A volunteer-run exercise group has exploded in popularity across parts of New South Wales and the ACT as fitness is tailored to the life a busy mum. Even troublesome children are welcome.
Kiama mother Janet Singleton is the branch manager for the Kiama and Shellharbour region for Mums Exercise Group Australia (MEGA) — an organisation that started in Canberra but is booming in the Illawarra and the NSW south coast.
She said she had been so busy raising five children under the age of nine, fitness had become a low priority.
Now she can look after her own health and take care of her children at the same time..
"I've been on board for a month and it's an amazing concept of mums supporting mums, finding your mum tribe and getting fit while you do it — it's awesome," Ms Singleton said.
"I have five children from nine to two, so getting out with five kids can be a nightmare.
"If you've got somewhere you can take your kids and everyone's in the same boat having a crazy morning and the kids are safe, that's great."
Getting fit in a supportive environment
For Wollongong MEGA branch manager Melissa Sole, the group brings together like-minded women who understand the difficulty of exercising with children around.
Each class is run in an area where toddlers can play, or even participate in some of the exercises with their mother.
"There are kids running around our feet, chasing us while we do our sprints, they dance with us, nappies are being changed, babies are being breast-fed and toddlers have fights while mums get fit amongst it," she said.
"Everybody has kids and everyone's kids muck up — we only ask trainers to come on board if they're passionate about mums and babies, and all our volunteer sessions are run by mums, so they get it."
Ms Sole said she was looking for a free exercise option after having her second child when she came across the MEGA group.
When she realised there was not a Wollongong branch, she started one herself.
Why this style of exercise is so effective
Trang Nguyen has always used fitness to maintain her mental health, and she said the MEGA group provided a valuable social network for mothers.
She said fitness was just one of the ingredients to its success.
"We have our three Fs — fun, fitness and friendship — so it's not just about the fitness and exercise, it's also about the fun and the connections between us as well," she said.
"This is more about a community and it's genuinely mums doing things with other mums.
She said everything was very casual and that made a big difference.
Ms Sole said the group was calling for people to donate old gym equipment, which could be used for their classes.
