The Benefits of "Baby & Me" Yoga Classes
Have you ever seen a yoga class advertised as “Mommy & Me,” or more commonly known now as “Baby & Me”? Have you wondered why people practice yoga with their babies? Or how babies do yoga? Maybe you’ve questioned if there are any benefits to practicing yoga alongside your baby?
Let’s dive into some of the many benefits of practicing yoga with your baby postpartum.
From a social-emotional lens, Baby & Me yoga classes encourage you to get out of your house postpartum and commune with other parents or guardians experiencing similar stages in life. This socialization can help to lift feelings of loneliness and postpartum anxiety and depression that are commonly felt during the transition from pregnancy, birth, to postpartum. Many folks find deep friendship and connection with others during Baby & Me yoga classes that last beyond the duration of the classes.
In our modern lifestyles here in America, and especially NYC where I live, we are often rushing from one “to-do” to the next. Your time may feel even more abbreviated if you have a baby. You may feel like you don’t have the time or mental capacity to carve out the time to slow down and be fully present with baby AND with yourself- to really cherish each moment before it passes by.
Having a set container of time scheduled to intentionally bond with your baby can improve postpartum mood and aid in feeling more present with your baby. In Baby & Me yoga classes, the parent/caregiver/or guardian practices yoga in their own bodies while also guiding their baby through gentle stretches and massage. The intentional skin-to-skin contact that is initiated naturally in a Baby & Me yoga class helps baby to feel safe and grounded, while the parent/caregiver/or guardian can feel more connected to baby. Having this time to be with baby intentionally and without many other distractions allows you to tune into your baby’s cues as they shift over time.
As it is a yoga class, being guided to stay with or return to your own breath can help you to feel more present while moving through the class with your baby - no matter what happens.
Baby & Me yoga classes should be spaces where you are invited to do what is best for you and your baby at any given moment - feed, change, comfort, etc. Even if you are feeding, changing or comforting baby during the class instead of practicing “yoga,” you are still practicing yoga! You can intentionally stay present and connected with your breath even in those moments that we may not think of as yoga. This connection to the breath is a powerful lesson that can be taken off the mat and into the home or wherever you are, especially in challenging or overwhelming situations that will arise with being a parent.
Now don’t forget that this is a yoga class - so you will be moving your body and getting all of those lovely benefits from movement as well. Your heart rate may go up during class as you move and are guided through asanas (postures) that aid in greater mobility for everyday life. Many Baby & Me yoga classes tailor the sequence and asanas to help postpartum recovery - i.e. core work targeted to improve diastasis recti, asanas to relieve shoulder and upper back pain as well as pelvic floor work.
And baby gets things moving too! During a Baby & Me yoga class, you can expect to guide your baby through gentle stretches that can relieve upset stomach and gas, increase mobility in all of the joints, and strengthen muscle tone and function. The gentle massages give baby loving feedback from you and get blood flowing. Depending on the age of baby, you can expect to guide them to prepare their muscles to practice tummy time, sitting up, and standing on the ground.
In my Baby & Me classes, I recommend your baby be at least 6 weeks old to precrawlers. Make sure you have been cleared by your provider to begin movement and exercise again. Of course, follow your own knowledge of your body as well.
If you’re looking for socialization with like-minded adults, gentle yet powerful movement tailored to your stage of postpartum recovery, and intentional time to bond with and guide your baby through movement, check out my Baby & Me class on Fridays from 9-10 am ET either online or in person in Dumbo, Brooklyn at MOtiVE Brooklyn.
Want to schedule a private session with me? I teach private yoga classes online - so you don’t even have to get baby ready to leave the house. I individualize your session for whatever you need in the moment and whatever you think your baby needs. Check out my private yoga class schedule here. If you don’t see a time that works for your schedule, reach out to me and we can work it out.
Source: Good Morning America