Dubai Resident Finds Fitness and Connection Through Movement with Daughter
Dubai-based Akshata Bhat Gupta is sharing her experience of integrating fitness into motherhood, demonstrating how adapting routines can foster both personal well-being and child development.
Gupta’s lifelong connection to movement began with Bharatnatyam at age four and continued with belly dancing at 18, evolving into teaching yoga and dance. She found it natural to continue her fitness practice even during pregnancy and after her daughter’s birth. “So, when my daughter was born, or even when I was pregnant, it was just natural progression, to continue this fitness practice, because I felt incomplete without it, so I made every effort to evolve my routine with this new human who doesn’t always follow the rules,” she explained.
Adjusting to life with a baby required creativity and a shift in expectations. “In the beginning, it does feel a little frustrating that you cannot do the workout that you used to do, or put in the kind of time, but, what it taught me was, creativity,” Gupta said. She discovered ways to engage her daughter during workouts, noting the child’s enjoyment and observing positive changes in her flexibility and motor skills. This approach to parenting aligns with growing research on the benefits of play-based learning for early childhood development.
Gupta emphasizes the importance of flexibility and self-compassion for new mothers. “Before you have a child, you tend to think in terms of strict routines. But, after the baby is born, you can’t think like that any longer. You shouldn’t hold yourself to such high standards, else you will be disappointed,” she stated. “Working out together is just so good, for both, your child just enjoys time with you.” Experts at the Mayo Clinic recommend modified exercise routines during and after pregnancy, prioritizing safety and well-being.
Gupta continues to adapt her fitness routine alongside her daughter’s growth, encouraging other mothers to embrace similar flexibility and find joy in shared movement.
