I carried babies for 12.5 years, either slung to my front/back, or thrown into a hiking backpack. My youngest just turned 5, the past 2 years I no longer carry him while hiking. Just recently I listened to a podcast by Michael Easter on the benefits of rucking for women. Rucking wasn’t a foreign concept to me, I was familiar with it. It has roots in the military and I was raised and married into military. However, it never dawned on me that I had been rucking for 12.5 years! Yep that’s right momma, every time you throw that baby on your back, you are participating in one of the most well rounded exercises for women...rucking. Rucking is a form of exercise and the concept is simple: it's walking or hiking a set distance while carrying a weight on your back. Why is it a powerhouse exercise for women? It is an activity with bang for your buck. It loads the cardiovascular system, while also providing strength training. Women notoriously are pretty poor at at prioritizing strength training and the research supports strength training is crucial to longevity. 💪🏻 Rucking is essentially carrying, which is a part of the seven functional movement patterns. More on how I incorporate the seven functional movement patterns in my OT treatment sessions later this week 😉 I won’t get into the details of it all, but what I want you to hear is that by throwing that sweet baby on your back and going out for a 15 minute walk, you are participating in an activity that has profound health benefits. If you want additional details on rucking contact google😉 Something that isn’t being addressed regarding the benefits of rucking is the developmental benefits for your child! As you carry your child on your back, you are providing a top notch sensory experience. The up/down, side to side movement provides valuable vestibular and proprioceptive input. It can be an amazing activity for regulation of their central nervous system. Not only that, but as you are receiving the physiological health benefits that the outdoors provides (decreased heart rate, decreased blood pressure, etc), your child is receiving the same benefits 🌳❤️ #fitmom #womenfitness #rucking #functionalmovement