Meet Jiske van Eeghen and Marieke Broeren, the Moms in Balance who help Berlin moms (and moms-to-be) get in shape, from pregnancy to birth and beyond. The energetic duo of came into the Amazingy HQ for a tea and a chat. They shared with us the empowering work they do on a daily basis, and we roped them into a simple makeover for busy moms. The result: some pretty Amazing(y) mothers.

Jiske and Marieke are franchise holders for the outdoor training program called Mom in Balance. Their purpose is to help women get a strong body and an energetic attitude to life, through movement and fresh air, all year round! Their programs are tailored to pregnant women, post-birth recovery and whole body training for women who are keen to get back in and/or stay in shape.

The Berlin-based Mom in Balance (MiB) was born in Volksparks Friedrichshain in 2014. Back then, it was a pretty rare occurrence to see groups of people training in all weather conditions. But there was Jiske and her moms, kicking ass. A couple of years later, Marieke joined the party, and today they have a team of trainers who work out in parks all over Berlin. You’ll find them training 6 days a week, rain, hail or shine. Check the Mom in Balance website for their training schedules and locations.

Moms in Balance & Business

Mothers and business owners are both busy types. It’s a committed, structured and flexible formula that makes it possible to attain success in both worlds.
I wondered how Jiske and Marieke keep an accomplished business while running a family. When I asked them about it, they contemplated it for a moment, and agreed that while the growth of their business is important, raising their kids is equally important.
For both of them, the most essential thing is that when they’re with their kids and family, they are with their families. That means phones and laptops are away. And when they’re not with their family, that’s when it’s time to work.
“Structure is needed, flexibility is key,” Marieke says. “There has to be balance,” Jiske adds with a wink. Ironically, they themselves have to be “moms in balance” to be at their best. Which is fundamental to the whole MiB philosophy:

“We touch women’s lives and inspire them to be at their best.  Believe in a positive and personal approach. And will do the best we can. Always.”

Fitness for a changing body and mind

There is something mystically phenomenal about the changing body during pregnancy. When physical fitness is kept up, you begin to have a sense of what your body is capable of, both physiologically and metaphysically. Jiske explains, “Keeping fit during pregnancy (tailored to your state) keeps you feeling well and self-confident inside of a changing body, and mind. Giving you a confident mindset towards childbirth.”

Contrary to popular belief, keeping up physical activity during pregnancy is good for you. Marieke tells us, “There aren’t that many risks for pregnant women and exercise; in fact, movement has more positive benefits (especially long-term). We’ve seen that women who are fit before giving birth find it much easier to get back into shape post-birth.”
The MiB workouts are designed, with the help of gynaecologist and pelvic floor specialist, to put focus on strengthening the back and stability of the pelvis, not only for pregnancy, but for a comprehensive recovery and an overall fit body. The courses MiB offers are designed for each stage, phase and level of fitness. The idea of the training is to energize, not exhaust, and Marieke tells us, “The workouts are hard but fun.”

However, MiB isn’t solely for moms. Until recently, MiB was specifically aimed at women who were either pregnant or already had children and wanted to get fit. Now, it has opened up courses for women who just enjoy doing sports in a group and getting outdoors.“It’s becoming a real community, women want to get together,” Marieke acknowledges. They both recognize that being physically active can affect social change for women everywhere.

“When you are feeling physically and mentally good about yourself, it is easier to make the right choices, to work on your personal ambitions and enjoy your family.”

Easy make-up for busy moms

Moms on the go can often forget about the self-pampering they deserve. But our in-house MUA Svenja shared some easy ways to get an effortlessly natural look for busy moms.
Svenja’s tips:

• If you’re worried about dark circles around the eyes, you can mix concealer with a highlighter (e.g. HIRO Spacebalm and rms Living Luminizer) — the concealer covers up the shadows, and the highlighter adds a shimmer that leaves your eyes looking radiant and alive.
• For a more naturally fresh look, blush in apricot or rose tones can also be used as an accent on the cheeks or creases of the eyelids.
• Use some color or gloss on the lips and accentuate the eyebrows subtly to frame the face and give yourself a more expressive look.