Submitted by Certified Bella Bellies Instructor, Maria Gianni

I clearly remember my first birth, as if it was yesterday, making me a testament to the fact that not everyone has "birth amnesia"! My long labor was worth it...the tears of frustration and pain, quickly turned to tears of joy when my baby was placed in my arms, and that is a moment I, forever, want to hold onto.
What I would like to forget is the pain I experienced from a third grade episiotomy and a deep, diastasis recti which spread 5 inches across my abdomen.

As a certified personal trainer and exercise physiologist, I enjoyed my traditional exercise routine. But two years after the birth of my first child, I still had occasional, leaky urine and (despite not being pregnant) a tummy-bulge. I asked my OB/GYN to please refer a fitness professional who could help. Without any hesitation, she referred me to Annie Martens/Bella Bellies. This Upper East Side Gal laughed out-loud when told her practice was in Hoboken, NJ. "REALLY- New Jersey?!" Following the exclamation, I phrased the question "Who is here in the city?" In a solemn voice and calm demeanor (much unlike mine) my Doctor informed me she (personally) lived in New Jersey (opps) and took Annie's prenatal classes at Bella Bellies. Okay, okay, I was SOLD on Annie...but NOT the commute to New Jersey. Fortunately, the commute was one I did not need to make, because Annie offered home visits and (even better) my baby/toddler was welcome to the training sessions.

That elation was dulled when I realized I had to call Annie, whom I did not know, and disclose information about my weakened pelvic floor and abdominals. On the phone, I found myself lacking the ability to articulate anything beyond hello. To give you an idea, my phone call went a little-something like this:
"Hello this is Annie speaking."
"Hello my name is Maria and I have a,a,a problem...sometimes I have to run to the potty...and, and my tummy hangs out...yeah, I think my potty trained two year old has more control than I do (insert nervous laughter)." I kid you not, as I fumbled with my words THAT is what I blurted out, AND (believe it or not) I breathed a sigh of relief JUST to have said it. Without any delay, Annie helped me find my words and finish my sentences. For once, I felt understood and was comforted by the fact that, with a lot of hard work, I could easily heal my core. The hard work paid off! After 5 sessions in my home with my baby, I felt like a different, better woman and I LEARNED so much.

Next comes the second part of this story...becoming a pre/postnatal instructor. A typcial mom's night out comes with a few glasses (or more) of wine, and humor poking at the world's best (and one of the worst) kept secrets...your postpartum body. But following my training sessions, I found myself speaking candindly about my exercise program. The talk centered on diastiasis recti, kegels exercises, the transverse abdmonus muscle. My fellow moms were so intigued that there was absolute, jaw-dropping silence AND no one looked at their black berry/i-phone. This sustained lack of movement and lack of interruption was, and is, a first for our group.

A few days later the same group of ladies sat around my kitchen table venting about "being put on Annie's personal training wait-list." This was the lead into a request, on my friends behalf, for me (the exercise physiologist and certified trainer) to begin teaching postnatal exercise. Initally, I thought "WHAT HAVE I DONE!" I had nooo idea how to talk about these "things," unless I had a few glasses of wine, which is not AT ALL CONDUSIVE to exercise. So, I said "no" to their requests and "no" to their bribes...

But after long consideration, and some soul searching, I decided to expand my profession and attend the Bella Bellies Teacher Training. From first hand experience as a fitness professional and mother, I knew the method worked, and I knew (having been through it myself) that I could easily relate.

Bella Bellies postnatal teacher training was an intense course, but one that is well-respected, and in my opinion, the most thorough maternal training offered. After attending the training, I now share what I have learned by teaching private Bella Bellies Exercises at womens residence in the Upper East Side. I love my job, and look forward to the work I do. From a first hand experience, I teach woman how to exercise to "get their belly back" and tighten their core to prevent pelvic floor strain.

My name is Maria Gianni and I live and work as Bella Bellies Instructor in Manhattan's Upper East Side. I am available to train, by emailing: maria@bellabellies.com

To learn more about Bella Bellies Teacher Training go to: www.bellabellies.com/teacher-training