Maria Sharapova Shares the Workouts That Help Her Feel Energized as a Latest Mom

For many of her life, Maria Sharapova has thrived on routine. As a retired tennis pro who played the game for 28 years, being ultra-disciplined in training and recovery helped her accomplish major goals, like being ranked primary on the earth and winning five Grand Slam titles. 

When she became a first-time mom in the summertime of 2022, Sharapova, 36, continued to lean on a consistent, albeit more flexible, mindset to attain one other goal—this time, to be her best self for her son, Theodore. “All those lessons I’ve gained during my profession, I’ve really applied into this next chapter,” she tells SELF. 

One, particularly, was the importance of consistency. For instance, in her son’s newborn days, Sharapova dialed within the timing of his feeds and tried to match his nap schedule together with her own in the course of the day, which helped her log enough cumulative rest despite interrupted nighttime sleep. She was also diligent in maintaining her milk supply, and recurrently woke up in the course of the night to pump. 

While welcoming a brand new baby has brought on a ton of change for the Unstoppable creator, Sharapova says being routine-oriented with some tried-and-true self-care practices has enhanced her approach to motherhood. “Many individuals think it’s all concerning the baby, but so as in your baby to feel their best, you furthermore may must handle yourself,” she says

During a photoshoot near her home in Los Angeles, Sharapova caught up with SELF to share the ways she makes self-care a priority while navigating her recent role as a mom. Here’s what she’s learned to this point.

Never underestimate the advantages of the fundamentals.

For Sharapova, sleep and hydration are vital, especially when she’s not feeling her best amid the constant demands of feedings and diaper changes. 

“As a brand new mom, it’s quite common to ignore yourself because you might have this recent being to handle,” she says. “[The basics] are such a very good refresher and so they’re easy, but it’s good to be consistent so as to have results.”

Take sleep, as an example. As Theodore approaches his first birthday, he’s now snoozing through the night—and she or he not has to get up at random hours to pump. But caring for a baby is exhausting on the whole, so she’ll often lie down for a short nap while Theodore sleeps, much like her previous routine on the professional circuit after tough training sessions. 

But she doesn’t pressure herself to truly go to sleep: She’ll simply take the time to rest, put down her phone, and benefit from the calm, quiet space—a reprieve that gives a “great boost of energy,” she says.

Then there’s hydration. Especially in the primary few months after giving birth, Sharapova prioritized drinking enough water as a part of the postpartum healing process. “You’re giving your body a probability to replenish,” she says.

That’s why Sharapova, an Evian ambassador, at all times has a water bottle nearby—she needs quick access to fluids throughout the day. “There’s at all times a bottle of milk for the infant, and there’s a bottle of water for Mom,” she says. 

Aim for a gradual, consistent workout and recovery routine.

After the huge effort of childbirth, Sharapova wanted to present her body the time it needed to heal, so she took her return to fitness slowly. When Theodore was about six months old, she began a gradual buildup to strength training.