Babies gawk and squeal with delight, tourists take snapshots and those out for a leisurely stroll are left in the dust as a troop of moms power walk behind their babies’ strollers along South Shore’s Horseshoe Bay.

This is Baby Boot Camp — a unique workout designed specifically to help new mothers get back into shape after having their babies.

Moms bring their strollers or joggers as an integral part of the workout and the boot camp style format combines strength training exercises with cardiovascular drills. The strollers, resistance tubes, and even the babies are used as part of the workout.

The owner of the Fitness Firm and local organiser of this American phenomenon, Lisa Winterman, is excited about the programme because as a new mother herself, she knows how difficult it can be to find the time and motivation to get active.

“Baby Boot Camp is designed to increase strength and tone muscles while boosting energy levels and increasing cardiovascular endurance, without the stress and expense of having to find childcare,” she boasts.

But Baby Boot Camp is not just about regaining that pre-pregnancy shape: “It’s about feeling great and having the energy, strength and stamina you need to keep up with the intense physical demands of being a mom.”

Ms Winterman, who takes six-month-old daughter Evie with her on the programme, elaborates that it is also a great opportunity to meet other new moms and compare experiences and stories while enjoying the fresh air and spending time with your baby.

Baby Boot Camp classes are suitable for moms of children aged up to two-years and the outdoor classes are between 55 to 75-minutes in length, depending on the location and class level. A jogging stroller or multi-purpose stroller, or sling or carrier, a bottle of water and a baby are all that is needed to participate.

A woman gains an average of 35 pounds during her pregnancy, but getting the weight off while juggling a newborn is the challenge facing most women who approach Ms Winterman for help.

Not only are her classes good for weight-loss, but studies show 70 per cent of new moms face postpartum depression after childbirth. She points out that recent studies in The International Journal of Nursing show that moms in a stroller-based fitness programme, like Baby Boot Camp, significantly reduced their symptoms of depression compared to those who attended a support group.

“Group discussions after class and mom’s night-out activities offered through the programme make Baby Boot Camp much more than an exercise class, it can be a valuable resource for new moms,” she concedes.

Local mother and boot camp participant, Tanya Copeland, says it offers her a welcome excuse to get out of the house and socialise with other mothers. Ms Copeland has twin boys, six-month-old Bennett and Nathan.

“I didn’t think I’d be able to keep up with a group fitness programme after I had the babies, but Baby Boot Camp allows me to keep up my regular workouts, and gets us out in the fresh air. It’s a great motivation for me, and the kids love it too,” she chuckles.

The Fitness Firm offers Baby Boot Camp classes at the Arboretum on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9.15 a.m. and Saturday at 10 a.m. Classes are also offered at the Botanical Gardens at 8.30 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and at 2.30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Classes will also be offered on the beach at Horseshoe Beach.

Classes are $15 and discount packages are available. For more information on Baby Boot Camp visit www.babybootcamp.com or call Ms Winterman at 232-6973.