Revolutionising Family-Focused Spaces: A New Approach to Postnatal Healing

I remember the first time I tried to exercise after having my baby. I had finally worked up the courage to do something for myself, something that wasn’t just about feeding, changing, and settling my baby. But as I searched for options, I quickly realised there weren’t many that actually worked for mums like me.

Traditional gyms weren’t an option—I couldn’t bring my baby, and even if I could find childcare, the thought of rushing to fit in a workout in the small window I had felt more stressful than relaxing. I looked at baby classes, but they were all about the baby, with no space for me to move, stretch, or feel like myself again.

I wasn’t alone in feeling this way. So many mums I spoke to had the same frustration. We wanted to move our bodies, regain strength, and feel good again—but the world of fitness didn’t seem to consider our reality.

That’s why I created Nest Glasgow—because mums deserve better.

Why Traditional Fitness Spaces Don’t Work for Mums

There’s a gap in the wellness industry when it comes to postnatal fitness and movement. We’re bombarded with “bounce-back” culture and unrealistic expectations, but when we actually try to engage with exercise in a way that works for our bodies and our babies, the support just isn’t there.

Traditional gyms and fitness classes are designed for people with predictable schedules, childcare options, and full nights of sleep. None of those things apply to new mums. Most of us are operating on broken sleep, unpredictable nap times, and bodies that have been through enormous changes.

Even “mum-friendly” workouts often miss the mark. Many postnatal fitness programs still operate under the assumption that mums need to work out separately from their babies, leaving us in the same situation—scrambling for time, feeling guilty, and ultimately putting our own movement on hold.

The result? Many new mums just stop moving altogether. Not because they don’t want to exercise, but because the barriers feel too big to overcome.

And yet, movement is one of the most important things we can do for our mental health, postnatal recovery, and overall well-being.

Movement Is About More Than "Getting Your Body Back"

The problem with most fitness messaging for mums is that it’s focused on aesthetics—on shrinking, on “losing the baby weight,” on “getting your body back.” But let’s be honest: our bodies have changed, and that’s not something to “fix.”

What we really need after birth is:

✅ Strength and mobility to support daily mum-life (lifting babies, carrying prams, rocking little ones to sleep)

✅ Pelvic floor and core recovery to heal from pregnancy and birth

✅ Energy-boosting movement to help combat exhaustion

✅ Stress relief and mental clarity to help manage the overwhelm of early motherhood

For me, movement has never been about bouncing back.

It’s about rebuilding strength, feeling more like myself, and giving myself time to breathe. And that’s what I wanted to create for other mums too.

How Nest Glasgow Makes Movement Possible for Mums

At Nest, we do things differently. We bring movement and motherhood together instead of making mums choose between the two.

1. Babies are welcome. You don’t need childcare. You don’t have to apologise if your baby cries. You don’t have to leave the room if they need a feed. This is a space designed with both of you in mind.

2. Classes are designed for postnatal bodies. This isn’t about pushing yourself into high-intensity workouts before your body is ready. It’s about gentle, strengthening, nurturing movement that helps you feel good.

3. No pressure, no expectations. You can show up tired. You can take breaks. You can chat with the mum next to you. The point is to move in a way that feels good, not just in a way that “burns calories.”

4. Community is just as important as the movement itself. The best part of our classes isn’t just the exercise—it’s the fact that you’re surrounded by other mums who get it. You don’t have to do this alone.

The Mental Health Benefits of Postnatal Movement

There’s real science behind why movement is so essential for new mums. A study published in the Journal of Women’s Health found that postnatal physical activity significantly reduces symptoms of postpartum depression and improves overall mental well-being (Smith et al., 2021).

And it makes sense—movement releases endorphins, reduces stress, and helps us feel more in control of our bodies again. But beyond the physical benefits, movement in a supportive environment can be a game-changer for loneliness, anxiety, and the mental load of motherhood.

One mum recently told me, “I didn’t realise how much I needed this. It’s not just about the yoga or the stretching—it’s the chance to be with other mums, to laugh, to feel like I’m not alone.”

That’s why we focus on movement that supports both the body and the mind—not just workouts for the sake of exercise, but movement that actually makes life feel easier and more joyful.

The Fitness Industry Needs to Do Better for Mums

I believe that more wellness spaces need to rethink accessibility for parents. It shouldn’t be a luxury for mums to move their bodies in a way that fits their life.

If fitness studios, gyms, and wellness spaces truly want to support mums, they need to start asking:

❌ Are we creating spaces where mums feel welcome, or are we making them feel like an inconvenience?

❌ Are we focusing on strength and healing, or are we pushing them to conform to outdated “bounce-back” culture?

❌ Are we designing classes that fit into a mum’s life, or are we expecting them to fit into a system that wasn’t made for them?

This isn’t just about Nest. It’s about changing the conversation around motherhood and movement.

What I Want Mums to Know

If you’re a mum reading this and you’ve been putting yourself last, I want you to know: you deserve to move.

Not because you need to “get your body back,” but because your body deserves to be cared for now.

Not because you have to “snap back” to who you were before, but because you are worthy of time, space, and movement right now, exactly as you are.

And if you’ve been waiting for the “perfect time” to start, I’ll tell you what I tell the mums at my classes: The perfect time is whenever you decide to show up.

Movement should be accessible. It should feel good. It should fit into your life, not the other way around.And most of all? It should be something you actually enjoy.

At Nest, we’re changing the way movement fits into motherhood. And if you’ve been looking for a space where you can move without guilt, without stress, and without leaving your baby behind—you’ve found it.

You deserve this.

Join Nest today and be one of the first through the doors when they open on April 28th.

Nest Glasgow is a family-friendly wellness and co-working studio designed specifically for pregnancy, postnatal recovery, and motherhood support. We offer baby-friendly fitness classes, including postnatal yoga, pregnancy yoga, and mum-and-baby movement, so mums can focus on their well-being without needing childcare. Nest is more than just a mum and baby class—it’s a welcoming space for maternal mental health, community, and connection, where mothers can meet others, share experiences, and feel supported through the challenges of early motherhood. Alongside movement and well-being classes, we provide co-working sessions, giving mums the space to work, focus, and collaborate. With expert-led sessions in prenatal and postnatal care, Nest takes a holistic approach to women’s health after birth, helping mums rebuild strength, reduce stress, and find their village. Whether you're looking for postnatal exercise, mum meet-ups in Glasgow, co-working spaces for parents, or a relaxing space to recharge with your baby, Nest is here to support you every step of the way.