Health
While it is generally safe to exercise during pregnancy, it’s essential to consult with a doctor beforehand because every pregnancy and every body is different. For those who were active before pregnancy, it’s usually safe to continue following an exercise routine. However, this might not be the best time to start a new workout routine. We’ve spoken to local fitness experts to get the scoop on workouts that are safe during pregnancy and postpartum. Read on for more about pregnancy and postpartum-friendly workouts in Hoboken and Jersey City.
DISCLAIMER: This article is not used to treat or diagnose any conditions. It is essential for new and expecting mothers to consult with healthcare professionals before starting any exercise program to ensure safety and appropriateness based on individual circumstances. Each of these businesses recommends reaching out to a physician for clearance prior to attending a class or workout.
Hoboken
Cyclebar | 720 Monroe Street
Cyclebar classes are generally safe to take while pregnant, says General Manager Madison. Riders are always encouraged to take each ride at their own pace. In addition to the traditional 45-minute rides, Sunday classes are 30-minute classes, which can be a great alternative for the mama who wants to take it a bit easier.
Drip Fitness | 44 Hudson Place
Drip Fitness has a downtown location, with an uptown location coming soon. Every one of the classes is low-impact by design, and instructors are each trained to coach clients to achieve their best self. The DRIP was founded by two local women who taught and took classes all throughout their multiple pregnancies, and each of their classes is pregnancy and postpartum-safe. The reformer DEEP CORE class format was specifically developed for pregnant and postpartum women to participate without having to modify it, but still equally challenging to clients of all levels.
Drip’s recommendation: have a conversation with the instructor before class so they can help with any modifications that support the individual needs of each participant.
Read More: 18 Unique Workout Classes to Try in Hoboken + Jersey City
Elevate Pilates | 300 Clinton Street + 1414 Grand Street
Elevate Pilates prioritizes supporting the female body as it grows. The studios provide Pre & Postnatal Reformer Classes to rebuild, restore, and reconnect with the body. Amanda Hauer has 12 years of experience working with pre and post-natal women is a mom herself, and she is passionate about creating spaces for moms to honor their bodies, nurture their spirit, and “find moments of joy and connection in the midst of the beautiful chaos of motherhood.”
/Impact/ Group Fitness | 603 Willow Avenue
/impact/ fitness prioritizes safe and effective movement for pregnant and postpartum women. It has several different low and high impact classes, including barre, pilates, dance, HIIT, and strength, just to name a few. Caroline Lellouche, founder + director shared that the barre format is a great place to start — “it’s low-impact, minimizes joint pressure, and requires little to no mat work or forward folding, making it both safe and accessible, though virtually any class a pregnant woman has been regularly attending can remain safe with the right modifications.” For those seeking specialized guidance, the studio provides PPN-safe Strength + Sculpt classes weekly at both the Hoboken and Jersey City locations. These classes are led by Pre/Postnatal (PPN) certified personal trainer Elise Javetski and incorporate pelvic floor connection, deep core activation, targeted upper and lower body strengthening, and low-impact cardio — all designed to support a strong, healthy body through pregnancy and postpartum.
Elise is also developing a long-form, multi-week program set to launch this summer, and they will be introducing weekly BYOBaby classes, providing a welcoming space for postpartum women to regain strength while bringing their little ones along.
Jane DO | 720 Monroe Street
Jane DO focuses on providing modifications within regular class formats to make them safe and effective for pregnant and postpartum clients. All clients are encouraged to begin with the Sculpt class, and they have a variety of offerings to keep workouts fun throughout the different stages of pregnancy.
Co-Owner/Co-Founder Jacey Lambros shared some recommendations to consider when choosing a class: Sculpt is a good option for the first trimester, when mamas might not be feeling great; Sculpt, HIIT, Dance, Step, and Tramp classes can be great for the second trimester, when feeling good but your body is starting to shift; Sculpt, HIIT, and Step classes can be great choices for the third trimester, as the body grows. Jane DO classes often incorporate functional movements, core and pelvic floor strengthening exercises, and low-impact cardio options, all of which can be adapted for pregnant individuals.
Several factors contribute to the safety of Jane DO modified workouts for pregnant and postpartum individuals. All instructors are trained to be aware of the specific needs and potential limitations of pregnant clients, and they are equipped to provide appropriate modifications and ensure a safe workout environment. The team also prioritizes client communication, doctors‘ clearance, and listening to the body.
Local Barre | 720 Monroe Street
Local Barre understands the importance of staying active during and after pregnancy, and to support this, the team provides specially-designed classes and modifications to ensure both safety and effectiveness. The goal is to help expectant and new mothers feel strong and supported throughout their pregnancy journey. The studio Barretenders are well educated in prenatal and postpartum modifications and will provide custom personalized guidance in a supportive environment based on the trimester, fitness level, and individual needs.
Local Barre provides low-impact, core-focused strength training using light weights, bands, and a variety of props to help maintain muscle tone, strengthen and provide stability to the pelvic floor muscles, and improve posture. For postpartum, the studio has weekly BYOB class (bring your own baby, under six months), and Mini-Barre, a fun environment for mama and child to play while mom can still focus back on her Local Barre fitness needs.
PUSH | 720 Monroe Street
PUSH is a fitness space dedicated to women’s health, wellness, and fitness. Run by Emily Claman, PUSH is a first-of-its-kind prenatal and postnatal-focused fitness studio. PUSH provides purposefully designed classes, 1:1 training, and workshops curated specifically to support women through the perinatal experience. PUSH focuses on physically supporting their clients and educating them on the importance of physical fitness and overall health to create a connected, safe, and healthy pregnancy and postpartum experience.
YogaRenew | 12 Hudson Place
YogaRenew provides pre and post-natal specific classes. During the Prenatal + Postnatal Yoga class, participants can expect a class that’s the perfect combo of workout and relaxation. This flow was designed specifically for women who are pregnant or recently gave birth, with a focus on strengthening the pelvic floor and abdominal muscles and preparing the body and breath for childbirth, along with opening the whole body in a way that’s safe for mom and baby. This class is for soon-to-be (regardless of trimester) or new mamas and is accessible to all levels of students.
Baby and Me Postnatal yoga is a BYOBaby optional class that was designed to support the body and mind as mom adjusts to this new role as a parent. In this class, clients will shift the focus to the self, experiencing support for both the physical and emotional challenges of parenthood. Classes aim to reignite a balance of stability, strength, and release as movement is welcomed back into the body. During each class, mamas will move through a flow designed specifically for strengthening the areas that may have tuned out during pregnancy and support the areas that may feel tight and overworked.
Jersey City
Devoted Heart Yoga | 83 Franklin Street
Lauren Hemley is the founder of Devoted Heart Yoga, a studio providing group, private, and semi-private prenatal yoga classes and meditation classes. Prenatal Yoga is a gentle class focusing on areas of the body that ask for extra attention during pregnancy. No two classes are exactly the same because they are tailored for the women in the room and their specific needs and desires, and hands-on assists are given to support good alignment. These classes are focused on movement, breathing, opening the body in preparation for labor and delivery, and connecting with other women. Bonus: Prenatal Yoga classes conclude with a supported relaxation and sound healing with tuning forks, singing bowls, and chimes.
Four Fitness | 161 Erie Street
Four Fitness has been a cornerstone of the fitness community in Jersey City for over a decade. Owner Marcisco Morrison brings over 25 years of experience as a personal trainer and fitness manager. The studio provides a host of group classes, including postpartum classes at the Hamilton Park location. Trainers at Four Fitness specialize in postpartum training, ensuring that participants receive the support and guidance they need during this important phase of life. Marcisco shared that “postpartum training plays a critical role in the recovery process for new mothers. After childbirth, a woman’s body experiences significant changes, and structured physical activity can aid recovery, enhance mental well-being, and promote overall health.” Four Fitness classes include pelvic tilts, kegel exercises, modified planks, and wall sits, which are four effective movements to incorporate into a postpartum training routine.
JC Bump + Baby | 50 Regent Street + Virtual
Michelle Goitia of JC Bump and Baby provides two classes for moms, Prenatal Yoga and Baby & Me Yoga. Prenatal Yoga is a fantastic way to find the strength and confidence moms need to prepare their ever-changing bodies for labor and new motherhood. Baby & Me Yoga incorporates mom and baby into the yoga postures, strengthening the bond between the parent and baby spiritually and emotionally. Both classes are gentle and provide a fabulous opportunity to connect with other moms as well as their babies. Moms in various stages of pregnancy are welcome, and no previous knowledge of yoga is necessary.
See More: 27 Fun Things for a Mom to Do in NJ on Mother’s Day, by Category
Project Pilates | 190 Christopher Columbus Drive
Project Pilates has private and semi-private prenatal classes, which are specifically catered to moms in the 2nd and 3rd trimester, though they do note that all are welcome. The class focuses on overall maternal strength, paying special attention to the needs of her changing body. These classes are safe for pregnancy with physician approval, as each pregnancy and each body has unique needs.
Rumble Boxing | Multiple Locations
Photo Credit: Rumble Boxing
Any class at Rumble can be safe throughout the entire perinatal experience. Rumble provides a pre-class space to help participants learn how to properly throw punches, and this is also a great time to have a one-on-one conversation with the trainer to explore any personalized modifications to make the most of the class. Julia Stern, pre and postnatal certified trainer, recommends following the “talk test,” which means that it’s generally safe if participants can have a ‘comfortable conversation’ without being breathless while participating in class.
Hoboken and Jersey City are home to some of the best and most well-known restaurants, cafes, and bars in Hudson County. But with the plethora of dining options comes an overabundance of food leftover at our restaurants and cafes daily. Around the world, we waste more than ⅓ of our food — and the US is responsible for an enormous amount of that waste, which contributes to greenhouse emissions. While some leftovers are donated or taken home by staff at the end of the day, a large majority get discarded at restaurants. This is due to a few factors, including the health and safety guidelines that the government imposes and strictly monitors. Through the App, Too Good To Go, businesses that have a surplus of food at the end of the day are connected with consumers who can purchase that leftover food at one-third of the cost. It’s an innovative idea that not only helps combat food waste but also cuts down the grocery bill and affords users the opportunity to try a new restaurant or cafe. Read on to learn more about the local restaurants in Hoboken and Jersey City that participate in Too Good to Go.
(Photo credit: @toogoodtogo.usa)
About the Company
Too Good to Go started in Denmark in 2016 and was introduced to the U.S. in 2020. It’s currently in twelve major U.S. cities — including Manhattan, Hoboken, and Jersey City — and seventeen countries around the world. With plans to keep expanding, its mission is to ‘inspire and empower everyone to take action against food waste.’ The team strives to bring people together to fight food waste and generate a positive change in society. This year, Too Good to Go “celebrated the milestone of having saved 100M meals across 17 countries since its founding in 2016,” the site reads.
The initial idea was to focus on food that became wasted at the end of buffets. While developing this concept, the founders realized that it could be extended to all kinds of food service providers such as restaurants and cafes, bakeries, and hotels. The idea quickly spread, and the overall goal is to continue to shake up the food system and make the world think differently about throwing away food. The platform gives consumers a fun, affordable way to make an impact and store owners an opportunity to profit from fresh food that would otherwise be tossed out. And if you ask us, any idea to help the planet and make a difference is one worth trying — and this idea is one that happens to benefit everyone involved, too.
Read More: How to Practice Zero-Waste in Hoboken + Jersey City
How it Works for Customers
Once registered on the ‘Too Good To Go’ app, users create a profile, enter their location, and start exploring the participating businesses in the neighborhood. Participants have the option to search by type of food, dietary preferences, or preferred pick-up time or location. You’ll pay directly on the app (at a third of the price) and will be given a time frame to pick up your ‘Surprise Bag’ of food. The Surprise Bag will either encompass an entire meal — like a sandwich or an entree, or grocery ingredients — like an avocado or apple. Users are able to customize their profiles and search through categories such as Dinner, Baked Goods, Groceries, Vegetarian, Vegan, and ‘Your Favorites.’ The App also allows you to set up push notifications so that when new Surprise Bags become available from your favorite local spots, you won’t miss it.
How it Works for Businesses
From big restaurant chains like Cava, Eataly, and Just Salad to smaller local restaurants in your own backyard, many businesses offer these services through the app. Although Too Good to Go takes a small percentage of each purchase, the benefits are unbelievable. So many businesses have taken advantage of the App to help combat food waste, recuperate losses from discarding fresh food, increase visibility, and ultimately help the planet.
Hoboken + Jersey City Businesses that Participate in Too Good to Go
There are a variety of restaurants + shops that participate on this app, and the list does change — here are some popular current participants in Hoboken + Jersey City:
Hoboken List
^ Annie & Em’s Bakeshop
Jersey City List
^ Luna
The Experience
The experience isn’t perfect and users need to be okay with flexibility. The mystery assortment of goods does not account for food allergies and may be hard for those with strict dietary restrictions or picky eaters. Users need to accept that there are fixed pick-up times (sometimes late at night), and there’s always the chance that you might not end up with food every time. Moreover, you might encounter an employee who is new to the program or is unaware of what your ‘Surprise Bag’ might contain. While it may not be best to rely on for meal planning, we certainly don’t turn down a discount, a chance to help the planet, or a chocolate croissant. The app has also encouraged us to head to places we otherwise may not have visited on a random Tuesday.
See More: Good Bottle, New Jersey’s First Refill/Zero Waste Shop Open in Montclair
Resource Center
Too Good to Go also has an extensive resource center full of data where you can learn all about food waste and the scale of the issue. This knowledge hub contains everything you need to know from topics such as what food waste is and why it occurs; why food waste is a problem; how it contributes to our carbon footprint; and so much more. TGTG also has an active social media page and blog, which act as another great resource. The team shares helpful and innovative ways to make use of leftovers, preserve fruits and vegetables, store food properly, and suggestions for freezing. For instance, followers can learn how to make applesauce from mushy apples, how to save a dish that’s too spicy or salty, how to save lemon peels to make lemonade, or how to bring salad greens back to life.
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