Mommy and me yoga benefits both mom and baby. Here’s how.
After a long 9 months of pregnancy, it was time to take care of myself and my newborn. My body was a mess. I gained a lot of weight, and everything within me changed – both my physical and mental states.
It took time to go back to my average, healthy body. I didn’t bounce back in a matter of weeks like you see all over tv and the internet.
I allowed myself plenty of rest, and slowly I started to look for some help. Finding time while taking care of a newborn was not easy. I mean, who has an extra 30-60 minutes to do something that focuses on yourself, when you have a little, tiny human to nurture, protect, and keep alive?
But I found something that checked all the boxes for me. It was mommy and me yoga – a fitness activity that was beneficial for my body while allowing me to bond with my baby. So I’m going to share some of the benefits of actually doing yoga with your baby around. This way, you get to have your cake and eat it, too.
Mommy and Me Yoga Benefits
Yoga Benefit 1: Better Sleep for Both Mom and Baby
Yoga, in general, eases your body, loosens your muscles, and strengthen your core. It releases all of those tensed muscles that were used to hold your baby inside your belly.
On top of that, focusing on deep breathing and meditation during yoga can actually help sleep-deprived moms (and their fussy babies) sleep deeper and better. Laura DeNino, a baby yoga instructor at the Yoga House of Charleston, stated that many moms experienced that it was easier to have their babies take afternoon naps after the yoga class.
Yoga Benefit 2: You Are Not Alone
One of the I liked best when I was going to mommy and me yoga classes, was that I was able to talk with moms in the same phase of life and share our experiences with each other.
After long months of staying home most of the time, the yoga class helped me socialize again. It was good to know I wasn’t alone, and it made me realize that I wasn’t the only one who was scared to raise my first child. Just listening to their stories or even talking to a mom who had their third child was such huge emotional support.
Yoga Benefit 3: Increased Energy Level
Yoga helps restore your energy, stretch your muscles, loosen your tension, and provide a sense of peace. Yoga helped me clear out my thoughts and think positively. It helped me reduce my stress and increase my energy level.
Yoga Benefit 4: Build a Strong Bond with Your Baby
The greatest benefit of mommy and me yoga is that I was able to bond with my baby. Staying home and taking care of a baby is different than doing yoga with your baby. Mommy and me yoga is one-on-one bonding that is just you and your baby connecting over a dedicated time.
Yoga Benefit 5: Better Digestion
Newborn babies often swallow a bit of air when drinking. They fuss and get cranky, which is normal. But, guess what? Stretching and posing the babies can help them to digest better and let the gas out. Less fuss, and that’s a win for both of you!
If you’ve recently had a baby, I highly recommend going to mommy and me yoga classes. Ask around at your local gyms and yoga studios, and gather up from new mommy friends to join you. It supports you mentally and brings your body closer to its pre-pregnancy self. Ease your muscles, bond with your baby, make new friends, and meditate in peace.