Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dr. Maria Banks. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Dr. Maria thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
I started The Health Mamas in 2021 right after giving birth to my baby boy; so I guess you can say I birthed two babies that year. I have never been the person to think I would start a business, however a major shift happened after becoming pregnant. As an Occupational Therapist for over 11 years, I am extremely knowledgeable about health and wellness, but I have always been a bit hesitant about putting myself out there. However, after becoming pregnant and realizing how important it is for moms to take care of their health during such a special time, I knew that I had to go for it!
I gave birth to my son at the age of 35; this is considered a higher risk pregnancy due to my age. This caused me to be more aware about the foods I consumed and maintaining an exercise routine that was safe for pregnancy. I sought out professionals in my area to assist with this, however I had a difficult time finding one. Due to my professional background, I decided to become the resource I wish I had during pregnancy. I obtained further certifications specific to health and wellness during pregnancy and postpartum and started The Health Mamas.
As I started to develop my business and do the research in maternal health, I became even more excited to really spread the word and empower women to take full control of their health. As I saw so many articles about moms having pregnancy and birth complications, I became even more invested in building a business that truly guides new and expectant moms to make healthier choices. About a year into my business development, the maternal health crisis hit home. I lost a dear friend who passed during birth. She had a pregnancy complication that went unnoticed until it was too late. This reignited my passion to educate women and provide services that will truly help new and expectant moms.
Dr. Maria, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My name is Dr. Maria Banks and I am a Pelvic Floor OT and Pre & Post Natal Fitness Specialist. I am the owner of The Health Mamas, which is a company I started to empower new and expectant moms to take full control of their health. I have been in the healthcare field for over 11 years and decided to start my own business after becoming pregnant and realizing how important it is to truly love and take care of your body during this time.
Pregnancy is often glorified, however it can be so hard on women physically, mentally and emotionally. We are not always as realistic with women about everything that happens during this time. Many of my clients experience pain (especially back and hip pain), urinary incontinence, low energy and changes in self esteem. It is shown that exercise and a proper diet during pregnancy and postpartum can help to address these areas and help improve a moms overall quality of life. My goal is to allow women to understand they are not alone when they are going through these changes and to empower them to take action and improve their overall health and wellbeing.
I provide services to both moms and expectant moms; if you are trying to conceive, currently pregnant, or a mom, I can work with you! I offer 1:1 virtual personal training services; my top priority is to keep you safe! I also offer 1:1 nutrition coaching with full recipes and menu guides which include nutritious foods specific to what your body needs during this time.
Your goals vary based on the time period in which I work with you. If you are pregnant or trying to conceive, my main objective is to help you eat foods that are healthy for you and your growing fetus in order to help reduce pregnancy complications. I also provide exercises to help you have a pain free pregnancy and prepare your body for labor. During the postpartum period, I provide exercises to help heal your postpartum body (including diastasis recti, pain and urinary incontinence). I also coach you on the proper foods to help with energy levels and keep you and baby healthy if you are breastfeeding. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been a mom, I can still help! I have a client who has a seven year old who is still trying to heal and she is making great progress!
I am constantly completing lectures, talking to community groups and spreading knowledge on social media because I am so passionate about helping moms embrace these changes and live their best lives. I continue to do this work because I see the positive impact that it has on the moms that I’ve coached. I’ve had women tell me how grateful they are when they have more energy to play with their kids, when they had a short, uncomplicated pregnancy and labor and when they have decreased pain levels. It lets me know that I am making an impact on others and doing what I was called to do.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
The best source of new clients for me has been word of mouth. I have learned that networking locally with health and wellness businesses and mom groups has been extremely beneficial. It has assisted in getting my name out there and has led to many referrals. I have also completed lectures and talks at events such as the baby expo to expose me to potential new clients.
We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.
I utilize social media and email campaigns to keep in touch with my clients. Many of my clients started from DM’s, so I continue to message them to check in in order to keep an ongoing relationship. I also utilize email campaigns that include realistic emails, almost like I’m talking and checking in with my friends. I’ve noticed that it has helped me maintain relationships with many moms.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thehealthmamas.com/
- Instagram: @thehealthmamas
- Other: TikTok: @thehealthmamas