Emma Powell, a keen padel player and trainee coach, is teaming up with GB international Vic Nicholas to launch padel sessions for new mums.
The ‘new mums’ padel’ programme begins with a pilot at The Padel Hub in Reading from 11am-12.30pm on 2 April. Emma is seeking further venues in London to roll out the programme across the capital as soon as possible.
The sessions will gives mums-to-be and mums with babies a ‘happy place’ to exercise, make friends, (re)gain confidence and most importantly have fun, whilst babies are looked after in the safe environs of a padel club.
Pregnant women and new mums are vulnerable to issues such as social isolation and mental health and Emma has identified that an instantly-accessible sport like padel, surrounded by like-minded women, could be a great source of support and fun.
She observed how padel might positively impact new mums whilst playing at different London venues and speaking to many of her friends who are struggling to get back into consistent exercise post-pregnancy.
Emma is currently undertaking her LTA Level 2 Padel Instructor course and assisting with teaching at Rocks Lane, Chiswick.
She told The Padel Paper: “I’ve played sports my entire life, and I’m very passionate about encouraging more girls and women to participate in sports at all levels. Many women my age are starting to have babies, and they’re finding it difficult to return to sport and exercise because they need to be close to their children. Padel opens up an opportunity for new mums, especially when you have a great venue where you can keep your buggy close to the courts, or where one of the courts provides a safe, enclosed space for babies to play.
“I’ve recently started an Instagram page ( @exercisewith_emma ) which aims to get more people, especially girls and women, into sport. This is the first initiative of many and I’m really excited to collaborate with Vic.
“I hope ‘new mums padel’ can create a safe, inclusive space for women to enjoy exercise and make them feel good after having a baby. And who knows, it might even inspire some of their children to start playing padel in the future!”
Emma first met GB no.4 Vic a year ago at a women’s event at Padel Social Club and floated the idea of mums’ sessions after Vic announced on Instagram that she was pregnant with her first child.
Vic said: “This is a wonderful initiative because it can be extremely daunting for anyone to take up a new sport and even just walk into an unfamiliar venue. Putting on a session like this – just for mums – will make it more accessible.
“Since my last tournament in February, I’ve continued to play padel socially while pregnant and I’m certainly feeling the benefits. I’m sure other mums-to-be and new mums will benefit from the social interaction as much as the physical health benefits.
“I’m really pleased that Emma has seen there is an opportunity to bring more women into padel through this initiative and I look forward to supporting her.”
Women interested in joining the taster ‘padel for mums’ session at The Padel Hub in Reading on 2 April can contact Emma via DM on her Instagram. Venues interested in hosting ‘new mums padel’ events please also contact Emma via Instagram.
