MIA Fitness & Pilates

This is 44!! 🎉🎈

Here is a blurry picture of me running. If you showed this to my younger self, she would have assumed I was fleeing a crime scene. I used to consider all forms of exercise to be outright torture.

​The joke’s on me, because now I rely on it. But I don't run on good vibes; I run on structural engineering.

​We are constantly sold fitness fluff or conditioned to fear lifting heavy. Let's be real: muscle is the only thing keeping me from being physically flattened by the sheer, heavy reality of motherhood at 44. Building and preserving muscle is the absolute biological requirement for healthy aging so your body doesn't quit on you.

​This is exactly why I coach the way I do. Pilates is a fantastic entry point into fitness, which is why I teach it, but it isn't all you need. Pilates targets the deep stabilizers that weight training misses, and heavy iron builds the raw power that Pilates can't provide on its own. Combine the two, and you get insanely strong. Add the right kind of protein, the kind that comes from plants, and you become completely unstoppable.

​When you build that foundation, you get a body that actually works. And here is the irony: when it works, you'll find your body looks much better for years to come than it ever would if you only focused on aesthetics.

​This exact trifecta is the direction my coaching is heading. If you want to build a brutally resilient machine, take your fitness seriously, but absolutely refuse to take yourself seriously, you are in the right place. 🔥🔥💪🏼💪🏼💖💖

Postpartum core rebuild happening wherever Kieran decides to nap. Even when we're on the road at the in-laws. 💪✨

Postpartum fitness is all about finding windows of opportunity, seizing them, and getting creative. No excuses, just momentum, giving you faster results and more energy to be there for your little one. 💖

Baby sleeps. I rise.
🔥💪🏼🎄

3 weeks 2 days postpartum, and I’m already laying the groundwork for my return to running, one autumn walk at a time. While visualizing my next marathon, which I plan to do next year. 🏃🏼‍♀️

As Kieran approaches 5 kg, he’s proving to be the most adorable, and effective, weighted vest I’ve ever trained with. Every step through Haagse Bos reminds my legs, glutes, and core what strength and stability feel like again. Not bad considering most Pilates exercises are still off the table.

Walking might not look like much, but it’s the foundation for a smooth transition back to running. Rebuilding endurance, posture, and pelvic floor support without overloading healing tissues. Plus, bonus points: babies sleep better when they’re moving.

It’s not about “bouncing back.” It’s about rebuilding forward, with patience, movement, and beautiful autumn leaves, all while having fun. 🍁

Postpartum training requires more creativity than prenatal — especially after a C-section, and especially when your baby refuses to nap anywhere but on you.

So here we are: 3-kg dumbbells (because technically it's not heavier than the baby), a supportive couch doubling as my gym bench, and one very adorable training partner.

My current program: arm work from the couch, short walks, gentle bike rides, pelvic floor work… and a long-term plan to run a marathon again in a year. Because rebuilding strength is still training — just with a little more strategy (and a lot less sleep).

💙 He’s here!! 💙

Welcome to the world Kieran, born 8 October.

We’re finding our rhythm — a mix of love, exhaustion, and awe.

Probably my last pregnancy selfie ever.

Pregnancy doesn’t mean slowing down, it means getting smarter, stronger, and way more badass. You can still train hard when you adapt.

Next mission: running again… not just marathons, but chasing a baby. 💚

Less than 2 weeks until my C-section ✨. Definitely not what I had in mind, but with a child as large as this one, it's the only way to avoid more surgery later. Here’s the thing: whether you’re heading for surgery or not, the best thing you can do in pregnancy isn’t to slow down—it’s to adapt.

💪 Arm strength is everything after a C-section. You’ll be using your arms to push yourself up from bed, to get off the couch, to pick up and hold your baby—basically for every little thing while your core is healing. If you’ve ever done a sit-up with a sore stomach, imagine that… but every single time you try to move. Trust me, your arms become your best friends. Even without a C section, like it or not, parenting = a lot of heavy lifting

🔥 Side planks are one of the last planks you should hang onto in pregnancy. Yeah yeah, I know, no one, pregnant or not, likes side planks. But they’re one of the few safe ways to keep your obliques working, and strong obliques = better hip stability. That means less strain everywhere else and a smoother return to movement later.

💦 Swimming has been my staple for two reasons: it’s basically a full-body lymphatic massage (goodbye swelling 👋) and it keeps cardio fitness high. That way, when it’s time to lace the running shoes back up, it won’t feel like starting from scratch.

So if you’re pregnant and wondering how to train: don’t get lazy, also don't get wreckless, just get smart. Every bit of strength and fitness you keep now is a gift to your future self and to your family—when recovery and motherhood start asking a lot more of you.



PS - This is me doing side plank at 37 weeks. Not to show off, but using myself as a living example of what's possible if you stay consistent throughout your pregnancy. Shot 's shiny new renovated mind body room, complete with a fireplace 🔥🔥🔥🔥

It's been a minute since I last posted. Truth is, I’ve been busy processing a plot twist. This baby is officially a C-section baby. At first I was gutted, as my pregnancy has been pretty good up to this point, so it was not the birth plan I imagined. But after finding out what went wrong the first time around, this is hands-down the best choice for my health long term.

So here we are. Pilates core work is going back to square one, and I get to live being a beginner all over again. Lucky for me, I’ve always said the best instructors never forget what it’s like to start from scratch. 😅

This is just the beginning of a comeback story. Every rep, every roll-up, every run will take me one step closer to being stronger than before. Not in spite of the scar, but because of it. Progress may be slow, but it’s unstoppable. Watch this space… 🏃‍♀️💪✨”

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