Ask Trisha Tomkins about the pelvic floor and she has answers — she's an OB/GYN after all. Ask her what she's learned about her own, and she'll point you to Moves.
Based in Sarasota, Florida, Trisha is a lifelong athlete and mom of two who found Moves two months after having her first child. She's now four months postpartum with her second, doing weighted Copenhagens and single leg sit-to-stands, feeling stronger than she ever has. The difference, she'll tell you, was doing the work she skipped the first time.
Here's what two postpartum recoveries, 10 years of practicing medicine, and one fitness app taught her.
Why I Train
As an OB/GYN, my day-to-day life can be stressful, and exercise has always been a mental release and form of therapy for me. I played three sports in high school and then turned to running in college, adding in strength training in my early 30s. Now as a mom of two, and someone heading into my late 30s, it keeps me feeling younger and able to keep up with my kids. It also gives me that mental release without depleting my energy and spiking my cortisol like long-distance running can.
How I Found Moves
I first joined Moves in December 2023, two months after having my first child. I had followed Madeline for years on Instagram and finally decided to try her program vs many others I had previously tried, including Orangetheory, Kayla Itsines, Lauren Gleisberg, Peloton, and Meg Miles.
I love that I can do this anywhere and in 30 minutes get meaningful results. If I was not able to do this in my home gym, I wouldn't find the time. I love that my girls can watch me work out at home and see me take care of myself.
On top of that, I make a lot of decisions at work every day. I don't want to think about my workouts and what needs to be done to achieve the results I want. I love that this program does all that for me and I can turn my brain off for 30 minutes a day and just go.
What I Learned About My Own Body
After my first pregnancy, I immediately jumped back into Weekly Moves at two months postpartum. At 18 months postpartum I couldn't do single leg sit-to-stands or Copenhagens. I was having hip pain with running and I realized I hadn't dedicated enough time to properly rehabbing my pelvic floor.
With my second pregnancy, I continued Weekly Moves throughout my pregnancy and started Postpartum Moves one week after delivery. At four months postpartum I can already do weighted Copenhagens and weighted single leg sit-to-stands. As a busy mom, it also gives me my "me time" to fill my own cup in as little as 30 minutes. And most of all, it’s given me confidence. As someone who has always been very active, I was shocked to see that I was my most fit version of myself after having a child!
What I Tell My Patients
I’ve learned more about my pelvic floor doing the Postpartum Moves program than I did in 10+ years of being an OB/GYN.
I try to educate all of my postpartum patients on the importance of starting with pelvic floor strength, and not just jumping back into their workout routine. It is important for preventing injuries and prolapse, but also for proper form and function in everyday tasks.
Surprisingly, I do a lot of counseling on strength training for my perimenopausal and postmenopausal patients. I cannot count the number of women who come to me at 40 saying they can no longer lose weight the way they used to — that what they did before isn’t working anymore. I discuss the importance of strength training, specifically progressive overload and the importance of building back lean muscle mass. I always caveat it with the fact that I am not a personal trainer and that following a program that specifically focuses on progressive overload is key. Then I tell them how much success I have had with Moves.
There's something about being able to say "I do this, and here's what it's done for me" that lands differently than clinical advice. I think women know when you're speaking from experience.
Where I Am Now, and What I Wish More Women Knew
I'm four months postpartum, breastfeeding, and working full-time as a gynecologist, so it looks a little different right now. I try to get at least four Weekly Moves workouts in per week and a run when I can. My main goal right now is to build back strength, especially in my core and pelvic floor.
I wish more women understood how strength training gives back to you more than it takes from you. You don't have to spend two hours in the gym every day. You don't have to deplete your energy every day to see results. You can find 30 minutes, or even 20, to prioritize yourself and your health. You can do it at home. And your kids can be there beside you, learning what it looks like to show up for yourself.
Your Next Chapter Starts Here
Starting your postpartum recovery? Explore Postpartum Moves.
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