Gillian McGraw Boyd, LMT, Pregnancy and Postpartum Athleticism Coach

10/26/2018

This is why I do what I do. Women deserve a space to feel safe, taken care of, capable and strong.
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My class may be small, but we are fierce. We laugh, we cry, we vent. We are all different, yet united by the journey of motherhood.
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As a Pregnancy and Postpartum Athleticism Coach, I make sure each workout and each movement is tailored to each woman and her individual needs, including her pelvic health. You deserve to have a coach who will listen to your concerns, your fears, your pain and discomforts.
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We have space for 3 more mommas in my Woman Strong class. It runs Monday’s and Wednesday’s 10:45am-11:45am at . Send me a dm or email me at [email protected] for more info and a free consultation. Babies and toddlers are welcome to come with you.
➖⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀postpartum.athlete @ Crossfit Novato

09/05/2018

Read all about my motivations behind starting the Women’s Health and Fitness Programs at CrossFit Novato. I am so excited for the next chapter: Woman Strong!

Woman Strong is open to any woman: whether 20 or 70, no athletic experience to an accomplished lifter. Babies and toddlers are welcome to come with you.

If you want to try a class, feel free to contact me at [email protected]

We live in a time where people are becoming increasingly aware of the relationship between fitness and nutrition with overall health and wellness. However, in our pursuit of fitness and health, man…

09/05/2018

I have a dream to create a space where women explore their health, fitness and overall wellbeing free of judgement or shame. Tomorrow marks the start of phase two of my pursuit of that dream. Come get Woman Strong with me. ❤️
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.novato with
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“Amazing things happen when women help other women.” – Kasia Gospos
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Are you interested in becoming WOMAN STRONG?
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Coach Gillian Boyd explains Phase II of ’s Women’s Health Program and the opportunity for increased mental/physical confidence, body-connectivity and strength building in our latest blog post.
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Our Woman Strong class will run Mondays and Wednesdays, 10:45am-11:45am, at the Downtown location starting Wed. 9/5. The class is open to all fitness-levels and abilities.
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If you are new to our facility, please contact Head Coach Gilly Boyd at gilly@crossfitnovato or (831)234-3506 to come in and try a free class.
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Registration information and live link in Bio!
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09/04/2018

It’s not all about pregnancy and postpartum va**nas! Menopausal and premenopausal women need support too. It’s nice to see The NY Times bringing attention to a very common problem, I just wish they also would have mentioned Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy as an option for care. It’s a start tho!

Ladies! You don’t need to live with uncomfortable symptoms and pain. It’s not “just part of being a woman”. There is help out there. Tell your friends. Tell your moms. Tell everyone. Times, they are a changin! 😍

About half of menopausal women suffer from va**nal dryness and painful in*******se. Yet less than half of those women seek help.

08/30/2018

I have the best job in the world. Not only do I get the opportunity to work with amazing people, but I get to spend time with their beautiful families too.
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This handsome man is the 9-week old son of one of my first pregnant clients. I am so grateful for her trust and faith in me and what I do. And so grateful for the snuggles I get each session.
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Today, I am thankful. Thankful for my clients that continue to teach me so much. Thankful for the tears they shed, the personal stories they share, and the growth they are willing to do with me. Thankful for their families who support them in their journey to health and wellness. And thankful as all hell for CrossFit Novato.
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Side note: mommas, the second picture is a decent example of proper alignment when baby wearing. Have someone take a picture of you when you wear your kids, as you might not realize how much you are tucking your butt/pelvis under and leaning back at the shoulders. Over time, this can really stress your body out and prolong the time needed for your core to heal and feel strong again. Untuck your butt and drop the rib cage down over the pelvis (it will almost feel like you are leaning forward a little). It’s not that you have to stand like this all the time, but a little bit of awareness of tendencies can help. 😊
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📸 .novato .postpartum.athlete

08/28/2018

I’ve been sitting on these pictures for over a week now, but it’s finally time for me to let go.
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You see, these are the only pictures I have from my Postpartum Return to Fitness class series. Only two pictures from my wonderful 6 week’s spent with these mommas and babes, the only two pictures to represent the amazing transformations and growth (both mine and theirs) this class produced. ➖⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
But I didn’t want to post them. I still don’t. All I see is an overweight, small-headed me. I HATE the way I look. My brain says things like, “you don’t look like a fitness coach.” “How can people trust you to get them healthy when you don’t look healthy?”. ➖⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I’m not posting this to hear words of encouragement or the always annoying to hear, “you look great!”. While I know your intentions are sweet, that doesn’t help. I KNOW I look ok, but it doesn’t change what I see. It doesn’t change the mean voice in my head. I am the only one who can change my relationship with myself, the only one who can change the way I talk about my body. ➖⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
So what’s the point of this post? It’s to let you all know out there that it’s ABSOLUTELY OK for you to not love the way you look. You don’t always have to be a body-positive role model. You don’t have to embrace the extra weight. All I want you to do is recognize what you are feeling, spend some time with it, and then continue on with your day.
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It’s ok for me to not love the way I look. But I need to spend some time recognizing the beauty in this photo. This is how I coached most of my Postpartum classes; holding a baby or two. Because these moms needed an hour to focus on just them. And I would do anything to give that to them. I am so thankful for this class, and all the amazing things these mommas taught me.
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So here’s to being ok with where you are right now, even if you don’t love it. It’s all part of the process. It’s all a part of life.
➖⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀postpartum.athlete @ Crossfit Novato

08/15/2018

The time for change is now!! I want to yell about women's right to Pelvic Health from the roof tops! No longer shall women suffer in silence:

Physicians have long dismissed or downplayed women's sexual- and reproductive-health concerns—but in 2018, stories about "health-care gaslighting" are consistently breaking through to the mainstream.

08/05/2018

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So glad to see that more articles are featuring information about new , , and . At the same time, it’s important for us to make sure women who are pregnant or who’ve given birth are feeling supported and not getting fear-based messages / headlines.
What if a woman is ready to do higher level exercise before 6 months and has no leaking or symptoms of prolapse? Some are.
Or what if a woman is reading this after she’s been jogging since 3 months post-childbirth? Will she think she’s possibly created “severe pelvic organ prolapse?” What if a woman needs a full year or more to heal? .
In an ideal world women are supported through pregnancy (and before) and after [pretty much always 😉] with best info, a village of others who can help, and individual assessments by pelvic physical therapists or women’s health specialized fitness pros. Wouldn’t that be great!?
A larger prolapse DOES NOT mean a woman did anything wrong or could have prevented that. There are so many factors in terms of connective tissue /genetics, type of birth, length of labor, bowel considerations, and more.. I hear so many women say, “I knew I shouldn’t have lifted like that” or “jogged that one time and now I’m ruined.” I wish women didn’t blame themselves so much!
On the flip side, we do know that there are factors that make a woman more likely to have an increase in pressure with less pelvic floor support that may make her more prone to prolapse or making it worse over time - factors such as change of size of the opening of the va**na plus levator ani avulsion tear or labor with forceps and extent of prolapse after. There’s a way to assess all of this and make sure there’s an individualized plan. .
Women should seek out Urogynecologists, pelvic physical therapists, and women’s health fitness pros who understand how to assess for these changes based on their respective scopes of practice. .
Much love 💗💗

08/01/2018

I love what I do.

Excited to announce the next phase of strength and Conditioning for Women at CrossFit Novato: Woman. Strong.

Launching September. Check here for details soon!

Gillian McGraw Boyd is on a mission to help women, and especially new moms, learn just how strong they are. Boyd, 32, is the head coach at CrossFit Novato, where she has worked since 2010. “Coaching women and new moms is absolutel

07/27/2018

“I was beginning to understand that it didn’t matter if what I’d done was dangerous; it only mattered if other parents felt it was dangerous. When it comes to kids’ safety, feelings are facts.”

My goodness, this opinion piece is just fantastic. I have so much trouble putting this feeling into words, but this lady nails it.

Please, everyone should read this, whether a mother or father or never going to be. This is a societal problem, and as part of society we have an obligation to learn and reflect.

I have made it a huge point in my everyday life to be more aware of every judgement my mind makes of another person and it has really changed me. I encourage you to do the same.

You see a Mom on her phone at the park, and you immediately judge her for not watching her kids, for not being “present enough”. But what if that Mom believes in letting her kids run and play freely? What if she is doing her best to get some work done while her kids are in a safe place? Does that change your judgement? Being aware of our judgements helps us to reflect and reassess that feeling.

I hope to create a community of women, mothers, and those that love them, that always supports instead of judges. We can change the norm, and I plan on doing my part. Do you?

Women are being harassed and even arrested for making perfectly rational parenting decisions.

07/01/2018

POSTPARTUM RETURN TO FITNESS

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Postpartum Return to Fitness is a 6-week program with Pregnancy and Postpartum Athleticism Certified Coach, Gillian McGraw Boyd. This class is unlike anything offered to new moms in Novato. It is a progressive rehabilitation and strength building class that provides you knowledge, strategy and confidence to move forward with your active lifestyle.

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When: July 9th-August 15th
Monday’s and Wednesday’s. 10:45am-11:30am

Babies and toddlers welcome!!

Where: CrossFit Novato: Downtown
7527 Redwood Blvd
Novato, CA 94945

Cost: $209 for 12 classes plus a 30-min private consultation with Coach Gilly
Class is limited to only 8 participants, so signup ASAP!

To signup: https://crossfitnovato.sites.zenplanner.com/registration.cfm?payment=MEMBERSHIP&MembershipTemplateId=B5D0A587-AB89-47F1-A872-5A7575F18F75&personId=732FB16E-163C-48C3-B168-53E49DEC5258

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Who is this class for?

1. Postpartum women (postpartum is forever! So this includes women years after giving birth) who have felt intimidated to return to physical activity or who haven’t found their way back to a gym or routine. The movements, strategies and progressions you will learn will apply to motherhood, running, cycling, and other any kind of exercise routine.
2. Currently Pregnant women who would like to gain knowledge and strategy to prepare for their postpartum recovery.
3. Postpartum women currently under the care of a Women’s Health PT or Pelvic Floor PT. This can also include women who have been diagnosed or who are currently managing Pelvic Floor Dysfunction, Diastasis Recti, POP or are experiencing leaking during exercise. The programming and progressions complement most rehab protocols. Coach Gilly will work with you and your PT to formulate an individual plan for return to fitness.

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Not sure if this class is for you? Contact Coach Gilly directly at [email protected] or call (831) 234-3506
@ Crossfit Novato

05/23/2018

Hey Guys! I did a thing! Check out my episode of the CFN7 podcast to hear all about me, my work, and the future at CF Novato!

Download past episodes or subscribe to future episodes of CFN7 Podcast by CrossFit Novato for free.