Restore Your Core® vs Strong Core Mama: Postpartum Recovery

You’re months – or maybe years – past childbirth, and your body still doesn’t feel like yours. Maybe you leak when you jump. You might notice a lingering softness or separation through your abdomen that makes you feel less supported in your core. There’s a heaviness low in your pelvis that you can’t quite name. Sex might feel different, even uncomfortable. Your back aches in ways it never used to.

You’re searching for answers, and you keep seeing two names come up: Strong Core Mama by Dr. Anna and Restore Your Core® (RYC®) by Lauren Ohayon.

Both programs address core and pelvic floor dysfunction. Both are created by respected professionals. But they take fundamentally different approaches to healing – and those differences matter when you’re deciding where to invest your time, money, and trust.

Here’s what you need to know to make the right choice for your body and your life.

You’re not broken. Your body isn’t failing you. The right approach can help you feel strong, capable, and confident again.

Start your healing today with this free workout

Table of Contents

Who Should Consider Each Program?

Restore Your Core® (RYC®)

Best for women who:

Are navigating prolapse, diastasis recti, leaking, chronic pain, pelvic instability, back pain, painful sex, postpartum healing, or difficulty with orgasm
Want a whole-body approach that addresses breath mechanics, posture patterns, movement coordination, and nervous system regulation – not just isolated pelvic floor exercises
Value a method refined through nearly a decade of work with over 10,000 bodies across 80+ countries on 5 continents
Want lifetime access they can return to during different life phases – pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause, post-surgery, or symptom flare-ups
Appreciate having choices in how they learn: self-paced, structured with accountability, or personalized with coaching
Are seeking sustainable healing that builds full-body functional strength alongside pelvic floor health
Want support from a global network of 500+ trained RYC® Professionals across multiple clinical disciplines, not just one instructor’s perspective

Strong Core Mama

Best for women who:

Are specifically postpartum (recently or within the past few years)
Want physical therapy-focused exercises from a licensed PT
Prefer subscription-based access with monthly billing
Like a structured program organized by specific postpartum needs (vaginal birth, cesarean, return to running, early healing)
Want programs designed around specific postpartum timelines (2-6 weeks, 6+ weeks, return to running)
Are comfortable with video-guided workouts without extensive community support
Want targeted programs for pregnancy and running

Side by Side: What You Actually Get

Category	RYC® 12-Week Program	Strong Core Mama
Access	Lifetime – yours forever, including all future updates, with payment plans available to reduce upfront cost	Monthly or annual subscription – access ends unless renewed
Program Length	12-week structured program with 4 progressive phases designed to be revisited anytime as a reusable rehabilitation framework – all included in a single purchase	Multiple 12-week programs for different postpartum phases (Strong Core Mama, Strong Healing Mama, Strong Running Mama, Strong Expecting Mama) , each purchased individually, meaning costs add up if you need support across more than one stage.
Personalization	3 tracks:• Essentials (self-paced)• Guided (structured with accountability)• Guided+ (includes two 1:1 recorded video coaching sessions with certified RYC® Coach + feedback and follow up)	Separate programs for specific needs: standard vaginal birth, cesarean birth, early postpartum (2-6 weeks), return to running, pregnancy
Workout Length	10–25 minute sessions, 4x/week recommended – express classes available for busy days (10-15 min). Total: ~1.5–2 hours per week	15–25 minute classes, 2x/week minimum recommended per program
Support Community	35,000+ active members in private Facebook group moderated by certified RYC® professionals; global network of 500+ certified RYC® Pros	Community access through platform; ability to ask Dr. Anna questions through community Q&A or 1-on-1 private chat box
Coaching	Guided+ includes two 1:1 recorded video sessions with a certified RYC® Coach + feedback and follow up; additional coaching available as needed ($149 per coaching call – for 60 mins each with access to the recording and notes)	You can purchase a 45-minute coaching call (1:1 for $149)
Modifications	Essentials includes modifications; Guided & Guided+ offer fully built-out Supported Path with chair-based and scaled options – a parallel path if symptoms intensify	Modifications available within video instruction; separate cesarean track available
Progress Tracking	Guided & Guided+ automatically track progress and unlock next workouts in sequence. Guided users are 2x more likely to complete the full program, with 94% reporting structure helps them stay consistent	Self-directed progression through classes; showing what’s completed or in progress
Long-Term Use	Designed to revisit during flare-ups, life phase changes, or symptom shifts without additional cost	Access continues only while subscription is active; must maintain monthly/annual payments

The Healing Philosophy Behind Each Program

Restore Your Core®: Building Functional Strength Through Whole-Body Integration

RYC® treats your pelvic floor as part of a connected system – not a muscle to isolate and strengthen on its own. The program retrains how your breath, posture, movement patterns, and nervous system work together, so your core and pelvic floor respond naturally throughout your day, not just during dedicated exercise time.

The method brings together:

Movement science drawn from more than 10,000 healing journeys documented since 2015
Pelvic floor physiotherapy principles endorsed by 500+ trained professionals worldwide
Breath-to-movement coordination that reconnects your diaphragm and pelvic floor
Somatic practices and nervous system support – because how you hold tension and respond to stress directly shapes pelvic floor function
Postural habits and alignment awareness that influence how pressure distributes through your body
Functional strength training that translates into real life – lifting your kids, carrying groceries, getting up from the floor

RYC® is guided by the CARE model: Core confidence, Awareness, Responsive strength, and Empowerment. The aim is to reach a place where your body knows what to do without you having to think about it – where movement feels natural and trustworthy rather than something you monitor or fear.

And this all happens at home, with short sessions (10-25 minutes) that work around busy schedules and require minimal equipment. You can do the entire program with household items – a towel for a mat, a thick book for a block. Optional props like bands or a small ball can enhance certain movements, but nothing beyond what you likely already own is required. What sets RYC® apart is that each workout weaves in breath awareness, postural cues, and nervous system regulation so the benefits carry into how you move, breathe, and hold yourself for the rest of the day.

Strong Core Mama: Physical Therapy-Based Postpartum Exercise

Strong Core Mama approaches core and pelvic floor health through the lens of physical therapy rehabilitation for postpartum recovery. Created by Dr. Anna, a licensed physical therapist with pelvic floor specialty certification, the programs focus on targeted exercises to restore the “brain-body connection” between your mind and core/pelvic floor muscles.

The method emphasizes:

Evidence-based physical therapy exercises developed from Dr. Anna’s clinical experience with hundreds of postpartum patients
Pelvic floor and core muscle training with visual and audio cues in each video
Breath coordination with movement to support proper pelvic floor function
Pelvic alignment and posture correction during exercises
Progressive strengthening through structured 12-week programs
Education on postpartum physiology and how pregnancy/delivery affect the body

The programs are organized around specific postpartum phases:

Strong Healing Mama: 2-6 weeks postpartum (early recovery)
Strong Core Mama: 6+ weeks postpartum (vaginal or cesarean birth)
Strong Running Mama: Return to running and high-impact exercise
Strong Expecting Mama: Pregnancy-safe movement

Each program includes exercises designed to keep you safe, restore mobility, and rebuild strength through physical therapy principles. Dr. Anna guides you through correct form and explains what’s happening in your body during recovery.

Try 18 minutes of healing, nourishing movement – the RYC® way

What Are Women Actually Experiencing?

RYC® Users Report:

Reduction or elimination of prolapse symptoms – including uterine prolapse, cystocele, and rectocele relief
Meaningful improvement or functional closure of diastasis recti
Elimination of leaking during everyday movements
Less pain and increased comfort during sex
Enhanced orgasmic capacity and pleasure
Resolution of chronic back pain
Relief from persistent pelvic and hip discomfort
Decreased knee pain and improved joint function
Better SI joint stability and reduced sacroiliac pain
Greater mobility, strength, and body awareness
Improved coordination between mind and muscle, stronger functional capacity
Better posture with reduction in neck hump and rounded shoulders
Returning to running, weightlifting, jumping, cycling, and sports – sometimes after years away
Reduction in hernia-related symptoms through improved core mechanics
Effective recovery for those with hysterectomy history or post-surgical pelvic floor concerns
Reduced pelvic pressure and heaviness during pregnancy and postpartum daily activities
Greater confidence returning to movement and exercise postpartum, with a clearer sense of what supports healing versus what increases symptoms

These experiences reflect more than 10,000 documented success stories gathered since 2015.

Strong Core Mama Users Report:

Improved core and pelvic floor strength postpartum
Better brain-body connection with core and pelvic floor muscles
Reduced diastasis recti symptoms and gap closure
Decreased leaking during daily activities
Feeling confident returning to running and high-impact exercise
Reduced back pain and improved pelvic alignment
Feeling stronger lifting and carrying their babies
Successful return to fitness activities they loved before pregnancy
Feeling prepared for labor and delivery (Strong Expecting Mama)
Relief from pelvic pressure and discomfort during pregnancy

Understanding the Investment: What Does Each Program Cost?

RYC® and Strong Core Mama reflect two very different ideas about what a healing program should be – and their pricing follows from that.

Restore Your Core® represents over a decade of real-world refinement. The program has been shaped by more than 10,000 healing journeys across 80+ countries since 2015, and has gone through three major revisions – every past purchaser receiving full access to each upgrade at no extra charge. It draws on the expertise of 500+ trained professionals spanning urogynecology, pelvic floor physical therapy, occupational therapy, and chiropractic disciplines, developed by Lauren Ohayon, a respected pelvic floor movement specialist with 25+ years experience working with bodies, whose methods are taught to healthcare providers globally. That breadth of clinical input, combined with continuous refinement driven by genuine member outcomes and a commitment to permanent access, is what makes this a premium resource built to remain useful across decades of a woman’s life.

Strong Core Mama, created by Dr. Anna (a licensed physical therapist and pelvic floor specialist), emphasizes accessible monthly or annual pricing through a subscription model. The approach focuses on evidence-based physical therapy exercises for specific postpartum phases, with access remaining active during membership.

Pricing Breakdown

Track/Program	Price	What’s Included
RYC® Essentials	$247 one-time (payment plans: $45/month for 6 months)	Lifetime access to the full 12-week program across all 4 progressive phases. Work through it at your own pace with the complete video library, modifications for any fitness level, and automatic access to every future program enhancement. A reusable healing framework – not a recurring fitness subscription.
RYC® Guided	$447 one-time (payment plans: $77/month for 6 months)	Everything in Essentials plus automated daily workout scheduling, built-in progress tracking that unlocks workouts in sequence, integrated accountability tools, and complete access to the Supported Path with chair-based and scaled alternatives as well as different body representation. Guided members finish the full 12 weeks at twice the rate of self-paced learners, and 94% say the structure kept them consistent.
RYC® Guided+	$747 one-time (payment plans: $128/month for 6 months)	Everything in Guided PLUS two individual 1:1 recorded video coaching sessions with a certified RYC® Coach + feedback and follow up. Additional coaching sessions available to add as desired.
Strong Core Mama (individual program)	$57/month or $659/year (3-day free trial)	Monthly or annual access to one specific program (Strong Core Mama, Strong Healing Mama, Strong Running Mama, or Strong Expecting Mama). 15-25 minute classes, community access, ability to ask Dr. Anna questions. Subscription required for continued access – access ends when payments stop.
Strong Core Mama Cesarean Track	$57/month or $659/year (3-day free trial)	Specialized track for cesarean birth recovery with exercises designed specifically for abdominal surgery healing. Same subscription model as standard program.

Important cost consideration: Over one year, a single Strong Core Mama subscription costs $684 (monthly) or $659 (annual plan) – and that covers just one program. If you need support across multiple stages, purchasing Strong Healing Mama and Strong Running Mama separately adds to that total. In contrast, RYC®’s one-time investment of $247–$747 includes everything – all phases, all life stages, lifetime access – with nothing extra to pay.

Enjoy a free, pelvic-floor & core healing whole-body workout today

Which Program Should You Choose?

Choose Restore Your Core® if:

You’re looking for a program that treats your body as a connected system – weaving together breath coordination, postural awareness, functional strength, and nervous system support rather than targeting the pelvic floor in isolation
You’re dealing with persistent or overlapping symptoms – prolapse that hasn’t resolved, diastasis recti that conventional exercises haven’t touched, chronic leaking, pain during sex, or pelvic floor challenges that feel stuck
You recognize that lasting healing goes deeper than exercise selection – that tension patterns, compensatory habits, and how your body manages stress and pressure all play a role in what you’re experiencing
You want a program built on real outcomes – refined through 10,000+ documented healing journeys since 2015, validated by 500+ trained professionals spanning urogynecology, pelvic floor PT, occupational therapy, and chiropractic disciplines
You value a clear, phased journey (Reconnect, Restore, Repattern, Reinforce) with permanent access – something you can return to whenever life changes, not a subscription you lose when payments stop
You want practical, home-based sessions (10-25 minutes) that build real functional strength while also shifting how you breathe, move, and stabilize throughout the rest of your day
You appreciate options in how you learn – three tracks (Essentials, Guided, Guided+) that let you choose between full independence, structured daily programming, or personalized 1:1 video coaching with a certified RYC® professional
You want a method informed by hundreds of clinical professionals rather than a single practitioner’s lens
You want something that grows with you – a framework that remains relevant through pregnancy, postpartum recovery, perimenopause, post-surgery, and beyond, without requiring a separate program for each stage
You are currently pregnant or postpartum, at any stage after the first 6 weeks after birth

Choose Strong Core Mama if:

You are specifically postpartum (recently or within the past few years) and want a physical therapy-focused approach
You prefer PT-led exercises from a licensed physical therapist with pelvic floor specialty training
You like having separate programs for different postpartum phases (early healing, standard recovery, cesarean birth, return to running)
You want structured 12-week programs organized around specific postpartum timelines
You’re comfortable with a subscription model and don’t mind ongoing monthly or annual payments
You want programs specifically designed for pregnancy or running in addition to general postpartum recovery
You’re looking for evidence-based physical therapy exercises developed from clinical patient experience
Your primary focus is postpartum-specific rehabilitation rather than comprehensive healing across multiple life stages

The Defining Differences Between These Two Programs

Both Restore Your Core® and Strong Core Mama support core and pelvic floor health, but they come from distinctly different places and lead to different outcomes. One key distinction: RYC® addresses core and pelvic floor concerns together within a single program – recognizing that these issues are closely interconnected – while Strong Core Mama separates them into individually sold programs.

Strong Core Mama centers on physical therapy-based exercise rehabilitation for specific postpartum phases. Created by a licensed PT with pelvic floor specialty certification, the programs deliver targeted exercises organized around postpartum timelines (early healing, standard recovery, return to running) through video instruction with monthly or annual subscription access.

RYC® takes a broader view. In addition to evidence-based pelvic floor physiotherapy principles, the program employs a functional whole-body strength, somatic, nervous-system-centered methodology – working with breath patterns, postural tendencies, tension dynamics, and whole-body coordination to address the foundational patterns that influence core and pelvic floor function across all life phases.

What matters is understanding what each program is built to do – and whether that matches what your body needs right now.

Here’s what distinguishes RYC®:

Nearly twelve years of continuous refinement with regular program enhancements
Now in its third fully revised version – every past purchaser receives comprehensive upgrades automatically, at no additional cost
10,000+ documented healing experiences spanning 80+ countries across 5 continents
500+ trained RYC® Professionals worldwide, plus a 35,000+ member community in a moderated private Facebook group
The CARE framework (Core confidence, Awareness, Responsive strength, Empowerment)
Functional whole-body strength built through somatic awareness and nervous system regulation – support that reaches far beyond traditional exercise programming
Chair-based Supported Path offered as a full parallel track with different body representation, not merely modifications
Payment plan availability to increase accessibility
Serves all life phases – pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopausal, post-surgical, and beyond
Inclusive approach designed for all women regardless of motherhood status – addressing pelvic floor and core challenges whether they stem from pregnancy, aging, surgery, or other causes
A progressive journey that moves you from symptom relief through genuine functional strength, preparing your body for whatever activities you choose
Nervous system regulation as a core component of healing, recognizing that stress, tension patterns, and body awareness shape pelvic floor function

What Strong Core Mama offers:

Programs created by a licensed physical therapist (PT, DPT) with pelvic floor specialty certification
Evidence-based physical therapy exercises developed from clinical experience with hundreds of postpartum patients
Separate specialized programs for different postpartum needs (vaginal birth, cesarean birth, early healing, return to running, pregnancy)
Video instruction with visual and audio cues demonstrating correct form
3-day free trial to test the program before committing
Monthly subscription ($57/month) or annual option ($659/year) for flexible payment
Community platform to ask Dr. Anna questions
Organized around specific postpartum timelines (2-6 weeks, 6+ weeks, return to running)
Focus on physical therapy principles and exercise rehabilitation
Education on postpartum physiology and recovery

The choice comes down to this: if you want physical therapy-based postpartum exercise programs organized around specific recovery timelines with subscription access, Strong Core Mama delivers that. If you want a comprehensive, functional whole-body rehabilitation framework validated across 500+ healthcare professionals and refined through 10,000+ healing journeys – one you can return to across any life stage without ongoing fees, that addresses the deeper patterns shaping symptoms rather than targeting postpartum phases alone – RYC® provides that depth and adaptability.

Still Deciding? Here’s How to Move Forward

If you’re still unsure, here’s what we recommend:

Exploring teaching styles:

RYC®: Watch Lauren’s free videos on YouTube and Instagram to see if the somatic, whole-body approach resonates with you
Strong Core Mama: Check out Dr. Anna’s content and take advantage of the 3-day free trial to experience the physical therapy approach

If you’re dealing with symptoms like prolapse, incontinence, diastasis recti, back pain, or painful sex:

RYC® is built to address these challenges at their source – through whole-body integration, nervous system support, and functional strength building that works with the patterns creating symptoms, not just the symptoms themselves
Strong Core Mama offers evidence-based physical therapy exercises to address these symptoms through targeted postpartum rehabilitation

If budget and payment flexibility matter:

RYC® offers payment plans ($45-$128/month depending on track) to reduce upfront cost while still giving you lifetime access – allowing you to spread the investment over 6 months
Strong Core Mama offers monthly subscription ($57/month) or annual option ($659/year) that keeps initial costs predictable, though access continues only while subscribed

If you value expert guidance:

RYC® provides optional 1:1 video coaching with certified RYC® Professionals across all tracks, plus access to a 35,000+ member community moderated by certified professionals – supported by a global network of 500+ trained RYC® Pros
Strong Core Mama provides video instruction with visual and audio cues from Dr. Anna, plus community platform access to ask questions

If you’re feeling overwhelmed:

RYC® offers three tracks so you can choose the level of support that feels right – Essentials gives you full flexibility, Guided adds clear, done-for-you programming and accountability, and Guided+ includes personalized 1:1 video coaching
Strong Core Mama provides structured 12-week programs with clear progression and video guidance showing exactly what to do

If you need adaptability across life stages:

RYC® functions as a reusable rehabilitation framework you can return to during postpartum, perimenopause, post-surgery, symptom flare-ups, or any time your body’s needs shift – without additional cost. The method serves all women, not only mothers, and addresses the complete journey from symptom relief through perimenopause and beyond
Strong Core Mama provides ongoing access to programs as long as subscription is active, with specialized programs for different postpartum phases

The most important thing? Just start.

Your body isn’t broken. It’s waiting for the right approach – one that honors how everything connects.