The Hindu Business Line : It’s yoga, baby

Infants are no longer off-limits for fitness regimens, as postnatal classes under the titles `Mom and Baby Yoga' and `Yoga Babies' see a surge in popularity, especially in the Western world.

Carolyn Burke, who has been teaching yoga to new moms for five years in Toronto, says, “The idea behind ‘Mom and Baby’ yoga is to give mothers an opportunity to connect with their babies while receiving the benefits of yoga. It allows mothers to stretch and exercise their tired bodies, breathe in new energy and relax in the company of other new mothers.”

Carolyn’s offering has become very popular. “I teach in a way that involves the baby as much as possible in the yoga practice. Yoga postures are done in an interactive way. For instance, in the Cobra pose, both the mother and baby lie on their bellies facing each other so that the child remains engaged. Also, the mothers, tired and sore from the experience of mothering and nurturing the children, are able to rejuvenate their bodies. Yoga is beneficial to the postnatal body as it improves posture, flexibility, strength and endurance and helps to ward off potential postpartum blues,” she says.

In Montreal, though, Clearlight Gerald started teaching baby yoga classes way before the trend truly arrived. “It was 1999, and the women in my pregnancy (prenatal) class expressed interest in continuing a group class with their babies. At first I was a bit apprehensive, as I wasn’t sure how a yoga class would unfold with 10-15 babies, but they insisted and the classes developed their own unique pace and atmosphere,” recalls Clearlight, who runs the Yoga Space Studio.

Postnatal yoga

A roomful of babies may prove overwhelming but it’s all part of the class. “Moms have the option to either involve their babies in movements, or keep them on the yoga mats. Sometimes babies sleep through class, at other times moms may want to breastfeed or bottle feed. Both babies and mothers are happy to see and hear the other babies around them. Fussing and crying is also totally normal, and the babies are welcomed just as they show up,” says Clearlight.

Many other yoga teachers, like Tracey Currie of Breathe Yoga Studio in Toronto, have also started postnatal classes on demand. “The to-be mothers in my prenatal class were looking forward to continuing their practice once they had delivered, and that’s how it started. Yoga, per se, is not a new trend; it’s been around for thousands of years but postnatal yoga classes have gained popularity in the West only in recent years,” says Tracey.

While some mothers wait until two months to start a postnatal yoga class, some like Tracie Burke jump right in.

“I attended Carolyn’s class when my first born was five weeks old. It was a really great experience to get out of the house and be around other women with their babies. I practised yoga before having kids and was happy to be able to get back. It was also an opportunity to get on the floor with my son and stretch/play without distractions,” recalls Tracie, adding that the experience led to not just bonding with her son but also a confidence in moving his limbs and providing him with some stretching. The 37-year-old dietician enjoyed it so much that she practised it again when her second son was born.

According to Carolyn, these classes typically are for one-month-old babies and last till they start to crawl. “Once the babies are crawling or mobile, it is difficult for moms to practise with them,” she points out. But a ‘Baby Yoga’ class is often noisy, she warns. “Babies are crying, vocalising and moms are attending to their various needs like nursing and/or changing their diapers. It’s a very interactive experience for babies, mothers and the yoga instructor.”

Mother-baby fitness

Karen Weinthal, 53, who runs ‘Baby and Me’ classes in Toronto, has taken mother-baby fitness to a whole new level. Apart from her yoga classes, she offers Cardio Aqua Babies, Turbo Fit Babies, Pilates Babies and Stroller Fitness classes. “While yoga is very popular, mothers often graduate to other classes. Cardio Aqua is for moms with babies over five-and-a half months. The babies sit in a floater in the water while the moms do the class around them. Turbo is a high-energy aerobics class in which the babies are on mats on the floor, watching their mothers sweat it out,” explains Karen.

The common focus in all the classes, she says, is to attend to the baby while exercising, and sometimes including them by holding, stretching or massaging them. Her ‘Baby Yoga’ class also includes a discussion on issues related to motherhood.

The benefits must be plenty for mothers, as they sign up without hesitation. Alysa Hawkins, 37, a mother of three girls, has practised baby yoga with all her children. She signed up for Carolyn Burke’s class with her first-born and repeated the class with her second and third child.

“My babies loved it; all my girls were between six weeks and six months and they enjoyed the yoga, especially the times when I would move their bodies into posture, sing to them and snuggle them,” says the jewellery designer.

Alysa even enrolled for a Stroller Fitness class where one ‘wears’ the baby in a carrier and works out. “I enjoyed doing those as well, and so did my babies,” she says.

More Stories on : Children & Parenting | Health | Gender

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
It’s yoga, baby

Return of the dragon

Cinefan with Dhrupad overtones

Bringing to light

Off the wall

Mughals on the big stage