Me and Mini Me Yoga

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This article was published 29/03/2018 (2730 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Welcoming a baby into the world is a joyous time as new parents adjust to life with a little one. Along with the heartwarming milestones — the first smile, giggle, or crawl — comes lack of sleep, many questions and at times, feelings of isolation.

More and more parents are taking part in postnatal yoga, which enthusiasts say not only helped them get back into shape physically, but also offered profound emotional and social benefits.

“It is so important to be a part of a community during this time of tremendous change in their life,” said Shawna Philpott, founder of Brandon City Yoga. “We often speak of all the joys of motherhood/becoming a new parent as this blissful time, but change is really, really hard.”

As a society, Philpott says, we are spending less time with friends and more time on social media “where everything is filtered and nothing is real. It is impossible not to compare your world to the ‘highlight reel’ of our friends, families or social media stars, leaving us feeling inadequate or like our life is not enough.”

Philpott notes that this is even more true for new parents who are less able to get out and socialize, especially during the first year of a baby’s life.

“Having a community to see face to face regularly can help combat feelings of depression and anxiety that are so prevalent during this postpartum period.”

Philpott teaches “Baby and Me” yoga classes, which are geared toward babies between six weeks and approximately one year of age. She says it is a great way for moms to get back out into the community and into a fitness routine.

“Not only do we do exercises and stretches for baby, we use baby to help strengthen the body postpartum,” she said. “Baby has a wonderful time spent in mom’s arms and is tuckered out after class, so big naps generally follow.”

Mental benefits to any yoga practice can include improved concentration, mental stamina, focus and patience, Philpott added.

“Spiritually speaking, yoga can be used as a tool to feel more connected to a source, or higher power, or yourself,” she said. “It is in the eye of the beholder so it can used for any spiritual or religious practice as a way of feeling more peaceful.”

One of the biggest benefits is the social aspect — meeting with other moms (and dads), sharing stories and comparing notes

Tara Stokes teaches “Me and Mini Me” yoga classes at Baby Bump in Brandon.

“I know a lot of first-time moms. It’s kind of a difference being at home with a baby, and not having that adult interaction — a lot of baby talk all day,” she said. “I always try and get the women to share stories and just get to know one another… A lot of that comes outside of the yoga, and it’s just a great way to build a support group.”

Deanna Clark joined a session at Baby Bump, along with her seven-month-old son Sawyer. She said it was a great weekly outing in what has been a long winter. “Everyone there is so supportive, we’re all in the exact same boat,” she said. “The bonding with your baby, it’s just so fun. And I think it’s so important, even as young as they are, to see that their parents are active and showing them a healthy lifestyle.” Brittany Donohoe, along with her daughter Blakely, would get to class well before it started, just so they could have time to connect with other participants.

“We just sit around and the moms talk, asking questions — breastfeeding advice, sleep advice, it was wonderful,” she said. “It’s good interacting time… and nice to get out of the house.”

Jaclyn Van Dasselaar said the class was a good stress release, and a change of pace for her eight-month-old son Jack.

“He gets to do the yoga part but then he gets to play with other babies.”

As a beginner yogi, Van Dasselaar said she appreciated the easy-going nature of the class. It’s not uncommon to be interrupted by a crying or giggling baby.

“If you get left behind because you’re dealing with your baby, it’s easy to catch on and catch up,” she said.

Stokes said a typical class begins with a focus on the parent followed by a series of stretches, and then she moves onto some exercise with the baby.

“Sometimes we add in little sing-along songs, the babies seem to really like that,” she said. “We cool down with a bit of bonding, a little snuggling with mom and baby to kind of finish the class.”

The owners of Baby Bump, Adrienne McNish and Stacy Nevill, said it is important to offer these types of classes because pregnancy, childbirth and parenting bring a whole series of new challenges.

“Yoga helps build a connection with the new you, gives you time for yourself and your little one and allows you to connect with other parents. Yoga classes create a sense of community,” Nevill said. “Supporting families through every step of their journey is deeply an important part of our mission.”

Postnatal yoga is becoming so popular in Brandon, that Baby Bump has expanded their classes with another yoga instructor and more time slots.

“Like everything we do at Baby Bump, we want to mold our business around what our community is asking for,” McNish said. “Baby Bump will always be a reflection of the community we are so proud to live in.”

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PRENATAL YOGA

From easing hip and back pain to reducing feelings of anxiety, prenatal yoga classes can offer many benefits to expectant mothers.

Adrienne McNish of Baby Bump said the exercises help to ease the process of supporting a growing baby. It also helps tone the body, especially the pelvic floor, hip, and abdominal core muscles, in preparation for the birthing process.

“Yoga helps you to learn how to breathe deeply and consciously relax, which is very helpful as you face the physical demands of labor, birth and new motherhood,” McNish said.

Classes also provide a sense of community throughout pregnancy.

“It helps with depression, helps with socialization— feeling like you have a support group with other women,” said Tara Stokes, yoga instructor.

Experts now often recommend women continue with whatever their fitness and health regime was before getting pregnant, and it is important to have some level of activity.

“Yoga is more of a passive, relaxation type, with breathing exercises,” Stokes said. “A lot of that can benefit with your labour process, getting through the pain.”

Prenatal yoga is similar to a regular yoga class, but with certain modifications. Pregnant women should avoid inversions and deep twisting.

“A lot of the positions you normally do in yoga are on your back… we have to modify by doing a lot of them on your side,” Stokes said.

Prenatal yoga can be done at any point during the pregnancy. For Stokes, she personally found the breathing and relaxation techniques beneficial.

“I also suffered from back pain, so it just helped with keeping my muscles nice and loose and avoiding some of those extra pains that are associated with pregnancy.”