Stroller Strides: Suffolk County Celebrates its First Birthday

Stroller Strides is not just a walk in the park (unless you didn't sleep the night before and want it to be), said Stephanie Klein, owner of Stroller Strides: Suffolk County, based in the Tanger Outlets at the Arches. 

"I know how sometimes new moms just need to get out of the house," Klein said. "I can read in their faces whether to push them or not."

Push them in a stroller? What exactly is Stroller Strides, anyway?

Klein explained that it is a total fitness program that moms can do with their babies. It includes power walking and intervals of strength and body toning exercises using exercise tubing, the stroller, and the environment. Taught by certified instructors, it's a great 60-minute workout for any level of exerciser.

In the cold weather, like now, they are in Klein's space in  Tanger, or in the Walt Whitman Mall. As the weather starts to warm up, usually mid-April, Klein said, they start to venture outside. They'll head over to Sunken Meadow State Park, Lake Ronkonkoma, and Belmont Lake State Park, as well as other locations.

Classes also held at the Huntington Jewish Center and Heckscher Park in Huntington run by the Stroller Strides group of Nassau and Suffolk County.   

While you are exercising, the instructors will be singing songs, blowing bubbles, playing with puppets--all to keep your baby entertained.

"We'll have a different theme--maybe a certain color or a a shape, so the toddler can learn as well," Klein said.

When Klein's son Zachary was born, almost three years ago, she wanted to get out, join a group, work out, but still be there for her baby. She found a Stroller Fitness group.

"I saw what it did for me. It really helped me. Made me feel good. And then the woman who ran it, her children outgrew the stroller phase and the group disbanded. And I realized I needed it. And I decided that this was what I wanted to do--help others. So I found out about Stroller Strides, and I decided to start a franchise in the area," Klein said.

With Stroller Strides, you can pay as you go, or become a member. They have classes almost daily. Some days they'll have 20 moms with their babies, and some days only five. 

"It's a great way to get out in the winter with your baby and be in a safe environment," Klein said.

Members can also partake in free weekly playgroups, or the monthly mom's night out. It's a wonderful way to meet other moms with their babies. For the classes, you need only bring yourself, your child (6 weeks to about age 4) and your stroller. Klein said that just about any kind of stroller will do, as long as it's not prone to tipping. She also suggests bringing water and a hat or sunblock if they are going outside. You may want a towel or mat for the ground exercises.

Stroller Strides just celebrated their first year in business, with a big celebration that included Elmo and many moms and their kids.

"I really want to have a positive influence on people. It's changed my life and I want to help others now. It's definitely been an adventure," Klein said.  "It's a great business for a mom. I can always be there for my children," Klein added.

Right now that's Zachary, who turns 3 in April, but she is having another child in mid July.  She vows to work right until the end.

"It's my goal to help people. A dream is just a dream," she said. "But a goal is a dream with a deadline."