Teacher Training
About Bella Bellies® Seminars & Workshops
Bella Bellies® Teacher Training Certification is open to Personal Trainers, Pilates Instructors, Doulas and Yoga Instructors.
The Bella Bellies® Program is completed long distance by Videos, Books, Lecture Notes and 8-10 Private, Hour Length Skype / Phone Calls with Anne Martens or a Bella Bellies® trained instructor. The program may be tailored to the participants needs, but will thoroughly discuss adaptations through pregnancy, birth and post-partum and further discuss what effects these periods of life have on peri-menopause, menopause and post menopause. Optional components include training in Momilates®, Stroller Moves®, Pilates Apparatus and / or Movement & Breath Doula Coaching depending on the participants needs and prior education.
In the fitness industry, there is a need for educated prenatal and post-partum instructors to teach these effective modalities of movement. Anne Martens (owner of Bella Bellies®, Personal Trainer, Pilates Instructor, Child Birth Educator & Doula) along with the help of her mother (Registered Nurse Lorraine Wellington) have designed Bella Bellies® programs for movement instructors and doulas. As an instructor for 10+ years and Mother, Anne noticed there was not enough compassion and **research-based** approaches to prenatal and post-partum exercise and what effects this may have on peri-menopause, menopause and post menopause. As a result, women were reaching out to Bella Bellies® in frustration from injury or lack of results from their current fitness programs. To shape and structure the program Anne has taken into consideration these women's experiences, as well as the experiences of 4,000+ women who have joined Bella Bellies®.
Furthermore, in designing the Bella Bellies® Program Anne compiled information based on advice and support of health care providers including:
- Physical Therapists -Specializing in core and pelvic floor rehab
- Lactation Consultants
- Midwives
- Re-constructive Surgeon -Specializing in abdominal reconstruction
- Colo-Rectal Surgeons
- Urogynecologists
- OB/GYN
- Labor & Delivery Nurses
- Psychiatrist specializing in maternal care
- Social Worker specializing in maternal care
- Chiropractors specializing in the Webster Technique / maternal care
Their in put is throughout the Bella Bellies® Book and Lecture Materials. This unique approach to fitness is found no where else and includes trademarked classes and exercises for the prenatal and post-partum population.
- Prenatal Pilates & Stretch DVD with Anne Martens of Bella Bellies® & Julie Tupler of Diastasis Rehab® reviewing Prenatal Movement exercises and Diastasis Rectus Abdominus
- Bella Bellies® Prenatal Book - Downloadable Book with over 150 pages of prenatal pictures and exercise descriptions
- Physiology
- Musculo-skeletal adaptations
- Postural and bone density adaptations
- Pelvic floor and girdle adaptations
- Diaphragmatic and respiratory adaptations
- Core adaptations
- Birth and movement for birth
- Techniques for formatting group / private mat class, group / private resistance class, group / private cardiovascular class
- Multiple pregnancies
- Core scar tissue during pregnancy
- Pregnancy changes week-by-week
- Fetal development during pregnancy
- Potential complications during pregnancy and the necessary modifications
- Prenatal Psychology
- Preparation for the physicality of motherhood
- Bella Bellies® Post Pregnancy DVD
- Bella Bellies® Postpartum Book -Downloadable Book with over 200 pages of post-partum pictures and exercise descriptions
- Physiology
- Musculo-skeletal adaptations from birth - post menopause
- Thorough review & video of diastasis rectus for post-partum women from birth - post-menopause
- Thorough review & video of the pelvic floor and girdle adaptations from birth - post menopause
- Thorough review & video of scar tissue and adhesions within the core and pelvic floor from birth - post menopause
- Post-partum psychology
- Bio-mechanics of motherhood and exercise preparation
- Unique and effective approach to core rehabilitation discussing re-alignment of diastasis recti, the pelvic floor, as well as the ligaments, tendons, bony landmarks and muscles stressed during pregnancy and postpartum.
- Techniques for formatting group / private mat class, group / private resistance class, group / private cardiovascular class
- Potential complications with emphasis on pelvic floor disorder and the necessary modifications
- Nursing physiology and modifications for breast feeding mothers
- Guidelines for exercising up to 6 weeks post-partum, 12 weeks post-partum, 6-8 months post-partum, one year post-partum and beyond
- Restoring pelvic alignment relative to the muscles stressed during childbirth (vaginal or cesarean)
- Exercise for strengthening the body for the biomechanics of motherhood
- Video interview with Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist and Maternal Chiropractor
Pregnancy DVD & Book:
Bella Bellies® Downloadable Prenatal Lecture Note Series thoroughly reviewing the following in regards to pregnancy and it's effects on movement:
An optional component: Bella Bellies® Pilates Chair Exercise Notes & On-line Videos, Bella Bellies® Reformer Exercise Notes & On-line Videos
An optional component: Bella Bellies® Movement & Breath Cueing for Birthing Support or Doula Care
Post-partum DVD & Books:
Bella Bellies® Downloadable Post-partum Lecture Note Series thoroughly reviewing the following in regards to post-partum:
An optional component: Bella Bellies® Pilates Post-partum Apparatus Review
An optional component: Stroller Moves® Training and / or Momilates® Training --Trademarked techniques and movements for incorporating baby, as well as trademarked verses and songs for incorporating baby.
In total, there are 8 segments for the pregnancy and post-partum series that coordinate to 8, separate skype / phone calls with Anne Martens or a qualified, Bella Bellies® instructor. Each phone / skype call has a coordinating, on-line presentation so internet must be available to participants. These one-on-one sessions are designed to help ensure the Bella Bellies® teacher training program is tailored appropriately to the participant's unique needs, ensure the participant is receiving & understanding the materials correctly, more elaboration into the lecture notes and review of case scenarios, allows the participant -in privacy- to ask any questions (s)he may have, visual demonstration of exercises the participant may need clarification on, review of anatomy with visual models -specifically a musculo-skeletal spinal model, pelvic model, birthing model and reproductive organ models) and more.
Teaching the Bella Bellies® programs - Bella Bellies® Prenatal Pilates & Stretch, Momilates®, Stroller Moves® - is a rewarding profession. Bella Bellies® programs are recognized in both the fitness and health care professions and our classes have been immensely popular. Working with mothers and mothers-to-be to help them reconnect with their energy and strength contributes directly to their well-being and, importantly, to their baby's well-being. Watching and helping their babies grow in a warm, nurturing environment takes your fitness career to the next level. Other reasons to become a certified instructor:
- This is all the information I wish I could have gained from my personal training, Pilates education and various workshops. It summarizes the countless hours of independently studying prenatal and postpartum exercise and working with Julie Tupler, Urogynecologists, Physical Therapists, Midwives, Massage Therapists, OB/GYN's, Nurses ... but most importantly the prenatal and postpartum community." –Anne Martens, Founder of Bella Bellies®
- As an Obstetrician and Gynecologist I have referred many patients to Anne Martens/Bella Bellies® and have been pleased with their results. I believe her classes are helping to pioneer woman's fitness and well-being. She is one of the first Pilates instructors to acknowledge Diastasis Recti. Also, she is one of the first Personal Trainers to acknowledge pelvic floor stress and strain during prenatal and postpartum and accomodate for those conditions." –Dr. Wong, M.D. (OB/GYN)
- I have worked with Anne Martens since she took my postpartum doula training workshop in 2007. Her commitment to mothers and babies through Bella Bellies® is an inspiration and her knowledge in the areas of prenatal and postpartum continues to grow as she serves the families and the women who take her training workshops. It is always a pleasure to participate with her and learn together." –Vicki Hedley, Licensed Midwife
Do not miss out!
To apply to the program email info@bellabellies.com!
