Guest Contributor blog By Rebecca Jenks
The Benefits of Baby Yoga for Baby Development
It is my absolute privilege to run a baby yoga class. I consider myself so fortunate to be in a position to welcome new mums along to my classes, and some have also attended my pregnancy yoga classes.
CAN BABY YOGA HELP NEW MUM TOO?
Whether it’s your first baby or your fifth, this class is like an emergence for a mother from the cocoon of those first overwhelming weeks of adjusting to life with a new little person wholly independent on them.
I see baby yoga as a way for the mum (if she chooses) to express her feelings, fears and unconditional love for her baby within a group of women going through exactly the same emotions. In the group, we support each other through some of the biggest challenges new mums face, the absolute best support network you could wish to walk into.
IN A BABY YOGA CLASS DO WE PRACTICE ACTUAL YOGA?
Aside from all that great stuff, is the yoga practice we do together. In a class I demonstrate and work with you through gentle bonding massage techniques combined with simple releasing yoga postures which help to ease tension and stiffness from feeding and holding your new baby.
Through the yoga we do with the babies, I get to witness babies’ limbs stretch and lengthen as they reach out into the new world, their smiles and giggles broaden in response to their mother’s voice, touch and soothing movements.
CAN BABY YOGA MAKE ME MORE CONFIDENT WITH MY NEW BABY?
Baby yoga is a great way of overcoming bonding issues you may be experiencing, for example after a difficult or traumatic birth. In the group we learn together ways to confidently handle and soothe your baby whilst enjoying some gentle and nourishing yoga to help strengthen and support your fragile post natal frame.
SUPPORT YOUR BABY’S DEVELOPMENT
Yoga with babies can remedy common newborn ailments like colic, constipation and reflux alongside stimulating babies maturing digestive and vestibular systems, essential to those first few months of development.
WHAT HAPPENS IN A BABY YOGA CLASS?
My baby yoga group runs on a Tuesday morning at the Methodist Church in Albrighton starting from 10am and we wrap up at 11.30am. The final half hour from 11am really enforces everything we learn together as a group, we drink tea, or coffee, and eat cake as the babies nod off after all the fun.
About the Author
Rebecca Jenks live in Albrighton, a small village in Shropshire near Wolverhampton and is a yoga teacher, mother of two and wife. Rebecca is the founder and yoga teacher for Spiritual Warrior Yoga and Yoga weekender retreats in the Shropshire area. More information on Rebecca’s baby yoga classes can be found here. You can contact Rebecca by emailing – info@spiritualwarrioryoga.co.uk
