Keeping Yokota moms fit

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Lynsie Nichols
  • 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan (AFNS) --  The team at the health and wellness center here has recently added a prenatal aerobics class to help expectant mothers stay in shape.

Staff Sgt.Treshawna Gwendo, a diet therapist with the 374th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, is the instructor for the class. She said the class is for anyone a soon-to-be mom or who is a new mom getting back into her workout routine.

"If you're pregnant, you're qualified to come to this class," said Sergeant Gwendo. "Also, if you just had a baby and you want to ease yourself back into the workout program, you can come to this class."

Sergeant Gwendo said there was a need for a prenatal aerobics class.

"We saw a need for the class because there were a lot of pregnant ladies at Yokota Air Base," Sergeant Gwendo said. "We didn't offer anything specific for pregnant women, so they got me certified to teach the prenatal class."

Sergeant Gwendo went to Yokuska to attend a four-day workshop to become certified. During the course, she learned some routines that would work for pregnant women.

"The class I offer is one fun-filled hour of aerobics and light weights," Sergeant Gwendo said. "We work the arms, the legs and the major muscles."

The class teaches the importance of working out during pregnancy. Sergeant Gwendo said too many people think they should wait until after they give birth to continue with an exercise program.

"This class enables the female to make sure that when she goes back to work, she hits the ground running," Sergeant Gwendo said. "If you keep working out, it's going to be so much easier to workout after the baby is here."

Sergeant Gwendo encourages pregnant women to come to her class.

"It's not hard," Sergeant Gwendo said. "If you start working out throughout your pregnancy, then you start making life-changing goals for yourself. It's a good class to ease your way into working out even though you are pregnant."