About

… a dynamic pre and post natal personal training and fitness service that’s passionate about unlocking the joie de vivre in every mum and mother-to-be, through fun, effective exercise both in and outdoors..

Based on the south side of Loughborough (Leicestershire) Zest4lifeUK reaches out into the beautiful Charnwood countryside and taps into this natural resource - the great outdoors. How about having a look at Zest4lifeuk’s unique range of quality, small-group ante natal and mother-and-baby exercise classes, some indoors, and others in idyllic parkland? On these courses, mothers are given the liberating experience of being able to combine outdoor exercise with looking after their children in a healthy, fascinating environment: no dull, windowless crèches!

Have a browse through the tailored section and be inspired!

Exercise that is tailored specifically for the ante natal and post natal periods is vital on numerous fronts: to protect your back, to care for your abdominal muscles, to look after the pelvic floor, and to keep your growing baby safe when you are pregnant. Choosing to exercise with a personal trainer who has fully qualified in pre and post natal fitness with a reputable training provider such as the YMCA is the only truly safe option.

If you wish to take your fitness goals a step further, have a look at my one-to-one or one-to-two, bespoke sessions. You will be in the safe, understanding hands of a member of the Guild of Antenatal and Postnatal Exercise Instructors who is also a mother of three.

Just have a look through the specialist section and be energized

And for all sorts of tips, ideas, recent testimonials, up-coming events and dates for the diary keep an eye on “latest & blog”.

A final word: looking after young children is rewarding and joyful, yet relentless and exhausting - finding a positive work-childcare-life balance simply isn’t easy.

The good news is that exercise really does lift your spirits

So come along and put this to the test with me, Joanna, at Zest4lifeUK!

About Joanna

Let me introduce myself: my name is Joanna Helcké, a mother of three growing boys, and a personal trainer specialising in ante and post natal fitness.

I am truly passionate about enabling other mothers to experience the incredible benefits of combining exercise, the great outdoors and having a sociable time. These are the perfect ingredients for staving off feelings of isolation, the baby blues and helping to alleviate symptoms of post natal depression.

I started exercising very regularly after having my first two children within the space of 17 months. It all felt rather hard work but exercising helped create a wonderful bubble of peace within which I could switch off from everyday life. I exercised throughout my third pregnancy and made a very fast recovery after the birth… which is helpful when you have other children to look after! Exercise remains a pivotal part of my daily life and keeps me filled with a real zest for life!

So strong is my conviction that exercise is an incredibly positive tool for mothers that I left behind a successful career as a university lecturer and chose to extend my qualifications and set up Zest4lifeUk.

My qualifications

  • YMCA Level 3 dip. Personal Training
  • NVQ Level 3 in Personal Training
  • YMCA Level 3 dip. Nutrition and Weight Management
  • CYQ Level 3 Antenatal and Postnatal Exercise Instructor
  • CYQ Level 3 in Teaching Mat Pilates
  • CYQ Level 2 Exercise to music
  • REPs recognised Extreme Kettlebell Instructor
  • REPs recognised Dynamic Movement Screening
  • Circuit Training
  • First Aid at Work

Other qualifications

  • BA(hons) Geography, Durham University
  • MA European Studies, Reading University
  • PhD Social Sciences, Loughborough University

Membership of professional bodies

See you soon, Joanna Helcke