Bumpercise & Aquatots was set up in 2003 whilst I was pregnant with my second child. It is my 'wish list' of all I wanted for exercise and swimming lessons whilst pregnant, postnatal, and with a toddler.

My background is sport! I taught PE in England and Singapore for 20 years, competed Internationally as a member of the England Freestyle Ski Team, ranking no 2 Great Britain at Ladies Aerials. As part of my job as National Development Officer (Aerials) for the England Ski Council, I set up the programme to teach coaches how to coach somersaults on skis. I also played Hockey, Soccer, Netball, Touch Rugby and coached Gymastics and Trampolining.

I wanted aerobics and aqua classes that were available for pregnant ladies who were working, or who already had children at home who they needed to look after - thus the evening antenatal classes. I wanted continuity whereby mums can transfer to the postnatal classes after their baby is born and see their friends again.

I wanted the postnatal classes to have an emphasis on Mum, but allow new Mums to incorporate their baby into the sessions wherever possible. I wanted safe, realistic and appropriate exercise classes where new Mums could get to know other Mums and participate without having to be apart from their baby. I wanted a crèche for older babies and toddlers!!

I wanted to make the classes affordable, and I didn't want to charge people who could not attend. It is unsafe for pregnant ladies to exercise whilst they are ill, and I wanted to relieve the pressure of feeling that you have paid for something, and must therefore attend no matter what. I wanted new mums to be free from the pressure of being charged for a class when they may have already had a dreadful day and failed to get out of the door in time to make the class.

I wanted parents to teach their babies and toddlers to swim in a clean, safe environment and at an affordable price. I feel very strongly that swimming should not be a privilege of the wealthy and should be accessible to all. Having a baby often means a drop in salary and some financial pressure - I did not want to add to it.

I am now some of the way to achieving my dream.

It is important that parents are discerning when booking antenatal and postnatal exercise classes and swimming lessons.  All teachers should be happy to provide evidence that they are appropriately trained, qualified, and insured so please don’t be embarrassed to ask for this information when looking for classes. 
Sarah Allen has a degree in Physical Education from the University of Warwick 1988,  is a Level 3 Instructor of Antenatal and postnatal Exercise to Music (YMCA 2002), is a qualified Aquatic Exercise Instructor (Hydor-Actif  2002)  and attended the training for antenatal and postnatal exercise in water (Hydro-Actif 2002  ).  She has now completed her training to be an NCT antenatal teacher with the University of Luton and is offering classes.  She is trained in CPR (Teachers rescue test for Swimming) and in Safe-guarding Children (Histon Early Years Centre  ).  She has a licence to teach Buggyfit in Cambridge (See Buggyfit Website)  She is insured with Premier Training for Public Liability to the value of £10,000,000 and is a member of the Guild of Antenatal and Postnatal Exercise Teachers.  She has several enhanced CRB certificates!  Sarah has been a qualified ASA Level 2 Swimming Teacher since 1986 and has been a qualified ASA Adult and Child Teacher since 2002. She is insured with the IOS. Sarah was a tutor for the English Ski Council for Freestyle Skiing (Aerials) and held the post of Honorary National Development Officer.