Leisure centres across Salford are offering baby-friendly fitness classes so local mums and dads have childcare covered while they work out.

Currently, baby-friendly spinning, circuit and kettlebell sessions are offered at Eccles, Swinton & Pendlebury, Irlam & Cadishead and Worsley leisure centres, all run for 45 minutes and cost between £4.50 and £6.

The sessions are highly successful, with PR and Social Communications Consultant Alison Short commenting: “There are so many people there, you couldn’t get in.

“But also mums have all gone back to work full time so we need to make sure people realise the sessions are there and ongoing.”

Users do not not need to be a member to partake in classes which are pay as you go.

The classes are run by instructor Janet Morecroft and were specially designed so parents in the community can always have an opportunity to meet other new parents, without the need for childcare, combatting issues such as loneliness and isolation that new parents may experience.

(CC: Alison Short)

Salford Community Leisure also provides aquanatal classes for pregnant women.

Sport and swimming manager Marie Leather said: “We are delighted to provide our Salford mums-to-be with the best quality community aquanatal classes.

“There’s a science behind aquanatal too, as exercise and relaxation release the body’s natural happy hormones, endorphins, which suppress pain and help you (and baby) feel calm – not only helpful in later pregnancy, but also really important during and after labour.

“If a woman’s body is relaxed, it will go into labour naturally.”

These classes are for women who are 12 weeks pregnant or more and regularly take place at Worsley, Irlam & Cadishead and Broughton leisure centres.

The centres plan to extend these inclusive classes in the future, and in the school holidays, children are welcome to join in with classes like Zumba, as long as there’s enough room.

Ms Short said: “We’ve just launched some sessions for teenagers, and kids from age 11 can go in the gym on their own, unsupervised, which is amazing.”

To book any of these classes, visit the Salford Community Leisure website.

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