eight weeks. Class passes available from $75 to $125; register online.

FIT4MOM Bothell/Kirkland
Evergreen Hospital
12040 N.E. 128th St.
Kirkland, Wa, 98034
Online: bothell-kirkland.fit4mom.com

Time: Thursdays at 6 p.m.
Cost: $90 per 6 week session; register online.

FIT4MOM Ballard, Richmond Beach & Edmonds
Swedish Medical Center
5350 Tallman Ave. N.W.
Seattle, Wa 98107
Online: ballard.fit4mom.com

Time: Wednesdays at 6 p.m.; Saturdays at 9 a.m.
Cost: $120 for one class per week for 8 weeks; $220 for two classes per week for 8 weeks; register online.

 What is your favorite prenatal class? Let us know in a comment below. 

–Angela Alanis

Photo credits: Fit4Baby, Whole Life Yoga website, Seattle Holistic Center, Pure Barre Bellevue Facebook page, Valley Medical Center Fitness Center & Pilates on 10th

 

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6 Fitness Classes You Can Bring Your Kid To

by writerredtri

Pregnancy came with some sweet benefits. We’re talking justifiable Dairy Queen splurges and late-night leftover pizza binges. Now you’re ready to pretend it never happened, but between naps, diaper changes and mealtimes, when do you fit in fitness? When you can bring baby with you, that’s when. Click through our album to find six group exercise classes that welcome your child, too.

For Stroller-Friendly Workouts: Fit4Mom

The long-running Stroller Strides classes are the signature of Fit4Mom's pre- and post-natal fitness classes, which are open to any mom after the OB gives you that six-week-checkup thumbs-up. No mere strolling, though: You’ll be power-walking that baby, with stops for strength-training and toning exercises that incorporate tubes and the stroller. A few well-timed songs and activities keep baby engaged, too. Moms say it’s a great workout, but also a great way to make friends for life.

Free preview class (registration required); 10-class punch card $150; unlimited monthly pass $79; one-time $50 enrollment fee (knocked down to $25 if you enroll at the end of your preview class). Meets at Diversey Harbor, Montrose Athletic Fields, Kidville and other locations. Call 773-593-3915 or go to chicago.fit4mom.com.

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Have you tried a mommy-and-me fitness class? Tell everyone about it in the Comments!

— Elisa Drake

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Two’s Company: Six Mommy and Me Classes for You and Your Babe

by Phebe Wahl

Let’s be honest. Other than sharing a body for 40 weeks, we just don’t have that much in common with our littlest littles. He likes drooling and refuses to sleep when you want; you’re into saliva control and getting as much tummy time (under a down comforter, preferably) as possible. She prefers an all liquid diet to your sushi (again! finally!). The list goes on and on. But rather than get hung up on all the mismatched pieces of motherhood, find a common cure and go with it. Check out these six Mommy and Me classes for your prescription to bond with that cute but demanding stranger who’s crash landed into your life.

Oh Baby! Fitness
Want to make sure your instructors know what they’re dealing with when it comes to post-natal fitness challenges? Look no further. All instructors at Oh Baby! Fitness are nationally certified to help you adapt a normal workout, build strength, and lose weight. Hit one of their Mommy and Me Fitness classes (cardio, strength training, and ab work), or put those yoga pants to the test in a Mommy and Me Yoga or Pilates class. They won’t mind the formula stains or the crusty peanut butter on the knee. These are our people.

Details: Oh Baby! Fitness, Multiple locations (click here to see today and tomorrow’s schedule), Prices vary by class

Atlanta Ballet
Can your 2 year old shake it (like a Polaroid picture)? Thinking about channelling those gyrations into something a little more, well, classical? Both the Buckhead Studio and the Atlanta Ballet headquarters offer Mommy and Me classes, but don’t be intimidated. This is an introductory class aimed at acclimating the tiny tots to movement and music. You can keep your Nutcracker costume in its box in your closet. For now.

Details: Atlanta Ballet, Michael C. Carlos Dance Centre, 1695 Marietta Boulevard NW, Atlanta, GA 30318, 404-873-5811 and Buckhead Centre, 4279 Roswell Road, Suite 703, Atlanta, GA 30342, 404-303-1501, One session (roughly two months of weekly 45 minute classes) is $168

The Music Class
Are your kids miraculously soothed when they hear November Rain playing on the radio while stuck in traffic? Does your lullaby CD collection include both the musical adaptations of U2 and Dolly? If you’ve answered yes to either of these questions (or just have a kid who digs a good tambourine), then step right up for the nearest Music Pups Mommy and Me class. Suitable for infants through four year olds, this 45 minute session comes with take-home CDs for cruising tunes, plus plenty of ideas to enrich your child’s life with music when you’re not rocking in The Music Class together.

Details: The Music Class, Multiple locations (Click here to find one near you), 4 week sessions $72 or 10 week sessions $165 (discounts apply for siblings)

Purple Hippo Art Studio
So you’re a creative type who also happens to keep a really, really clean house. Pack up the kids (ages 2 through 4) and head to the Purple Hippo Art Studio to get your creative juices flowing (and glue sticking, and glitter sprinkling, and quick- get me a paper bag to breathe in!). Every Thursday at 10:00 a.m. from February 6 to March 27, you and your littles can enjoy an artistically themed story time, followed by a guided art project. Glue, paint, splatter, and cut to your heart’s content, then head home to a clean house.

Details: Purple Hippo Art Studio, 5517 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody, Georgia 30338, 770-730-0605, $160 for 8 Sessions

Buckhead Gymnastics
2 year olds and their moms (or dads, or caregivers) can hit the mats for a 45 minute Mommy and Me session dedicated to beginning strength, balance, and movement (and rolling, skipping, and playing together). Not to be confused with parallel bars for babies, this class will ease your tyke into the world of physical awareness and ability at their own pace, and with you right beside him to help.

Details: Buckhead Gymnastics, 2351 Adams Drive, Atlanta GA 30318, 404-367-4414, Thursdays at 11:15 and Fridays at 10:00 a.m., $140 per session (February 17 – May 24)

Sarah’s School of Fish
Saturday mornings with kids ages 3 months to 2 years old aren’t getting any shorter, so why not head to one of the indoor winter swim sessions at Sarah’s School of Fish to guarantee a golden afternoon nap hour (and increase your kiddo’s comfort in the water, basic water safety, and early swimming skills)? New sessions begin in March and are available some weekdays, in addition to the Saturday classes.

Details: Sarah’s School of Fish, 1318 Concord Road, Smyrna, GA 30080-4361, 770-434-6914, $40 one-time family registration fee, $198 two month session

Where do you and your baby go for some mommy and me time? Share with us below!

—Shelley Massey

Photos courtesy of Oh Baby! Fitness via Facebook, The Music Class via Facebook, Purple Hippo Art Studio via Facebook, Buckhead Gymnastics via Facebook, Sarah’s School of Fish via Facebook, and the author

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Go Wild Inside: The Coolest Indoor Play Spaces

by Sarah Bossenbroek

No one likes a water-logged slide or a soggy sandbox. If the rain is keeping you and your littles away from local play ground, it’s time to find a indoor alternative, stat! Luckily, there is no shortage of places for to kiddos to climb, jump, swing and slide while staying warm and dry inside. From an underwater-themed wonderland in Redwood City to a stunner of a four-story climbing structure in San Francisco, these indoor play spaces will have your tykes doing a rain dance.

San Francisco

Peek-a-boo Factory, San Francisco
A former bank in West Portal is now home to a four story, rainbow-colored climbing structure. This brand new playspace has something for everyone. The centerpiece is the Junior Area, where kids 3-10 can explore four stories of ladders, steps, slides, balls and bouncy rooms. An enclosed toddler/baby area boasts mini slides, plenty of musical toys to bang on and even a funhouse mirror. A play nook offers more mellow entertainment, such as books, Legos, a train table and a kiddie kitchen. But perhaps some of the best perks are for the parents—Wifi, café seating and a big screen TV playing all the big games, just in time for playoff season.

2 West Portal Ave.
San Francisco, Ca
415-702-6683
Online: peekaboofactory.com

Courtesy of House of Air

House of Air
This place totally blows your backyard trampoline out of the water. It’s a huge warehouse filled with trampolines, airbags, dodgeball courts, and a bounce house. Let your little jumpers (ages 3-6) bounce away in the Air Junior Bounce House, or go for a jaunt on the bigger trampolines during their Junior Geronimo Open Jump sessions (the new and improved version of their Mini Jumper Program.) If your bouncers get hungry, stop at the House of Snacks and pick up a little something to munch on (they have healthy snacks!)

926 Old Mason St.
San Francisco, Ca
415-345-9675
Online: houseofair.com

Recess
San Franciscans seek shelter from the rain at Recess in Potrero Hill. Aside from a huge indoor slide, climbing area, and swing, the 3,200-square-foot space has a nursing room, cafe, and free wi-fi. Kids can take class series in cooking, singing, and “messy art.” But Recess isn’t restricted to play. They also offer parent workshops on topics like tantrums, money management, and getting into preschool.

Note: Recess is only open to members on rainy days, a $75 monthly commitment—worth every penny when you think about the frequent rainy days we have here in the Bay Area.

470 Carolina St. (Between 18th and Mariposa)
San Francisco, Ca
415-701-7529
Online: recessurbanrecreation.com

Other options in the city include Noe Valley Recreation Center (the large gym offers classes for old and young, and like many indoor play spots, can be rented for birthday parties) and Peekadoodle Kids Club in Ghirardelli Square (the play space features a Victorian house, a cable car, a grocer’s market, and a giant Golden Gate Bridge). 

Courtesy of Play Cafe

East Bay

Play Cafe
It’s nice to go to an indoor playspace that caters to both adults and kids. While moms and dads can grab a bite to eat, kids can jump in the indoor ball pit, try on dress-up clothes, and play with a bunch of toys that are great for the under-5 set. They also host a variety of events such as movie screenings, guest speakers and authors, and more that are a sure-fire way to keep both you and your kiddo entertained while you forget all about the gloomy weather outside.

4400 Keller Ave., Ste. 410
Oakland, Ca
510-638-3712
Online: playcafellc.com

We Rock the Spectrum, Berkeley
This unique kids gym is more than just a place for littles to let off steam. It was founded by a mother of a child of two after she discovered what a positive effect physical and sensory play had on her kids—one of whom is on the autism spectrum. Every offering—from swings, tunnels, crash mats. Trampolines, ziplines, climbing structures and even and arts and crafts area—are designed to be enjoyed by children of all abilities.

2920 7th St.,
Berkeley, Ca
510-845-9787
Online: werockthespectrumberkeley.com

Modern Recess
Like Crunch fitness for the under-15 set, this kiddie gym offers classes such as speed and agility, hip hop, Spooner boarding, yoga and balance, self-defense, and strength training.

3151 Crow Canyon Pl.
San Ramon, Ca
925-327-0883
Online: modernrecess.com

Studio Grow
Studio Grow has locations in Berkeley and Concord and Blackhawk. Stop in for a music class or story time, or to romp through the huge gym space that’s rigged with padded toys to climb over, roll on, or crawl through. There’s also dress-up, painting, and pretend kitchen play. Snacks are sold here, but for a lunch or latte you’ll have to bring your own.

1235 10th Street
Berkeley, Ca
510-526-9888

2202N South Shore Center
Alameda, Ca
510-701-6042

3612 Blackhawk Plaza Circle
Danville, Ca
925-648-7529

Online: studiogrow.com

Playland-Not-At-The-Beach
This 9000-square foot building is chock-full of amazing things to see and do. There are 30+ pinball machines set on Free Play, arcade games, videogames, carnival games of skills, antique penny arcades, live magic shows, an amazing hand-carved miniature circus, and historic exhibits with artifacts from the Sutro Baths and Whitney’s Playland in San Francisco. Oh, and did we mention that it was the winner of the Red Tricycle Totally Awesome Awards Most Awesome Indoor Playspace?

10979 San Pablo Ave.
El Cerrito, Ca
510-592-3002
Online: playland-not-at-the-beach.org

Peninsula

Le Petit Playhouse, Redwood City
This 10,000 sq. ft. facility was dreamt up by the folks behind the Bay’s favorite swim school: Le Petit Baleen. So of course this kiddie wonderland has an under-the-sea theme with features such as the Whale Lookout Sphere, Shark Tank Pendulum Walk, Sea Weed Zig Zag Run and so much more. There’s a separate baby/toddler structure, an interactive “Eye Click” game, a climbing wall and 2 sport courts. Birthday parties are big business here (the playhouse is closed to the public on weekends, when the parties take over) and private rooms and simple, all-inclusive packages make planning a snap.

1264 Oddstad Dr.
Redwood City, Ca
650-642-9444
Online: lapetiteplay.com

Diddalidoo
This sweet spot is designed just for the little ones, ages 0-4. Rollers, crawlers and toddlers can go wild chasing lights, popping bubbles, climbing soft steps and cruising down slides. Three distinct play areas will keep them busy between naps!

544 San Mateo Ave.
San Bruno, Ca
650-741-9065
Online: diddalidoo.com

U-Me
Menlo Park’s paragon of play is the bright and modern U-Me. Run by three moms, the 4,000-square-foot play space is the largest on the Peninsula. Adults can take yoga or Barre classes while their little ones explore. Classes for kiddos include tumbling, science, yoga, music, and martial arts.

3355 Edison Way
Menlo Park, Ca
650-257-7511
Online: u-meplace.com

Play!
If you want a large, well lit space for your kids to play (and one that’s clean) then look no further than Play! in Los Altos. Play! is one huge room so parents can see kids wherever they decide to hang out while their kids play. Plus, the toys are educational, fun, and high quality. For the older toddlers, there is an arts and crafts room. The staff is super friendly and they actually enjoy playing with kids! Weekends (and rainy weekends) can make this place super busy, so be prepared. An added bonus: plenty of street parking.

170 State St.
Los Altos, Ca
650-559-0960
Online: playlosaltos.com

South Bay

Whimsy, Saratoga
While your little ones are playing dress up, performing on the stage, climbing to the top of the wooden gym, or getting messy with arts and crafts, you can sit back with a coffee or tea, do some work, or catch up with a friend. What sets Whimsy apart is that there they offer trained staff members to supervise the children in the play area at no extra charge, so parents, while required to stay on site, can truly take a break themselves.

14510 Big Basin Way, Ste. 3
Saratoga, Ca
408-898-3197
Online: whimsy-saratoga.com

The Duck Pond
For just $5, your kiddo can explore a variety of different play areas, imagination stations, a jump house, a pretend theater, a large and clean play area filled with toys, and lots of Playdough crafts. The Duck Pond is only open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00am to 11:00am, so it’s a great way to kill a few hours before heading out on your next rainy day adventure.

GateWay Community Center/GateWay City Church
5884 Eden Park Place
San Jose, Ca
650-954-3926
Online: onepagerapp.com/theduckpond

Marin

Playland
Much like the House of Air (only smaller) Play Land has four unique jumpies, the largest being a 40 by 20 foot inflatable sports arena, perfect for dodgeball, soccer, basketball, and volleyball, and jousting contests! Two slide jumpies and jumpies with a basketball hoop, climbing wall, and play zone for the younger ones. Once they’re tuckered out, kids can head to the art room for crafts, play with toys in the tumble area, or play for points at the air hockey tables (they have two!) Best of all, every activity is designed to keep kids 0-6 warm and dry.

610 Coloma Street (in the MLK Gym)
Sausalito, Ca
415-381-1241
Online: mttamadventurecamps.com

Photo courtesy of Play-Well Enginnering Center

Play-Well Engineering Center 
With two activity center locations in the Bay Area (and dozens of class locations), Play-Well offers drop-in classes and weekly camps for the LEGO fanatics in your family. Apply physics concepts, engineering and architectural designs to your builds to make catapults, pyramids, and more. Just the collection of bricks alone is amazing; boxes stacked form floor to ceiling in every imaginable color and shape. Classes vary by age group, starting as young as 3 up to age 12.

216 Greenfield Ave.
San Anselmo, Ca
415-460-5210

5737 Valley Ave.
Pleasanton, Ca
925-484-1547

Online: play-well.org

Where do you take your kids on a rainy day? We know there are tons of places to play when the weather is wet, so leave a comment with your favorite places below!

—Erin Feher and Sarah Bossenbroek

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Kicks for Kids: Top Soccer Spots to Bend It Like Beckham

by alina adams

In New York City, it often feels like every week, not just January 16-20, is Soccer Coaches Week, as boys and girls starting as young as a year old can be seen chasing that recognizable, black and white ball in the parks, on the street, and at specialty classes, camps and teams all over town.  Don’t want your kiddo left behind?  It’s not too late!  Check out some of Red Tricycle’s favorite spots to master the internationally beloved game of soccer mere days after you first get the hang of that walking upright thing:

Super Soccer Stars
Various NYC locations
You know you’ve seen the multi-colored T-shirts, but did you know that Supper Soccer Stars, which hosts lessons, games and birthday parties, also offers a Pre-Soccer class for toddlers between the ages of 12 and 24 months?  (Thought we were kidding about that learning to kick while learning to walk thing, didn’t you?)  Kick & Play is a movement program for parents and their tots, exploring the new notion of self-propelled physical activity… while also developing early soccer skills, of course.

Chelsea Piers
23rd Street & Hudson River Park
Right behind Pre-Soccer is Micro-Soccer.  Future David Beckhams between the ages of 2 and 3 can begin learning to Bend It in a promised supportive and nurturing environment… with Mom and Dad by their side. Children age 3 and up who can separate without problems then have the option of moving into a Spikes class, where preschoolers run, play, improve muscle coordination and learn the concepts of teamwork and cooperation.

Kids In Sports
Various locations in New York City and Connecticut
When is a 1 year old not just a 1 year old?  When he or she is actually a Tiny Athlete!  At Kids In Sports, Tiny Athletes are introduced to a cross-section of physical activity in a Multi Sport format, where three consecutive weeks of learning soccer fundamentals share space with Baseball, Basketball, Floor Hockey, Football and Volleyball.  Open to kids up through 7, although all individual classes are grouped by age.

Soc Rock
Various locations in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens
2 and 3 year olds can also kick the ball around at Soc Rock, where founder and frequent instructor James Christie is a former pro player and current personal trainer.  Unlike other programs, his focus is on overall strength training and conditioning (yes, for 2 year olds, too) and on teaching skills that promote success in both sports and life.

Soccer by Coach Fher
Various locations
What better way to celebrate Soccer Coaches Week than by checking out a class by a coach proud enough of his methods to turn his name into a brand?  Argentinean native Shadrach Gonzalez Fher (see why the kids just call him Coach?) is certified in both sports training and Child CPR.  His classes are non-competitive, focused on fun, and offer the option of playing inside or outside (which means you get to decide where you want to sit and watch).

Carlos Oliviera Soccer Academy
Various locations in Manhattan and Queens
Another coach confident enough to stamp his name on the product, Carlos Oliviera teaches soccer the way it’s played in, to quote the very enthusiastic World Cup announcer in 2002, “Brahziiiiiillll!”  Open to boys and girls ages 2 ½ and up, COSA has just expanded its unique methodology and approach into the NYC public schools.

Not sure if soccer is the right sport for your family?  A multi-week commitment can be a bit much, especially in the winter, when just getting your little guy or girl into a snowsuit and out of the house can be considered ample exercise for the day – if not the lifetime.

In that case, consider trying out a class that’s one-time only, warm and, most importantly, free.  In the summertime, the NYC Parks & Recreation Department offers regular, hour long Tot Soccer Classes in Riverside Park for anyone age 5 and younger.  Make a note on your calendar and try to catch one in a few months.

Where do you take your budding soccer stars to practice their kick, shots, and passing?

— Alina Adams

photos courtesy Alina Adams and of the respective company’s facebook pages

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