What is Baby Yoga??

I am excited to share this first post with all of you!

For those of you who do not know me yet, let me take a moment to introduce myself.

My name is Carly Snyders. I currently live and teach in London UK. I teach baby massage and baby yoga classes in person here. I also teach a baby and toddler multi-sensory class called Hartbeeps. I have been working with babies and children for more than 20 years now. It all started with babysitting in my early days. Then I graduated to working as a Teacher's Assistant in an international school in Mexico. Later when I moved to London I began working as a nanny and a Maternity nurse, specialising in new born care. I have also worked as an ESL teacher with children aged 2-10. Then I became involved with Hartbeeps about 5 years ago. And most recently I have been qualified and started teaching baby massage and baby yoga.

I think nowadays most people know what baby massage is.  For more information, please see my Instagram and Facebook pages, and stay tuned here for more details too.  However, I think most people have a big "???" when it comes to what exactly is baby yoga?

Let me tell you.....

Baby yoga consists of gentle movements and exercises that are designed to help your baby develop the core strength, stability and mobility they need in order reach their developmental milestones.  In essence, it is a core training class for babies.  It is called "Baby Yoga" because some of the movements are based on a Hatha Yoga practise.  For example, baby bridge, baby plank, half lotus, etc.  These movements mimic the movement that an adult would make completing a similar exercise.  

Why is core strength, stability and mobility so important for your baby to reach their milestones?  We all know there are certain milestones we look out for in baby's development.  For example, holding their head up, rolling over, sitting up, standing up, walking, etc.  What we may not realise is how much work it takes for babies to learn these skills.  It takes months for babies to develop the strength and stability to learn how to make these movements.  Then once learned, they need to practise over and over again to be able to perform these movements effortlessly.  In our baby yoga practise we have what are called "assisted milestone" movements.  In these movements we help babies lay the foundation movement they need to be able to continue to develop with your help at home, and eventually on their own.  As adults we perform certain tasks without thinking about it, scratching our face, putting one foot in front of the other, writing our name.  Why?  The amazing power of the brain and muscle memory.  When we teach babies these "assisted milestone" movements we are helping their brain form new pathways and their bodies to learn which muscles are needed in order to perform certain movements.  This is how baby yoga helps your little one to reach their developmental milestones.

There are so many other benefits to baby yoga.  I could go one and on, but for today I would like to focus on 2 more.  

1) Emotional resilience.  The Moro Reflex is a reflex that makes us feel like we are falling.  You know when you are falling asleep and you get that falling sensation?  That's the Moro Reflex!!!  Babies get this too.  The difference is, when we get this sensation we have the mental capacity to understand we are not actually falling.  Babies do not have this ability.  That is why when your baby startles from the Moro Reflex it can take them a long time to calm back down.  In baby yoga, we have some gentle movements that are designed to stimulate the Moro Reflex in your baby.  "Why oh why would you want to do that????" You might be asking.  Simply put, by stimulating this reflex in a calm and safe environment when you are holding your baby close and available to give instant comfort, you are helping your baby to learn that just because something is new and maybe even scary, does not make it a bad thing.  You are thereby helping your little one build emotional resilience.

2) Bonding.  We all know the importance of bonding.  We hear about it all the time.  But let's be honest, is it always easy? Does it always come quickly and naturally to all?  The answers to those questions are no.  If you are one of the lucky ones who picked up your baby and instantly felt the overwhelming connection to them, congratulations.  I'm so happy for you.  If you are not one of those lucky ones, do not despair!!! Activities such as massaging your baby and practising baby yoga with your baby can help you immensely to form this bond.  The focused 1-2-1 time you get with your baby during these classes is an excellent opportunity to relax and just enjoy this time with your little one.  Sometimes just taking the time to relax and shake off any expectation of what being a mum should be is enough to enable you to be able to bond with your baby.  Please know, the fact you are struggling to form this bond, does not mean it will not come.  It also does not mean you are somehow damaging your child.  It definitely does not make you less of a parent.  Difficulty bonding can be caused by so many reasons.  If it is an ongoing problem please do not hesitate to seek help from your health care provider.  

So there you have it......the low down of what is baby yoga????  

I hope this post has helped answer some of your questions.  Please come along to one of my classes to experience it for yourself, or feel free to get in touch.  I'm sure once you have tried it our you will see why so many have loved my classes.  You can read some of their reviews on the Instagram page in the story highlights.  

Hope to see your beautiful faces soon!