Baby Yoga

Who would have thought that babies would be the new target market for yoga enthusiasts, but it seems that even babies as young as three months need to de-stress and learn to relax now.

In the last couple of years baby yoga classes have sprung up across the country as mothers and babies have woken up to the fantastic benefits of yoga. The main difference between adult yoga and baby yoga is that baby yoga is a joint practice, and in one session the baby will be given as much physical activity as if they were handled and carried all day. The positive aspect of this is that it will help the baby to sleep more deeply and behaviour should become more 'settled'. It is also proven to be a great way to help the digestive system, colic and constipation.

Francoise Freedman who set up Birthlight, an informal charitable trust that focuses on a holistic approach to pregnancy and babies says the movement has grown organically: “I have been teaching adults yoga since the late 80's and once I had my own children I realised the benefits of yoga for babies.” Birthlight has almost single handedly developed a far reaching network of baby yoga classes across the country.

Francoise says that babies from three months can really benefit from a class once they have reasonable neck control. Classes usually last one and half hours, which gives the babies plenty of time to relax and get used to the one-on-one stimulation and interaction with their mother (and occasionally, father). “Towards the end of the class you can see the babies are totally blissed out. They are completely relaxed with their arms above their head.” She stresses that yoga must be seen as non competitive. “ Every baby must be nurtured as an individual. You must never force them to comply or impose any physical movements on them.” Francoise has noticed that some mothers get stressed out or even competitive about when their baby will roll over or crawl but she says it is an obsession that should be played down. “I believe that the milestones of development are enhanced by yoga but it is a very gentle thing.”

So what positions will your baby be put in? Most classes will focus on opening out the hip and knee joints, strengthening the muscles in the legs and base of the spine and plenty of 'tummy time' that allows babies to lift their heads and strengthen the neck muscles. “We always begin with some massage to relax the baby and even if they arrive in a grotty mood they will be calm by the end of the session” explains Francoise, who also uses singing and simple rhythms in her class. “Oh and there is a lot of laughing too! The social aspect of bringing the mother and baby together and other mums together is very important.”

Once your baby is toddling there is no need to abandon yoga as the next stage has been cornered by Yogabugs, which organises lessons for children from two and a half to seven. Fenella Lindsell, the founder of Yogabugs says “It's a wonderful way to introduce yoga to children through really fun, creative adventures using all the postures you would in adult class – back arches, forward bend and twist but in a creative environment – so the children might be saving a mermaid or flying on a magic carpet or walking with dinosaurs.”

In August last year Yogabugs appeared on BBC2's Dragon's Den which gave the company a national platform – and now over 1,200 teachers across the UK have been trained. Over 30 per cent are funded by local authorities as nurseries cotton on to the huge behavioural advantages of offering yoga classes to energetic and sometimes over stimulated toddlers.

The classes offer a non competitive haven from the realities of a busy life and children are encouraged to understand the benefits of posture and breathing techniques. Amanda Johnston who teaches Yogabugs at her studio Go-Yoga in West London says “You can see that it helps young children physically, because it keeps them flexible, but what yoga does for children on a spiritual level is even more important. The techniques we teach them during meditation can really help them in times of stress because they learn to quieten their minds and switch off.”

To find a yoga class in your area visit:

Birthlight
www.birthlight.com
01223 362288

Yoga Bugs
www.yogabugs.com
020 8772 1800