Chapters Studio is founded by women, for women to have a stronger and safer journey to motherhood
One of the milestone transformative experiences in a woman’s life comes with pregnancy and motherhood.
And while many aspects of these stages are celebrated, there are crucial elements that often go unnoticed and unaddressed. Chapters Fitness & Soul, a unique ladies-only boutique fitness studio in Abu Dhabi, is here to change the narrative by offering specialised prenatal and postnatal fitness programs to empower women on this motherhood journey.
Founded in 2019 by Prenatal and Postnatal Corrective Exercise Specialists Sarah Al Nowais and Jehan AlSairafi, the studio emerged from a realisation of a gap in the health and fitness industry during their own prenatal and postnatal experiences.
Today, they spearhead a dedicated team of highly qualified trainers, all passionate about helping mothers and mothers-to-be be confident, strong and safely undertake this journey with holistic care.
“Chapters Studio is the only studio in Abu Dhabi that offers strength-based prenatal and postnatal programs with a special focus on core and pelvic floor rehabilitation in addition to yoga, pilates and mobility classes,” the team says.
The founders’ primary motive in starting Chapters Studio in Abu Dhabi was and still is to increase awareness of the many benefits of exercise, and movement in general, during pregnancy. And of course, the importance of postnatal rehab.
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“Pregnancy can be a confusing time. Be it because you’re a first-time mother and not sure what you can and cannot do, or you are experiencing specific pregnancy-related physical symptoms you don’t know who to see about. We are here to take the guessing game away and help you navigate a healthy pregnancy with ease through exercise in addition to connecting you with our wider network of Women and Children’s health experts to support you with all the necessary services and information you need,” they add.
For the uninitiated, prenatal fitness is an essential aspect of a healthy pregnancy journey.
Contrary to myths, exercising during pregnancy is safe and beneficial, provided you consult your doctor and listen to your body. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists recommends at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise on most days of the week during pregnancy.
At Chapters, women are encouraged to adopt a ‘listen to your body’ approach, combined with balanced meals and proper hydration, to ensure a healthy pregnancy.
“We noticed that although there were many studios offering prenatal yoga there was not a lot offering strength training, which we both enjoy and has countless benefits,” they say.
The postnatal phase, on the other hand, often remains underestimated. Recognising the toll pregnancy takes on a woman, Chapters Studio has plans to dispel the misconception of bouncing back immediately after childbirth.
Just as post-operative recovery is prescribed, postnatal rehabilitation is equally vital. The postnatal programs here focus on core and pelvic floor restoration, overall mobility, and strength to prevent long-term discomfort and enable mothers to return to their favourite activities with greater resilience.
Common postnatal symptoms that occur include diastasis recti, incontinence, and pelvic organ prolapse are addressed through collaborative efforts with Women’s Health practitioners in Abu Dhabi.
Furthermore, the team prioritises the well-being of every client, advocating for proper form, monitoring of physical responses, and understanding the effects of hormonal changes, especially the hormone relaxin, which can impact joint stability.
As Chapters continues to grow, they aim to include a more extensive educational component. The founders are aiming to break the stigmas and silence surrounding pelvic floor health and empower mothers by improving their posture and movement.
They explain, “We train our clients so that they can move and feel better, and be happy in their body regardless of weight.”
“As we grow we would like to further develop the educational part of our mission objective. A lot of the time mums may suffer in silence or feel uncomfortable talking about their pelvic floor because it is not something that is historically spoken about. We would love to continue to make mums feel better, to notice changes in their posture and movement.”
For more information, visit chaptersstudio.com
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