The experience of movement combined with touch is possibly 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 about a state of great contentment, promote peaceful deep sleep.
……………………. Francoise Barbira Freedman
Baby Yoga

Benefits

Physical

• In one short 30 mins session your baby is given as much physical activity as they would receive if you handled and carried them all day.
• Increased activity helps your baby sleep more deeply and help settle their behaviour.
• Provides a daily routine of fun activity through which you can engage and play with your baby from birth

Developmental

• All your baby's systems are stimulated including the digestive and nervous systems
• Stimulates baby's awareness of their environment, increasing their curiosity and inquisitiveness of their surroundings
• Develops balance, co-ordination and control

Physiological

• Helps you and your baby get to know each other, enhancing communication
• Through the high quality of attention the baby receives the baby leans to interact, socialise and actively play with other
• The deep relaxation that is part of yoga helps parents cope with the stresses of early parenting

Baby yoga will give both you and your baby an immediate sense of well being and is a mutual process with a great deal of non-verbal communication

What to expect

Classes are open to babies from 8 weeks to 10 months (or pre-walking). Movements and positions are adapted depending on the age, confidence and ability of each child.

In yoga, every stretch is balanced with relaxation so you and your baby will lean that tension and relaxation are complementary. Babies enjoy and benefit from the effects of touch, movement, rhythm and relaxation and as parents we share in this enjoyment with them.

Doing Yoga with your baby means playing, stretching and then relaxing together, experiencing the benefits of tactile stimulation whilst helping to develop supple joints, strengthen the spine and enliven all the body's systems.

The class will include many of the components of classic yoga - warming up in preparation for stretching, postures and movements that stimulate the main organs of the body and tone muscles followed by deep relaxation. Classes combine postures for parents to do with their baby as well as gentle postnatal positions to help mothers re-align and strengthen their bodies after childbirth. Songs, rhymes and games are all used to engage your baby in play early on, introducing an element of play in to baby yoga will confirm to your baby that the activity is enjoyable and establish it as something they look forward to.

Yoga is introduced slowly, allowing the baby to become familiar with a new way of moving and being handled as well as the unique way of interacting and having the space for relaxation. The first class will initially last for about 20 mins, increasing by approximately 5 minutes each week as new stretches and postures are gradually introduced.

When and where

Classes are currently scheduled

FULLY BOOKED - Jan / Feb 2010 - Commencing Thursday 14th January then weekly each Thursday on the 21st January, 28th January, 4th February and finishing on the 11th February
Time
1.00pm - 2.00pm
Venue
Morley South Childrens Centre, Seven Hills Primary School Community Room

Places available - Feb / Mar 2010 - Commencing Thursday 25th February, then weekly each Thursday on the 4th March, 11th March, 18th March and finishing on the 25th March. Time 11.15pm - 12.00pm
Venue
Gildersome Childrens Centre, Town St, Gildersome

Prices
35.00 for a 5-week course - Partial funding may be available for courses run through Children's Centres - please contact me for further information

** Class sizes are limited, so block booking guarantees your place each week.

Baby Yoga Medical Questionnaire (right-click and 'save-as')

Baby Yoga Booking Form (right-click and 'save-as')

FIND OUT WHAT'S INCLUDED IN EACH WEEKS CLASS (right-click and 'save-as')