Thierry Boudan Photography Resource / Articles
Baby Yoga
Yoga movement with your baby from the start
What is Baby Yoga
It is a funfilled experience for mum, dad and baby where we use adapted adult yoga postures to stimulate and interact with our babies in a creative and meaningful and structured way. This is movement of body, breathe and energy where we play, stretch and relax together. In baby yoga classes you can learn to how to handle and do active movements with ease and confidence. These classes are ideal for early childhood development and are for new born to five year olds.
Babies and Small Children benefit
Babies sleep better and longer and more deeply after yoga sessions with parents. The different bodily systems; the eliminative, circularatory, respiratory, nervous and endocrine systems are all stimulated and function more efficiently and effectively. Leaving baby feeling more relaxed and content. Baby’s digestion is aided and the movements ease and release wind and gas pains. Babies show relief from fussiness and colic. Your child will develop a positive body image as she explores her body in new ways. Babies, toddlers and small children show increased self confidence through their freedom to roam, explore and express themselves. Together you explore playful ways to relax in an increasingly stress-filled world leaving them with a sense of greater ease in being able to regulate their emotions.
The Importance of Movement
Your child’s co-ordination, gross motor control and neuromuscular development is enhanced during the movement and yoga postures. The movements strengthen the vestibular system, this system strongly influences muscle tone, your child’s ability to balance, to climb stairs, to walk easily, to adjust to changing levels, to react promptly, (recover balance) when we step in a hole or missplace a footstep.
Vestibular sensations contribute to nervous system development both before and after birth. Normally the fetus moves very actively throughout gestation and this movement which is sensed by the fetus' vestibular receptors contributes importantly to brain development. After birth the infant tries very soon to hold his/her head up. Turning over, rolling, being held upright - handling provides plenty of vestibular stimulation. Infants who are left for long periods in an infant seat, or who are otherwise deprived of movement through space and freedom to roam and explore, often have difficulties processing vestibular stimulation and have problems in organizing all other sensory inputs with the vestibular.
Generally children provide themselves with an abundance of vestibular stimulation - jumping, swinging, turning somersaults, walking on top of the garden wall, riding bikes, skating, - mastering all varieties of movement through space. Today, many schools have removed swings and other playground equipment. Because of fear that a child might get hurt, children are restricted and developmentally slowed down by lack of needed movement opportunities. Also in Hong Kong our home space restrictions often limit playing and free roaming opportunities. Early movement classes such as baby, toddler and children’s yoga can help provide needed vestibular stimulation for children. Movement is the raw material for nervous and neuromuscular system development.
Yoga with your baby, toddler or small child enhances the bond of love and builds confidence in the early parenting days as you actively stimulate, engage and calm your baby in a meaningful and structured physical way.
Natasha Clausen has taught baby and children's yoga courses in Hong Kong since 2001. For more information and course schedule visit www.mysacredchild.com
Home
|
|