2025 Q1 Update

As we kick off 2025, we are excited to share the following updates:

• A virtual tour of the platform

• A personal update on my second pregnancy and how this is shaping our offerings

• Information on new fitness programs added to the app, including Pregnancy Prep, Pregnancy, and Pain Programs

• Information on new class types

• An introduction to our partner pelvic floor physical therapist, Colleen Lind, DPT

We’re excited to show you all the new offerings added to the app. Check out this quick 3-minute walkthrough.

Personal Update

I'm in the final weeks of my pregnancy with my second daughter! Throughout this pregnancy, I've worked with our partner pelvic floor PT to update our Pregnancy Program on the app, filming over 100 new workouts for women to follow from week 6-40 of pregnancy.

Every workout in this program was intentionally designed for pregnancy, and I’ve tested each one in my own pregnant body to make sure they're safe, effective + feel good.

New Programs

Research-based programs to guide women through specific stages of motherhood.

While the existing library of hundreds of leveled videos gives users freedom to find what works for them, we saw the need for guided programs designed specifically for the stages and needs of motherhood

These programs take the guesswork out of exercising and provide a clear road map for the member to follow based specifically on the stage of motherhood they are in.

Class development is based on a combination of practical experience, ongoing education, and current research. I collaborate closely with a pelvic floor physical therapist, drawing on our years of expertise to create each class. We meet weekly to review the latest research, discuss new insights from other experts, and take relevant continuing education throughout the year. By blending evidence-based practices with our professional experience we’ve developed informed, effective programs.

Our stage based programming aligns with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' (ACOG) guidelines, which encourage women with uncomplicated pregnancies to engage in aerobic and strength-conditioning exercises before, during and after pregnancy for at least 150 minutes per week. 

As you likely know, it has been well established that exercise during pregnancy is generally safe for most women, presenting minimal risks. However, adjustments to exercise routines may be necessary to accommodate the body's natural changes and the baby's needs. 

This is where Materra Method comes in. Our follow-along exercise routines are specifically designed to make these adjustments for moms, ensuring both safety and effectiveness during this unique time in motherhood.

• Pregnancy Program

  We developed our Pregnancy Program to provide expectant mothers with accessible, evidence-based fitness resources that support their health and well-being throughout pregnancy. Recognizing the unique physical and mental challenges of this journey, our program offers tailored workouts and expert guidance to empower women during this transformative time.

  This program includes:

  • Three customizable tracks to fit varying schedules and preferences

  • Exercises specifically chosen for each trimester

  • Weekly nutrition content, including recipe ideas, and educational materials curated by mental health experts

• Pregnancy Prep Program

  This program was created to prepare the body for the physical changes and potential pain problems that can come with pregnancy by setting up women who are preparing for pregnancy with a strong and connected foundation. 

  The main goals of this program are to:

  • Teach members to use their breath to connect deeply with the core and pelvic floor

  • Build balanced strength with a focus on the core, glutes and upper back

  • Improve or generally maintain fitness levels to prepare for the increased demands of pregnancy.

  With these guiding principles in mind we created 36 classes in four different modalities including strength training, pilates/Barre, cardio and mobility all organized into three different tracks so that each member can find a sustainable option that fits their needs.

• Pain Programs

  We understand the vital role that medical providers, in this specific case especially pelvic floor physical therapists, play in addressing patients’ individual needs. Our Pain Programs are designed to complement the personalized care you provide, offering mothers safe, at-home exercise options to stay active between sessions or to graduate to after graduating care with their provider.

  Developed in collaboration with pelvic floor physical therapist Colleen Lind, DPT, our evidence-based programs combine educational content and corrective exercise routines to help mothers move comfortably and safely. 

  Our programs offer:

  • Insights into the causes of specific pains and how to identify triggers

  • Daily corrective exercise routines designed to address and alleviate discomfort

  • Workout classes featuring exercises selected to keep participants active without exacerbating existing issues

  • Practical tips for modifying movements during daily activities and workouts to minimize pain

  We emphasize that these programs are not a replacement for physical therapy. Instead, they serve as a supportive resource, encouraging patients to continue safe movement at home while under your expert care.

  By participating in our Pain Programs, mothers can manage discomfort effectively, stay active, and maintain a better quality of life throughout motherhood, all while benefiting from the individualized treatment plans you provide.

  We currently offer specific programs for: 

  • SI joint pain

  • low back pain

  • round ligament pain

  • pubic symphysis pain (SPD)

  We started with these commonly experienced pregnancy and postpartum pains, and we will continue to add more pain programs through 2025.

• 4th Trimester and Postpartum Programs - Coming Soon

  As I approach the end of my pregnancy and start to prepare for postpartum, Colleen and I are working to develop programming that supports women in the year following birth.

  We have a planned release of our Fourth Trimester Program at the end of this summer. This program will include gentle breathwork and stretching exercises designed to help ease aches and pains of early motherhood, promote natural healing and help moms reconnect to their pelvic floor and core. From there, we will continue with postpartum programming that supports women in reconnecting with their body and building functional strength for the demands of motherhood. Once these two programs are released we will have programs that take women all the way from the point of pre-pregnancy preparation through their first year postpartum.

  We have no plans to stop here, if you have a suggestion for a program or type of content you’d like to see on our app please don’t hesitate to reach out.

New Class Types

Materra Method consists of movement in a variety of modalities to connect with the core and pelvic floor, build functional strength, and improve fitness levels.

• Connect

  our signature Barre/Pilates style class, with an emphasis on core and pelvic floor connection

• Lift

  mindful strength training to build functional fitness

• Elevate

  cardio with no, low, and high impact options to build and maintain cardiovascular fitness

• Release

  mobility and stretching exercises

Introducing out partner Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist, Colleen Lind, DPT

Colleen received her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Washington University in St. Louis and practices with a specialty in pelvic health. At Materra Method, she advises on all exercises, and she created the pain programs to guide women through common aches and pains of pregnancy.

As a Doctor of Physical Therapy specializing in pelvic health, Colleen has a specific interest in working with female athletes and active women during pregnancy, postpartum and far beyond. She utilizes her expertise in human movement to educate individuals on a variety of orthopedic and pelvic health related conditions. Her passion for pursuing a career in pelvic health physical therapy evolved after discovering the large disparity that exists in this area of practice. Colleen strongly believes that everyone should have access to pelvic health care and knowledge and is committed to making this goal a reality.

Colleen whole-heartedly believes in the mission of Materra Method - to offer safe and effective movement MADE for motherhood, not just modified. She has found it to be the perfect opportunity, not only for herself to participate in as a busy mom of little ones, but also to contribute to this mission and extend her expertise in pelvic health beyond the walls of a physical therapy clinic. Through her work, she strives to empower every mother to move optimally and feel confident in their own unique and beautiful body.