Pilates is having a moment. Whether you’ve been doing the A-list approved workout for years or you’ve found yourself stalking #PilatesTikTok while in the checkout line at Whole Foods, it’s hard to avoid the popular and highly effective workout and its benefits, especially for new moms. Shannon Nadj, celebrity trainer and founder of Hot Pilates in Los Angeles, tells us, “Pilates is perfect for those looking for maximum results in minimum time.” The entrepreneur, wellness expert and new mom is all about finding balance through gentle exercises that challenge you to be your strongest self, on and off the mat.
As the founder of one of LA’s cult-favorite Pilates studios (that’s loved by the Biebers, Kendall Jenner, Molly Sims and more), Nadj knows what it takes to create a fun workout that shows real results. After giving birth to her son in 2021, Shannon was open with her social media followers about her postpartum workout journey. “I wanted to be very real with it, and the experience I was going through, especially for the moms on my platform,” the trainer says. “Something that I took away from my pregnancy early on, was to be gentle with myself, and do what feels good…I’m only doing Pilates right now. It really is enough.”
Nadj adds, “A lot of my mom followers will ask, ‘How soon after giving birth did you start working out again?’ Personally, I didn’t start working out until six months postpartum. My baby was my priority, not my six pack. I listened to my body before getting back into my typical workout routine, and started these exercises when it felt right.”