Mums and bubs yoga is a unique yoga class for new mothers and their babies. Finding the time, the place and the appropriate activity to get some physical exercise with a newborn is hard. Mums and bubs yoga solves this problem in more than one way.
Many moms take up prenatal yoga during pregnancy and the amazing benefits often lead new moms to seek out yoga shortly after birth. While pregnancy yoga is mostly focussed on the coming birthing experience, mums and bubs yoga is mostly about mom.
It is recommended you only start doing physical exercise after at least 6 weeks postnatal. It is always safest to check with your obstetrician or midwife to get the all clear. If you had a C-section then you may have to wait a bit longer.
Mums and bubs yoga classes are set up in a way that you can easily start at any point although some teachers prefer to follow a set program. If you have some yoga experience it may help but complete beginners can quickly get the hang of it.
So, why mums and bubs yoga? Here are some of the main benefits to both mom and baby. I will also add that you don’t really need a reason other than to just get out of the house!
Newborns are demanding and is a 24/7 job. A yoga class may just be what you need to keep your sanity. We would love to have you at our mums and bubs yoga in Parramatta.
7 Benefits of Mums and Bubs Yoga Classes
Yoga as a practise has many physical, emotional and spiritual benefits. Moms and bubs yoga is a very simplified form of yoga and is quite informal. The really great part is that you do not need to worry about a screaming baby or a quick nappy change mid-class. Here are the 7 top benefits of mums and bubs yoga classes.
1. Regain Strength and Balance
After 9 months of pregnancy you have lost a lot of muscle and flexibility. Your body went through a lot of changes and now you can start rebuilding that. Yoga is a safe and gentle way to reactivate your muscles and regain strength and muscle tone.
While a mums and bubs class won’t give you a massive workout, it is enough to get you started and to get you moving again.
Poor posture is a common symptom of pregnancy and breastfeeding and yoga can help you correct that.
2. Balance Your Hormonal System
Yoga includes a lot of stretching and breathing work. The breathing exercises can be incredibly beneficial to your hormonal system. During pregnancy your hormones played a massive role in keeping your baby healthy and even in helping your baby come into this world.
Restoring your hormonal balance will not only help you feel better but plays an important part in your own mental health.
3. Connectig With Yourself
When you have a new baby it can be overwhelming. The initial joy is soon met by your baby’s many demands. If you are a first time mom then everything is new and you will face a lot of uncertainties.
All the focus is on your baby. It can be easy to forget about the most important person in your baby’s life and that is you. You need to look after yourself and staying connected to yourself is incredibly important.
Yoga has long been used as a spiritual practise and the basic idea of connecting to the self is still one of the main reasons why people are drawn to yoga and yoga classes.
4. Relaxation and Stress Relief
The constant demand of your new baby can be overwhelming. Between feeding, sleeping and bathing there is hardly any time for anything else. Very few babies sleep and feed perfectly. There are always challenges and this can cause a lot of stress.
Yoga is a perfect escape from all the stress of being a new mom. A 45 minute mums and bubs yoga class even just once a week can do wonders for lowering your stress and making you feel calm and relaxed.
When you are calm and relaxed it tends to transfer to your baby.
5. Stimulates Your Baby
Mums and bubs yoga is not just for mom. It incorporates a lot of gentle movements and sensory stimulation for newborns. Many hospitals offer introductory classes in baby massage and exercises that you can do with your baby to aid in their development.
Physical movement is an important part of a baby’s development and there are many programs that help with this. Gymbaroo is a very popular program across Australia that incorporates a lot of physical movement with sensory stimulation.
6. Bonding Experience
The yoga class can be a great bonding experience for you and your baby. There are not many activities you can do with a newborn and having a class is a great way to get out – just the two of you!
You will learn some great skills that you can take back home with you – exercises and stretches you can do with your baby at home. Babies generally love the yoga experience.
The calm and relaxing atmosphere in a yoga studio instantly calms babies down and you will be surprised how many “rowdy babies”
7. Connecting and Networking
A mums and bubs class can be a great place to meet other moms. The mothers groups programs across Australia are proof how well it works when you connect with other like minded moms.
These yoga classes are as much about socializing with other moms as it is about the yoga and exercise.
It is also a time to remove yourself from the stressful baby environment at home and be out and about where you can discuss your problems, fears and joys with other moms who are most likely feeling exactly how you are feeling.