A Mother's Day TAmily Tale: Akal Zeleke
TAmily Tales is a series dedicated to the voices, experiences, and personal journeys within our global TA community. Akal Zeleke is a beloved and respected member of the TAmily who graciously offered to share her pregnancy and postpartum experience with us in honor Mother’s Day this weekend.
Meet Akal Zeleke
How long have you been practicing Tracy Anderson?
I started the method in June 2020. I was in need of a movement practice that would ground me during the height of the Covid pandemic and found it in Tracy's method. I've been devoted ever since.
When you found out you were pregnant with your first child, did you have a plan for how you wanted to continue your movement practice with Tracy?
I found out that I was pregnant right after I started MYMODE. At the time, I was prepared to put MYMODE on pause and strictly adhere to Tracy's Pregnancy Project DVD's, but when I told Tracy I was expecting, she (along with my lovely MyMode trainer Annie) graciously provided me with guidelines for a hybrid MYMODE workout routine that also incorporated mat work with the Pregnancy Project.
As someone who already loved Tracy Anderson going into your pregnancy, what was it like to use her Pregnancy Project content?
The Pregnancy Project was the perfect addition to my routine. The workouts carry the essence of the method and evolve with each month of pregnancy to allow space and modifications for a growing baby (and belly!) and left me feeling energized and strong. For those who don't know, Tracy filmed these sequences throughout her own pregnancy, so it was really cool working out with her and see her changing body while moving in my own.
What support, emotional or physical, did you gain from moving with Tracy throughout your pregnancy?
If I'm being honest, I did struggle with hormonal shifts in the early pregnancy period that left me feeling down, but keeping up with my workout routine served as a godsend during that time. The Method was vital for keeping up my energy levels and stress relief. Working out regularly on the mat, on the MYMODE, and using the Pregnancy Project also allowed me to maintain strength and mobility throughout those nine months. At the end of my pregnancy I felt incredibly strong and confident in my body. I firmly believe maintaining this routine helped ease me through the process of labor and delivery of my baby.
What was it like returning to movement after giving birth?
I tried to be kind to myself, especially in those early postpartum days when I returned to exercise (which was around 8 weeks for me). I did not pressure myself to "bounce back." I started with short walks in my neighborhood and incorporating Tracy's arm workouts from the online studio and the Original Mat DVD (which to this day has arguably one of the best opening arms segments, a true testament to the timelessness of Tracy's work). I also saw a pelvic floor therapist to help make sure my pelvic floor muscles were in top shape before getting back to the mat. Then I started Tracy's Post-Pregnancy DVD's (Post-Pregnancy I and II) which served as the perfect return to the Tracy Anderson method. The focus on core work and the posterior chain really helped to lift and tighten my deeper pelvic floor muscles. Once I felt comfortable moving through those workouts, I started adding Beginner mat and MYMODE Genesis classes to my routine.
How has your understanding of strength and the body changed throughout the experience of becoming a mother?
Becoming a mother completely transformed my understanding of strength. I used to think of strength mostly in physical terms. Don't get me wrong, physical strength is important and allows me to keep up with my now 2.5 year old toddler. But motherhood showed me that true strength is also adaptability, patience, softness, resilience, and the ability to keep showing up even when you feel stretched in every direction. It gave me a much deeper appreciation for what the body is capable of; not just aesthetically, but functionally and emotionally.
What would you say to a woman who wants to stay connected to her body through pregnancy and beyond?
I would say give yourself permission to stay connected to your body without pressure or expectation. Pregnancy and motherhood demand so much of you physically and emotionally, and your relationship with your body will naturally evolve through that. Staying connected doesn't have to mean pushing harder; it's simply about listening, moving with intention, and creating small moments to check in with yourself.
Find Akal on Instagram @dr._ztam. Want to share your story, too?
Get in touch community@tracyandersonmethod.com for the chance to be featured in TAmily Tales.