Happy Holidays Mamas!
My name is Samantha Taylor, wife to Michael, and Mama to 10.5 month Charlotte. I’m thrilled to be selected as Mama of the Month!
I am originally from Richlands, a small town in rural Southwest Virginia. Growing up, I loved dance and music, but also the outdoors. I played the piano and flute and every summer my family camped at Hungry Mother State Park. A classical music lover turned band geek, I joined the marching band in high school and spun a flag in the color guard. I continued my band obsession on into college at Virginia Tech and joined The Marching Virginians, Virginia Tech’s marching band. This is where I met my husband, Michael, music lover, fellow band geek, and trumpet and guitar player.
After graduating from Tech with a BS in Exercise and Nutrition, I moved to Hampton Roads to attend ODU, earning a Doctorate of Physical Therapy. Immediately after I graduated, Michael received a job offer in Vicenza, Italy. We packed our home into a storage unit, stuffed whatever we could fit into 2 oversized suitcases, and headed overseas. We are not a military family, but I can relate to living in a new, unfamiliar place, without family or friends, plus a foreign language. In Italy, I discovered a passion for traveling, found my love for food and wine, and learned how to cook. My mom said I earned my “Foodie” status honestly.
2 years later, we returned to Norfolk and I started working as an outpatient orthopedic Physical Therapist. I specialize in post operative PT, the core and Pilates, and now working towards Women’s Health certifications including the pelvic floor, pregnancy and postpartum care. As all of you know, having a baby changes many things - your body and your career focus.
BC (Before Charlotte), we put our traveling experience plus music obsession into play by hitting the road to see live music any chance we had. Now, I must confess that I am a closet Phish head and Dead head -if you know, you know. If you know, let’s be friends, Mama Rager. I like most Jam music that I can dance and groove to. If it’s live and outdoors, even better.
We felt we needed a tiny dancer in our family band and decided to put our touring days on hold, just temporarily of course. Charlotte was born at home January 2022. She, like her parents, loves music, bouncing along to the beat, “helping” Mama play the piano and Dada play the guitar. She has been the most joyful addition to our family.
I found Fit4Mom on Facebook through a post in a Hampton Roads Moms group. I am so grateful I took the leap and signed up for my first class. Being active and outdoors is my jam, so Stroller Strides has been exactly what Charlotte and I needed to get outside, move, and meet other Mamas and babies. I signed up to give myself accountability for exercise but the community of Mamas has been a priceless bonus.
1. What do you enjoy doing outside of Fit4Mom? I enjoy anything outdoors - live music, going to the beach, a hike or bike ride, a walk around our neighborhood, The Botanical Gardens, or the Zoo.
2. What is your favorite fit4mom exercise? My favorite exercise is a combo move that uses your whole body - like a squat into a diagonal lift or a lunge into an overhead press.
3. What would you your number one tip for a first time mom? Postpartum recovery is no joke. Healing took much longer than I expected. Embrace rest and the newborn snuggles.
4. Favorite Norfolk restaurant? LeGrand Kitchen - my husband and I have been regulars since the opened.