Baby yoga, which complements infant massage, offers quality physical stimulation including flowing postures, holding, movement, touch, voice and deep relaxation. It induces a happy, care-free and lively parent-infant interaction which develops as the babies grow.
The experience of movement combined with touch is probably the richest stimulation we can offer babies from birth. In yoga, this stimulation occurs through the mutual involvement of parent and baby, at a pace at which the baby can absorb and integrate it. As yoga postures induce deep relaxation in adults, so in babies they bring a state of deep contentment and promote deep sleep.
In the increasingly fast pace of the modern world, our babies need all the help we can give them in order to create a foundation of well-being that will serve them all of their life. Yoga offers babies a resource that will enable them to deal positively with stress and know how to relax.
The handling of babies is a loving one, in which the conversion of a challenging movement into a safe game, to play and enjoy, is repeated again and again. This playful stimulation through yoga-based exercise is the best possible way of helping babies relish life, with all its demands,
as they grow.
The benefits of baby yoga Physical
- in one short session, the baby is given as much physical activity as they would receive if they were handled and carried all day. This activity will help the baby sleep more deeply
- the baby’s behaviour will be more ‘settled’ it provides a daily routine of activity through which the parent can engage constructively with their baby from birth Physiological / developmental
- all the baby’s bodily systems are stimulated, including the digestive and nervous systems Psychological
- baby yoga helps the parent and baby to get to know each other, enhancing
communication between them - yoga helps to heal any birth trauma; the baby will also be better equipped to deal with shocks
- the baby’s enjoyment of the positive stress of yoga will increase the babies ability to cope with future challenges
- through the high quality attention the baby receives from it’s parents, the baby learns to interact with others and play actively
- the deep relaxation that is part of yoga helps parents cope with the stresses of early parenting
Postnatal parent and baby classes from newborn to toddler create a warm and friendly atmosphere, promoting enjoyment and confidence in the handling of babies and in ways of relating to our children. Babies have open hearts and minds and are ready to embrace new experiences.
The shared experience for both parent and baby encourages early bonding and creates a secure and happy foundation of well-being. You will see the development of mutual respect and understanding and the expression of pleasure and delight.
Baby yoga provides the stimulation of touch, movement and rhythm, as well as the benefits of deep relaxation. The series of sequences encourage flexibility and bring balance and harmony to the body systems. Each movement supports the baby’s individual development, strengthening the physical body and maintaining flexibility.Tactile stimulation contributes to the development of the brain and the nervous system. Baby yoga can help to settle babies and to improve sleep patterns. The movements and massage will aid digestion and give relief to colicky babies.
Yoga will promote normal healthy growth preventing many problems from occurring.
Benefits for baby
- Strengthens and aids development
- Improved sleep patterns
- Aids digestion
- Enhanced interaction
- A balance of activity and relaxation Benefits for mum
- Helps to regain strength and maintain posture
- Tones the abdominal muscles and pelvic floor
- Nurturing oneself whilst enjoying activities with your baby
- Deep relaxation
What the classes cover
Baby yoga is normally run in 6 week sessions for newborn to mobile babies. Classes include baby yoga and massage for overall strengthening and development. There is a balance of stretching and relaxing sequences. Songs and rhymes are coordinated with some of the movements. The classes include yoga for new mothers promoting in depth toning of pelvic and back muscles through postures that can be integrated in day-to-day living at home with babies. Each class finishes with a joint relaxation for parent and baby.
The classes also provide a forum to discuss standard issues of feeding, sleeping, crying, sibling rivalry and relationships: We all help each other to find answers to our natural worries and problems and guests from Birthlight’s extensive network are regularly invited to introduce their skills and expertise. Dads are very welcome too and will benefit equally from the yoga and the interaction with their baby.
There is time for discussion and to make new friendships. Many parents and babies meet afterwards in the café for coffee or lunch.
A wonderful opportunity to find the support you may need through the first months and to have some fun with your baby too!
