When Haley Kensok was pregnant with her now 9-month-old daughter, Olivia, she wanted to maintain her regular exercise routine and meet other mothers to be, so she searched for a prenatal fitness class.

Kensok found a number of prenatal yoga classes locally, but she was more interested in the strength training and cardiovascular workouts she did regularly pre pregnancy.

Kensok never found the classes she was looking for, but she didn’t give up on the idea. She did the training required to become a certified pre and postnatal fitness instructor and, on Feb. 15, six months after having Olivia, Kensok opened Continuous Motion in partnership with Anytime Fitness.

Prenatal fitness classes are currently held at Anytime Fitness, at 4252 Cordata Parkway, Suite, 101. Eventually, though, Kensok will move into her own studio, which will be attached to the gym and also part of Suite 101. The date of that move is still up in the air, Kensok said.

It’s important for women to stay active when they are pregnant, Kensok said — maintaining fitness helps both during and after pregnancy.

“Working your core — I can’t stress enough — completely helps with your labor and delivery,” Kensok said.

Most women can exercise right up to delivery, Kensok said, but they need to exercise in ways that are right for their bodies. When she was pregnant, Kensok didn’t know which exercises were right for her until she did some research and talked to her doctor.

“I didn’t know what exercises I could do and what I couldn’t do,” Kensok said.

As part of the service Kensok provides, she communicates with health care providers to ensure exercises are safe for each woman. Kensok also requires that women provide letters from their doctors to participate in classes because they can develop medical conditions during pregnancy, such as high blood pressure, that can make certain exercises dangerous, Kensok said.

In addition to health benefits, exercising also boosts self confidence, which many women lose during pregnancies, Kensok said.

Kensok developed her business because she wants to help women stay fit when they are pregnant, but that is only part of her motivation. She also wants to create an environment where women interested in health can develop relationships with other women who will deliver around the same time. And that appears to be happening.  Most women in the class have become friends, Kensok said.

When Kensok moves into her new studio she will start holding in-studio postnatal fitness classes. At that point, women who started exercising together when they were mothers to be will get to workout together as new moms. And mothers will get to take their babies with them to postnatal classes — in fact, babies will be incorporated into some of the exercises, Kensok said.

Prenatal classes currently cost $12 per session and are held Monday and Friday from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Wednesday from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. and again from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Kensok also offers a stroller fit class, which meets Thursday at 11 a.m. and costs $15. A second stroller fit class will be added soon.

For more information or to register for a class, visit www.continuous-motion.com or call (360) 927-7411.