Fit Mama Fest set for next week in Cary

Stroller Strides of Raleigh is hosting a free event next week that focuses on fitness, family and fun.

The Fit Mama Fest 2013 is 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday, at Waverly Place in Cary.

The daytime session will include a variety of mommy-and-me activities, including a Stroller Strides demo, toddler dance session, mom-tot yoga/pilates, and a demo by My Gym.

There also will be a talk about child and baby sleep challenges with Loving Lessons Pediatric Sleep consulting, free massages, arts and crafts, face painting and some raffle prizes, including a brand new BOB Revolution jogging stroller.  Local businesses and organizations will have tables and offer samples, coupons, goods and services during a Fit Mama Fair during the daytime session.

The evening event includes a core class, a Stroller Strides demo and a Zumba class, all free.

The event is aimed at moms with kids ages 0 to 4, but all moms are welcome to attend, Jen Kedrowski of Stroller Strides of Raleigh tells me.

“Moms of young children often struggle to fit in time for their own exercise and health, amidst all of the time and effort they put into taking care of their children and families,” said Kedrowski, a mom of two young children, in a press release. “However in order to take the best care of our families, we, as moms, do need to take care of ourselves and make sure that we are healthy. Getting exercise and leading a healthy lifestyle will ultimately make us better moms, physically, mentally and emotionally."