Yoga is so good for us and our children, both physically and mentally. “Baby Yoga” is great for all the body systems including digestion and circulation, it can help with calming babies and even promote sleep, and it is fab for communication skills and bonding. Lots of mums and their babies enjoy “Baby Yoga”, but when the little cherubs start crawling around it can be harder to get them involved. Through my own experience with my second baby, I have come up with my top tips to continue to gain some of the amazing benefits.

1.      Keep it short and sweet. Even more so than with smaller babies, fitting a little bit into the day is what I find works best. Find something they enjoy, such as tummy time roller coaster (lay them over your lap and jiggle your thighs) and start with this.

2.      Incorporate yoga into your games and play. For example, playing “aeroplanes” zooming your little one around will get lots of giggles. These swings and dips can help to develop their sense of balance and spatial awareness which is one reason they are part of baby yoga. Through bringing awareness into how you hold your baby and your posture, you can make it more beneficial for yourself.

3.    Sneak some yoga into song time! Classics such as “Wind the bobbin up” can be turned into a nice chest opener if you squeeze your shoulders back. I typically use this song as a hip opener for little babies, but bigger babies can sit opposite you and use it as a chance for bonding as well as movement.

4.      Get moving with them. Sing “Old MacDonald” whilst crawling around the room, then do the animal pose as well as the sound. Lots of yoga poses are animals – cat, cow, dog, horse for example. These are also positions that they will take on naturally as they test their muscles. Babies learn through mimicking and repetition so whilst they may just watch at first, they may eventually try to join in. You could try a zoo theme as well.

5.      Use centred holds and lifts to protect your back. It is tempting to sit your baby or toddler on one hip all day, but I know from experience that this will misalign your pelvis. If you must sit them on your hip, switch sides. You can use a “safety hold” instead  (one hand under the bottom and one hand around the chest), and as they get bigger rest them facing outwards on the hip. When you stand up with your baby use a lunge, or squat with your knees bent. Bringing this awareness into your daily life will help to prevent problems.

6.      Breathe. Practise slow, deep breathing when you comfort your little one, or when it’s time to calm down for nap or bed time. Children pick up a lot on our emotional cues, and teaching our children to relax is important.

Don’t be discouraged if they are more interested in everything else right now! They are learning so much at this age. Both in their physical bodies and their brain development. Their attention span is short, and that is normal. If it’s not working for you then don’t force it. Carve out some time for yoga on your own and reap the benefits of some movement and relaxation.

If you have any questions on my ideas, or would like to share your own, please get in touch on amber@zenmuma.co.uk. I also teach Postnatal only yoga classes so get in touch for more information.