Registered Nurse
Certified Childbirth Educator
Founder/President, Maternal Fitness

"I believe that mind/body preparation is the missing link in childbirth education. My goal is to support women, through use of my program, in being empowered during their labor. The Maternal Fitness program does this by preparing both the body and mind. There is a need for women to learn about the changes the body goes through during pregnancy and how to exercise safely with these changes. Once learned, these exercises can be done on one's own and also incorporated into any other workout. The core of the program is The Tupler Technique abdominal exercises. These exercises strengthen women's abdominal muscles so they can push more effectively in labor, prevent back problems during and after pregnancy and get their abdominal muscles back in shape faster after delivery. The program is a means to an end: to help each woman have a healthier pregnancy, an easier labor and a faster recovery."

Julie Tupler, R.N., is a certified childbirth educator and certified fitness instructor who specializes in maternal and postpartum health and fitness. She founded her company, Maternal Fitness, in 1990 and is the creator and host of the Maternal Fitness Video and DVD Series — a mind/body program centered around The Tupler Technique: powerful abdominal exercises that provide women with the optimum skills and strength to give birth.

Tupler is the author of Maternal Fitness...Preparing for a Healthy Pregnancy, and Easier Labor, and a Quick Recovery (Simon & Schuster, 1996), and creator of the audio pain management tape Coming Contractions. In addition, she serves on the Women's Sports Foundation advisory board and teaches a continuing education course for personal trainers called Fitness During Pregnancy. Learn more at www.maternalfitness.com.

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