In a country where more than 50 percent of Americans are overweight, The American Council on Exercise suggests that by exercising together, parents can demonstrate to children that fitness is an important part of daily life. By mirroring this behavior for children, parents actually increase the chance that their children will exercise daily as they grow older.
That’s great advice for parents of children who are already running from the car to the mall. But what about parents of toddlers who cannot yet walk? That’s where Stroller Strides hopes to find its niche. The West Windsor-based franchise of this national organization hosts a grand opening celebration Friday, May 6, at West Windsor’s Community Park. The free event begins at 11 a.m. with demos, refreshments, and giveaways like T-shirts, magnets, and water bottles. A raffle prize drawing will be held for a BOB jogging stroller, valued at $369. (A similar event will be held at Princeton’s Palmer Square on Friday, April 29, also beginning at 11 a.m.)
Stroller Strides is a national fitness program designed to enable new parents to workout by bringing along a baby or small child in a stroller. Established in San Diego in 2001 and now offered in more than 150 locations nationwide, Stroller Strides classes are operated by instructors nationally certified in pre and post-natal fitness.
This is an exercise program that offers moms and child caregivers an opportunity to meet others and share the experiences, concerns, and accomplishments of being a new parent. It also provides an outlet for new moms who may feel isolated to enjoy time with others, while focusing on building the stamina essential to their demanding lifestyles.
Stroller Strides is expanding across the country as new parents learn about the concept of stroller fitness. Longtime West Windsor resident Jennifer Chang and Joann Messina of Griggstown, have purchased the license to operate the program in West Windsor, Princeton and Lawrenceville, under the name of J and J Family Fitness.
“We’re thrilled to provide fitness classes to moms and dads in our area,” says Chang. “We think it’s really important to keep the kids interested and to have them watch their parents exercise, in the hopes that they will incorporate it into their daily lives when they get older. As any new mom knows, these outlets are very helpful for anyone dealing with the challenges of parenting a new baby.”
Adds co-owner Messina: “It’s a great social activity for both children and parents and it teaches our children the importance of family fitness.”
Chang and her husband, Clifford, both from West Windsor and graduates of West Windsor-Plainsboro High School, live with their 15-month old daughter, Anna. Messina lives in Griggstown with husband Jarett and 19-month old son, Hayden.
“As a new mom with my first child, I really felt that I needed a core group of peers that I could talk with,” says Chang. “To talk about: what to do with my baby; what do I feed her? How do I get her to sleep through the night? I went out and did all of the mommy and me things in the area that I could find, and it still took six months to find that core peer group that I really connected with.”
Chang graduated with an MBA and Messina has a law degree — both from Rutgers. They met after their babies were born. “We were not ready to go back to work full time,” says Chang. “We’re both very driven — somewhat over-achievers. And we both have an entrepreneurial spirit. We wanted to do something that incorporated our children. I want to be there when Anna gets homes from school. We both want that flexibility.”
Informed by a friend in Missouri about Stroller Strides, Chang and Messina researched the demographics in the greater Princeton area and a business was born. “We were at the right place at just about the right time,” explains Chang, “because the founder of Stroller Strides had just been interviewed by Matt Laurer on the Today Show, and the business was about to explode.”
An important part of Stroller Strides is the social component. “We’re hoping that Stroller Strides can serve as a well-rounded program for brand-new moms that will help them overcome some of those things that I know I had to overcome by myself.”
For some mothers those issues include post-partum depression. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, exercise is helpful in combating mild postpartum depression, or the “baby blues” which affects up to 85 percent of new mothers. Says Chang: “I remember just really needing someone to talk to. I didn’t necessarily need someone there to help me take care of Anna. I really needed more emotional support than anything.”
Stroller Strides offers new mothers that chance to connect with others undergoing the same experiences. It also helps new mothers adhere to an exercise schedule without having to make advance reservations, find child care, or leave their children in virus-friendly daycare centers at the gym. And the increased muscle strength and energy level that exercise delivers helps new mothers keep up during a period of challenging and increasing physical demands.
“We want people to understand, it’s not just for moms with newborns,” says Chang. “It’s for families, too — for those with kids who are older, as long as they’re still happy in a stroller. And we keep children engaged during the class. We’ve road-tested this out on our own children, and they absolutely love it.”
Stroller Strides, 888.628.9938. A single 50-minute class is $15; a 10-class pass is $100. For information about the national Stroller Strides franchise, visit www.strollerstrides.com.
After the grand opening celebrations, the West Windsor class will be held each Wednesday and Friday at 9:15 a.m. in Community Park, located directly off of Princeton-Hightstown Road. The Princeton classes will meet Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9:15 a.m. and Sundays at 11 a.m. in various Princeton parks.
