Mom and baby yoga classes are popular with the newborn set. These classes are usually geared to accommodate babies aged six weeks to crawling. If there are no extenuating circumstances, your doctor will probably give you the ok to exercise six to eight weeks after you give birth and you can give postpartum yoga a try.
What to Expect
In most mom and baby yoga classes, moms place a yoga blanket, usually covered with a blanket from home in case of spit-up or other spills, at the top of their yoga mat. Feel free to bring a couple of small toys too. In an ideal world, the baby will lie on the blanket happily for the duration of the class. This rarely happens. The nice thing about a mom and baby class is that you are totally free to pick up your baby and feed her, rock her, change her diaper, or walk her around the room if she cries. Conscientious teachers will also often hold the baby for you so that you can get a little yoga in.
Will My Baby Like Yoga?
This depends a lot on the personality of the baby. Some delight in the new sights and stimulation of the classroom environment and are perfectly content to look around and take it all in. Others are freaked out by the very same stimulations and may cry a lot at first, but eventually get used to it, so don't give up if the first class doesn't go well. A few babies may snooze happily through the whole thing.
What’s In It For Me?
Hopefully a little bit of a workout. Some classes are very gentle and/or focus a lot on playing little games with the babies (such as singing Wheels on the Bus). But dedicated yoga studios tend to offer more workout and less playtime. You will also get out of the house to a nonstressful environment where you will meet other new mothers. The value of this should not be underestimated. Plus, it's never too early to start your kids doing yoga!
