Yoga for babies & parents
Stretch, sing, and relax together!
no prior yoga experience necessary – dads welcome
New session starts in September 2009. Please email for details.
Following the Birthlight baby yoga™ curriculum developed by Dr. Francoise Freedman and Jessica's experience as a hatha yoga instructor and mother of three, this is a yoga class for babies as well as their parents.
The practice of baby yoga and massage can bring enormous physical, cognitive, developmental and psychological benefits, from soothing sleep difficulties and colic, to aiding digestion, stimulating all body systems, enhancing muscular coordination and developing the bond between parent and child.
The classes are built around your babies' needs and will be a mix of:
- Gentle hatha yoga and pilates based exercises for the parent– (the level of the class will depend on the experience of the participants);
- baby yoga - movement and singing; abd
- relaxation time at the end of the class.
Jessica is a member of the Birthlight Trust, a charity focusing on an holistic approach to pregnancy, birth and babyhood using yoga and breathing methods to enhance well-being. Jessica is also a US- certified yoga instructor, Certified Instructor of Infant Massage with the International Association of Infant Massage, UK certified massage therapist and holds a Birthlight Baby Yoga™ Certificate.
For further information, please contact Jessica on info@yogamassageworks.com.
For more information on Birthlight, see www.birthlight.com.
Baby massage or baby yoga?
Below are some differences to help you decide. For newborns and babies with special needs, it is suggested to begin with baby massage.
| BABY MASSAGE | BABY YOGA |
|---|---|
| for newborns to crawling | babies with good head control will get the most out of class |
| use of nurturing touch and some gentle movements (in supine position) to promote parent/child bond | use of nurturing touch, yoga-based stretches, movement (on & off the floor) and song to promote bonding and child development |
|
oil based massage techniques (baby usually undressed) |
includes some dry massage techniques (through clothing) |
|
focus on relaxation and reducing unnecessary stimuli |
dynamic, social and stimulating, with a relaxation period |
