Bremerton's Stroller Strides helps get new moms back in shape

Stroller Strides offers unique mom and baby workout.

With the sun shining overhead and a family of ducks happily swimming along the waterfront, several moms and babies broke a sweat around Island Lake Wednesday morning.

Bremerton mom Ellecia Williams opened Stroller Strides in Kitsap County and taught her first class this week.

Williams, a certified Aerobics and Fitness Association of America and Stroller Strides instructor, gave birth to her first child three months ago. While pregnant with her son, Williams was already looking into how to shed the post-pregnancy pounds.

“When you’re pregnant, they send you all kinds of free magazines,” Williams said. “I saw (Stroller Strides) in a magazine and wanted to do it.”

Williams searched for a Stroller Strides group in the county, but could not find one, so she decided to create her own. Without having taken any Stroller Strides classes, Williams started the franchise in Kitsap County and moms quickly began signing up.

The hour-long Stroller Strides classes consist of a mix of cardiovascular and strength training exercises. Williams and her class participants work heavily with resistance bands.

The unique cardiovascular workout for Stroller Strides is for the entire family. Moms power walk or jog while pushing their children in strollers.

Williams said Stroller Strides recommends children from 6 weeks to 4 years of age attend classes with their moms.

“If you can fit them in a stroller,” Williams said with a smile.

She said Stroller Strides is great because moms don’t have to worry about childcare because their children attend the workout sessions too.

“I think that makes a big difference. (Lack of childcare is) what holds many moms back,” she said.

Williams said moms have the opportunity to share advice with other parents during Stroller Strides functions as well.

“You can talk to other moms, find out what they’re going through,” she said.

She added that by watching their parents work out, children will “learn how to be fit” themselves.

Stroller Strides also will host play groups for children as well as moms’ nights out.

Williams will be certified to teach prenatal fitness classes and the L.E.A.N. (Learn Eating Awareness and Nutrition) Mommy weight management program in October.

“So hopefully in the fall I’ll be teaching a few more classes,” she said.

Stroller Strides and the L.E.A.N. Mommy program were founded by Lisa Druxman in 2001 after the birth of her son. Stroller Strides now has 700 locations and more than 30,000 participants nationwide.

Stroller Strides classes are currently held at 10 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at Island Lake Park in Silverdale.

“I’m looking for an indoor location and I will expand to other outdoor locations probably next summer,” Williams said.

Unlimited Stroller Strides classes cost $49 a month, but other packages are available.

For more information or to register for classes, visit the Stroller Strides: Kitsap Web site at www.strollerstrides.net/kitsap.

Central Kitsap Reporter Staff writer Rachel Brant can be reached at rbrant@centralkitsapreporter.com or (360) 308-9161.

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