“Yoga meets children where they are (developmentally and in the moment),
acknowledging that each child is unique and perfect the way they are.”
(baby & toddler Yoga Teacher Training, Instructor Manualby Jennifer Mueller and Rebecca Gitter, Childlight Yoga, LLC 2016. P 9.)
Super Yogi
Infant yoga is recommended for babies 6 – 8 weeks and older, when they are more alert, smiling and can interact with Mom or their caregiver.
Young babies can easily be overwhelmed by sensory input. Parents of newborns should move slowly, gently, practice fewer repetitions, and keep their baby close to their bodies during yoga. There are modifications in many poses for babies less than 12 weeks who may not have the core strength to stabilize the spine or significant neck strength to keep the head in line with the spine. In “Around We Go”, movement is from the hips with a slight side-to-side motion. In “Baby Bear” hold the sides of baby’s head with finger tips to stabilize and move along with the body.
Observe your baby’s reactions. Do not force a pose.
Ten Reasons Why Infants Need Yoga
1. Promotes better sleep patterns
2.Improves digestion and eases gas pain
3. Strengthens growing muscles
4. Strengthens the parent – child bond
5. Increases Body Awareness
Helps children learn to navigate physically in the world around
them.
6. Language Development
The first 3 years are critical for language development. The more
language a child is exposed to during this time, the better.
Baby yoga exposes infants to language through song/sing-song
and words with actions.
- Boosts the immune system
- Stimulates the neuromuscular system
- Reduces stress
- It is Fun
Infants and toddlers learn best through play, and yoga is all play.
3 of My Favorite Tips
- Sacrum Tapping
Many nerve endings come together at the base of the spine just
below the sacrum. When you put pressure on this area you can
release tension.
Tapping on this area in babies can help with reflux and tension.
Hint: If you are patting your baby’s back to calm her, try moving down
to her sacrum. Tap with enough weight to send vibrations up her
spine.
2. Tummy Time
Is critical to the development of strong head, neck and shoulder
muscles as well as motor skill development. It also supports
optimal breathing.
Puppy Pose and Super Yogi are two fun tummy time yoga poses
I demonstrate in my Infant videos.
3. Singing and Sing-Song
Stimulates baby’s whole brain by multi-sensory input. Pitch, words
and rhythm activate both right and left sides of the brain more than
words alone. Singing holds babies attention and is fun.
One of my favorites, not sung in my videos, is
“The Butterfly Song” (C. Kelly, G. Sanders: New Lyrics by Lisa Flynn
Sung to the tune of “I’m a Little Teapot”
Sit in butterfly pose with your baby in your lap and flap your wings as you sing.
“I’m a little butterfly, light and free.
I have wings . . . like a fairy.
Can you count the flowers that I see?
Close your eyes and fly with me!”
A great interactive standing pose with song is
“Go In And Out the Window”
caregivers stand in a circle with babies head toward the center, in a belly down hold.
Go in and out the window, (swing baby into center so he can see other baby’s face, on “in” and back by “window”)
Go in and out the window,
Go in and out the window,
As we have done before.
Now, stand and face your partner, (turn from side to side on each line to face a partner)
Now stand and face your partner,
Now stand and face your partner,
As we have done before.
Go round and round the village, (move in a circle)
Go round and round the village,
Go round and round the village,
As we have done before.
A yoga class for infants provides a place for new parents to connect with each other and observe others parenting their children. Invite your friends with babies to join you in practicing yoga with my infant yoga videos.
An Infant’s first connection is to faces. The more opportunities they have to interact, the better chances to develop social skills. The standing action song, “Go In and Out the Window”, is a great example of this.
Relax, have fun and enjoy this precious time with your baby.
Leave a Reply