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From their signature ankle weights that transformed the fitness accessory game to their sleek Bala Beam that makes every Pilates class feel elevated, Bala has become the go-to brand for those who refuse to choose between form and function. Now, they’re bringing that same design-forward thinking to a whole new chapter: motherhood.
Just recently, Bala launched their first-ever prenatal and postnatal fitness collection, Bala Mama—and as someone who practically lives in their ankle weights during Pilates class, I couldn’t be more excited. The collection includes four thoughtfully designed pieces:
- Bala Belly Band: A supportive band designed to ease the weight of your growing belly during workouts and daily movement
- Bala Birthday Peanut: A versatile peanut-shaped ball that helps with labor positioning, recovery exercises, and core work
- Bala Balance Ball: Perfect for stability work, gentle stretches, and birthing exercises
- Bala Big Band: An oversized resistance band for full-body strength training that adapts to your changing body
If you’re like me and grew up in the ’80s, you probably remember those Get in Shape Girl sets from Hasbro (complete with pastel dumbbells and coordinating headbands). While they sparked my lifelong love affair with fitness, they also came with a side of body image baggage that took years to unpack. (Um, still working on that actually.) What I love about Bala’s approach is how it celebrates strength without the pressure—something the maternity fitness world desperately needs.
Co-founder Natalie Holloway, currently on maternity leave with her third child, knows this firsthand. “When I became pregnant with my third baby, Cash, I wanted to move my body but my favorite workouts (hot yoga and hot Pilates) were not safe for me anymore,” she shares. Her search for pregnancy-safe fitness equipment revealed a glaring gap in the market. “I had to scour the internet to understand which fitness products were for me.”
What Holloway discovered was a prenatal fitness landscape that felt “clinical or uninspired”—a far cry from the aesthetically-driven wellness tools she’d built her brand on. The solution? Create products that honor both the physical and emotional journey of motherhood, without sacrificing style.
The result is a collection that feels distinctly Bala. Soft palettes meet thoughtful textures, while intuitive design ensures each piece supports the changing maternal body. Working closely with their community of trainers (many specializing in pre and postnatal fitness), the team rethought everything from weight and grip to texture and balance.
“Movement is about so much more than just fitness,” Holloway explains. “It’s a form of grounding, reclaiming your body, and finding a sense of self again.” The collection reflects this philosophy, offering tools that feel like an invitation rather than an obligation—something any mother juggling the demands of pregnancy or early parenthood can appreciate.
What sets Bala Mama apart isn’t just the products themselves, but the larger conversation they’re starting about motherhood in motion. The brand is building community through content and collaborations that reflect the real, nuanced experience of being a mom—not just the Instagram-perfect moments.
For those of us who’ve fallen for Bala’s original line (those silicone Bala Bangles really do make squats and lunges more effective), the Mama collection feels like a natural evolution. It’s fitness gear that understands that motherhood is “powerful, personal, and worthy of design that inspires.”
As someone who’s spent countless hours on the reformer with Bala accessories, I appreciate how the brand never goes gimmicky. “We always create a product with true intention of benefitting your fitness journey,” Holloway confirms. That intentionality shows in every detail of the Mama collection, from the supportive design to the calming aesthetics.
Whether you’re navigating morning sickness or finding your way back to movement postpartum, Bala Mama offers a refreshing take on maternal fitness—one that champions strength in softness and reminds us that every phase of motherhood deserves to be celebrated. And unlike those Get in Shape Girl sets of our youth, these tools are designed to empower, not pressure.
The Bala Mama collection is now available at Shopbala.com, Revolve, Free People Movement, and HATCH. Here’s hoping it inspires a whole new generation to find joy in movement—minus the complex.