| Recently I was speaking with an expectant mom | | | | interacting physically with their world. During the first |
| about yoga for kids. She mentioned that she would be | | | | year they go from newborn to walking. Yoga assists |
| interested in learning more in a couple of years once | | | | babies in learning where their body parts are and how |
| her oldest was into pre-school. I inquired, "Why wait? | | | | to move these body parts to improve coordination, |
| Even infants can do yoga." She was completely | | | | develop strength, and instil a positive body image. |
| amazed. I told her I had done yoga with my children | | | | Reduces stress-Babies lives are stressful. Everything |
| and highly recommend it for all new parents. | | | | is new, they cannot tell others what is wrong, and they |
| Yoga for infants includes numerous benefits. Yoga: | | | | are struggling to understand and control their body. |
| Improves digestion-A baby's digestive tract is | | | | New parents also have a high level of stress |
| underdeveloped and sensitive. Yoga helps to | | | | compounded by sleeplessness. Yoga can help both |
| strengthen and massage the intestines, increasing | | | | infants and parents grow and learn together, trusting |
| baby's comfort and stimulating absorption and | | | | their intuition and learning to relax. |
| elimination thus making baby more content and | | | | Encourages a deeper, longer sleep-Infants need |
| parents' lives easier. | | | | stimulus in order to grow. They also need sleep. Infant |
| Provides relief from colic-Colic is frustrating for both | | | | yoga helps baby to exercise the body and inspire the |
| child and parent. Numerous baby yoga poses can help | | | | mind. Afterwards baby is ready to relax and drift off |
| calm parents and soothe babies. Baby squats are | | | | for a nice long nap. Yoga also helps to calm babies |
| extremely effective for this. Hold baby in front of you, | | | | who have woken during the night to get back to sleep. |
| standing with your feet a little more than hips distance | | | | New parents will rejoice as their little one sleeps longer |
| apart. On an exhale, squat quickly while securely | | | | and deeper than ever before. |
| holding baby. Return back up into the starting stance | | | | The joy of yoga for infants is that it can be practised |
| on the inhale. Repeat until baby settles. | | | | anywhere, anytime your child needs some personal |
| Encourages bonding-Yoga encourages spending time | | | | attention. Ideally a period of 5-20 minutes of yoga is |
| together. Touching, holding, engaging with purpose | | | | scheduled into the day at a regular time. For example, |
| firmly establishes an emotional foundation for parent | | | | if baby is most interactive in the morning do stimulating, |
| child relationships. Other family members and care | | | | playful poses. Alternatively, if baby is commonly fussy |
| givers can also participate in infant yoga adding their | | | | at night incorporate relaxing yoga into the bedtime |
| contribution to the baby's emotional well-being. | | | | routine. Often bath time is a perfect time to include |
| Stimulates neuromuscular development-Repetitive | | | | some yoga poses as baby is alert and has Mom or |
| movement and touch are the cornerstones to | | | | Dad's undivided attention. |
| developing neuromuscular pathways. Since the brain | | | | Above all, infant yoga is all about being present with |
| develops faster during the first year of life than during | | | | your baby. The interactions between parent and child |
| any other period it is vital that the neuromuscular | | | | come from a basis of love and gentleness. The mutual |
| system be stimulated frequently and repetitively so as | | | | experience joins families together and helps baby |
| to lay the foundation for future learning and growth. | | | | develop, parents to facilitate growth, and everyone to |
| Yoga assists with this goal. | | | | recognize life as a wonderful gift to be shared. |
| Increases body awareness-Babies learn through | | | | |