Post-natal Classes
Many YogaBirth teachers offer postnatal yoga, baby massage or talking groups for after the birth. Babies are included and welcome in some classes; in others the aim is to give a mother time out to focus on looking after herself. Teachers organise their classes differently so please contact your local teacher to ask how classes are run.
“The post-natal class helped me get out of the house and meet other new mums”
Many new mums find coming to the post-natal classes very supportive in the first few months of motherhood – long lasting friendships between mums and babies are often forged. Difficult decisions on issues such as sleep, weaning, childcare, can all be addressed during group discussions.
“The exercises were at just the right level to get my strength back”
Post Natal Yoga
You can attend post-natal classes from about 4 weeks after the birth
and until the baby is crawling. Post-natal classes offer a place
to join in with other new Mums. Yoga exercises are specific to the
post-natal period and will not tire you out. Classes aim to help
your body adjust to not being pregnant, to rebalance and strengthen
the body and to support you in the first few months of motherhood.
Classes will usually include: -
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Pelvic floor exercises
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Abdominal exercises
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Good posture practice
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Relaxation
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Breathing
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Gentle stretches
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Discussion
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Group support for many baby issues
“I quickly recovered from the caesarean with support from my YogaBirth teacher”
Baby Massage
Many YogaBirth teachers include baby massage in their post-natal
programme. Often, singing and baby yoga is also taught as part of
the massage routine. These classes may either be included with the
post-natal yoga or taught separately.
Communicating with babies through loving touch and physical contact can be hugely beneficial to the parent-child relationship and to baby’s development. Baby Massage is an easy and rewarding way to do this. Practised sensitively, massaging, whilst talking and playing with a baby can have the following benefits:
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Loving fun together
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Calms and relaxes baby and carer
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Aids all aspects of development - emotional, physical intellectual and language
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Strengthens mother and baby bond
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Adds to the daily routine
“My baby loves the baby massage – we do it most nights now, often instead of a bah, and we both look forward to it”
Many YogaBirth teachers are members of the International Association
of Infant Massage www.iaim.org.uk
Most YogaBirth teachers trained with Peter Walker - see www.babymassageuk.org.uk for more information about baby massage.
