When you've had a baby it can be hard to know how you should return to exercise and just as hard (often harder) to find the time to do anything for yourself! These Mum & Baby Yoga classes have been created to give you an opportunity to exercise with your baby. They'll help you to tone up and build strength in a safe way, while incorporating poses and movements that will help you to release the tightness and tension that comes from holding and feeding a baby all day and during the night. Plus, you'll get to have fun with your baby and your baby will get their first introduction to yoga too!
This class is suitable for all postnatal mums who have been given the all-clear to exercise by their doctor. That's usually six weeks after a vaginal birth and ten to twelve weeks after a cesarean birth.
You can start or keep coming any time from then until your baby will no longer let you practice! (usually when they start to crawl at speed but it depends on your baby).
If your baby needs to eat during class time, feed them any time. If you need to change a nappy, go ahead and do that. If your baby cries, don't worry, everyone will have plenty of experience with crying babies! If you're so tired that you can't imagine doing anything but holding your baby, breathing and resting, that's absolutely fine too!
During these classes we'll focus on safely bringing tone to your core muscles; helping you to re-connect to your pelvic floor; easing tension in the shoulders and upper back and strengthening your lower back. Gentle breathwork and relaxation will help you release tension and get a little rest.
Plus, there are lots of benefits for your baby, including improved digestion and comfort from baby yoga poses; stimulation; and socialisation.
While your body will thank you for coming to class, you might find that the most important benefit is the opportunity to get to know other mums who are going through similar experiences. The early stage of motherhood can be magical, or incredibly difficult. Often you'll experience the rough and the smooth of it all at once. Having a group of other mothers who understand what you're going through and how it might make you feel can be invaluable.
Mum & Baby Yoga takes place in the lovely Calm Rooms in Monkstown.
The class takes place on Tuesday mornings 11-12. I'll be there for 7 weeks, buy the class pack to come along to any 6 classes you'd like and if you do want to come to all 7, there is a reduced drop-in rate for the additional class (see below).
The next term will run:
September 20th, 27th
October 4th, 18th, 25th
November 8th, November 15th
Please note that there is no class on October 11th as the room as unavailable and there will be no class on November 1st due to the mid-term break.
To take part in the class you'll need a yoga mat, a blanket for your baby to lie down on and a few toys to help distract your little one.
This course costs €95 for six classes. You can use these six classes over the seven week term. I always include an extra week in my terms because babies are unpredictable and a little flexibility can be a big help.
If you do attend all seven classes you can pay a reduced drop-in rate of €15.
Once-off drop-ins are charged at €18. Please check with me in advance to find out if there will be space in class (there often is so get in touch if you would like to join the group!).
