The Joys of Baby &Toddler Yoga
by Holly Keich
Once a woman becomes a mother, everything changes. The transition for both mother and child can be a demanding one, requiring physical, emotional and spiritual strength that you had not previously encountered. Turning to a relaxing and nurturing yoga practice can help you find peace in your new role as a parent. The physical poses help you regain strength and flexibility in your life while taking a meditative approach to practice can help you find the calm within, allowing you to be more at peace. With a soothing, yet invigorating practice, you may find yourself feeling more centered and floating out of the studio at the end of class. This feeling is sure to flow into your daily interactions with your baby and family.
As a new mom though, when do you have the time to take for yourself? You may think that taking care of yourself and your baby are mutually exclusive activities. But you might want to consider practicing yoga with your baby. In fact the definition of “yoga” means “union”. In a traditional practice, this means linking and unifying the mind, body, spirit. But in baby yoga, it includes developing a union or bond between you and your baby as well. Being with your baby in the present moment, easing expectations of how things ought to be and enjoying what is can create more happiness in your life and help you find more peace and joy as a mother.
Unlike the viral You Tube video, baby yoga is a gentle, mindful practice between a parent and caregiver that involves stretching, massage and relaxation. Classes incorporate a mix of asanas (poses) for new moms with movements for baby that help develop their gross and fine motor skills, improve sleep patterns, aid in digestion and help babies explore their new environment. Infant massage is often incorporated into classes building trust and communication between the baby and caregiver. Movements, poses, rhymes and songs are repeated through a series of classes which encourage you to continue the practice at home or even on the go to help soothe your little one.
As babies grow, they begin to share the natural yogi within, exploring different ways of moving their bodies. You may find your pre-crawler moving into Cobra pose as they learn to put weight into their hands and strengthen the upper body muscles needed for crawling. Or you may find them in Downward Facing Dog as they learn to walk and or just to get a different perspective of their world. The bonds that you’ve developed in baby yoga don’t need to end when your child becomes mobile. Practicing yoga alongside your growing child, you will see them develop more coordination, strength and self-confidence. Whether they use you as a jungle gym as you develop your own home practice or choose to attend a class at Om Baby Pregnancy & Parenting Center, you’ll find that toddler’s delight in this special activity with Mom or Dad.
Classes at this stage look less like your traditional yoga practice in order to keep up with the boundless energy of toddlers. You’ll find us moving, singing, breathing, and using our imaginations as we weave yoga poses into a fun and interactive story. Children have the freedom to utilize the whole room as their yoga mat which increases social interaction between classmates. Class becomes more active, but is still balanced with relaxation and mindfulness. You may even find your little yogi spontaneously practicing their favorite poses at home. Or you may find poses that you can utilize to help calm your child in challenging moments.
Sharing yoga with your child can have a lasting impact in many ways. Whether bolstering neuromuscular development, providing opportunities for healthy social-emotional development to laying a foundation for life-long fitness and healthy lifestyle for your child, baby and toddler yoga is sure to create memorable moments in your life while reducing the stress and anxiety that comes with parenting.