The Asheville Citizen-Times
August 17, 2004

Try Doing Yoga With Your Babe:The Latest Craze in Fitness is for Babies and Toddlers

by: Florence Colton Villeminot, Staff Writer

ASHEVILLE -- Yoga is the rave. Next time you hit the mat, don't be surprised to find that your yoga neighbor is still in diapers, sucking his thumb.

More and more yoga centers across the country are starting to offer yoga classes for babies and toddlers.

And this fast-spreading phenomenon hasn't bypassed the Asheville area.

"Babies and toddlers are naturally yogis," said Beth Bluth of the downtown Namaste Yoga and Healing Center. "They go into the different positions so easily and their posture is what we all strive for; it is so perfect. Their spines are absolutely straight!"

Bluth is a certified yoga instructor from Itsy Bisty Yoga, a program developed in 1999 in Massachusetts by Helen Garabedian, an infant developmental movement educator and registered yoga teacher.

The program is for babies from 3 weeks to 24 months old and includes more than 75 yoga poses and techniques that are developmentally nutritious and deepen the parent-child bond.

"Babies respond very much to touch and massage and want to be moved," Nicole Bookman said, who holds postnatal yoga classes at Namaste. "However we never do anything that the baby doesn't want to do."

Parents do not need yoga experience themselves to calm their baby and help him or her grow strong.

"Itsy Bitsy Yoga provides so many benefits for babies and toddlers," said Bobbi Holland, who is also certified by Itsy Bitsy Yoga and holds classes at the Movement and Learning Center.

Benefits for babies include healthy growth and the development of motor skills, as well as regular and wholesome digestion and the strengthening of the immune system.

"It gives them a special awareness of their body and helps them get some energy out," Bluth said.

"Itsy Bitsy Yoga helps babies sleep regularly, more soundly and longer," said Kathryn Lischerelli, also certified by Itsy Bisty, who holds classes at Awakening Heart. "It also makes babies more content and peaceful while promoting a deeper connection with their parents and a feeling of security."

"Most importantly, it is a time to be playful and get to know the child in a fun and different way while fitting into a healthy lifestyle from the beginning," she said.

The classes also teach a number of "magic poses" to help calm a fussy baby in 60 seconds and reduce stress.

"This is a good one that parents can add to their bag of tricks," said Holland.

"It makes him more peaceful when he is stressed out or angry," said Amy Holt about her son Connor. "And he sleeps awesome now too!"

Yoga helps the more active, energized and hyper toddlers develop self-confidence and learn to move independently. "They get satisfaction from being able to move on their own and recognize the positions," said Holland.

"She enjoys it and does it out of the class," said Toby Clarke about Jessica, her 18-month-old daughter. "She used to be very hyper, but now she has calmed down and is much better about sleeping through the night."

In an age when childhood obesity is an increasing, alarming problem, Itsy Bitsy Yoga can be a fun and nurturing way to get children started on an active lifestyle track, as they grow and learn to love moving their bodies.

"We encourage parents to repeat the positions their kids enjoy at home," Holland said.

Yoga classes, lasting about 45 minutes given the short attention span of the kids, are carried out in a relaxing atmosphere and are conducive to nursing the child's needs. The classes have also proven to create a sense of community and a social gathering for both children and parents.

"I think that socially, being around other kids and happy, calm vibes is very important," said Fyffe Harris, after her first tots class with her 9-month-old Ada. "I would definitely recommend it to others."

New parents can discus areas of concern, be reassured and gain confidence.

"It's a nice way for moms to bond and see what is going on with other babies," said Bluth. "They realize: 'Oh! I'm going through something normal.'"

During the classes, parents help their children go through the yoga positions in a playful, positive and comforting environment.

"Prepare to meet your child where he or she is today, honoring his or her unique speed of moving, learning and growing," said Holland at the beginning of her tots class. "Take a few seconds to center yourselves. Close your eyes and with each breath breathe in love and peace."

Babies and tots will experience positions like "Toes to the nose", " Dinosaur" and "Fanny the Bird" while their parents sing rhyming couplets to familiar tunes like "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star."

"We practice a technique called 'Sing and Do,'" said Holland. "Your voice is the sweetest voice to your child. Singing while doing the poses helps the child engage to you."

Yoga teachers hope the benefits for the children will stay with them and develop as they grow up.

"As kids grow older, it helps them find a center point, a balanced situation they can find themselves in," said Bluth. "In this world where there is so much chaos outside, they can center themselves in this and have a self-respect for their bodies. If they can achieve this, then they are set for success."

Where to find Yoga for babies and toddlers:

Movement and Learning Center: Call 275-6170

Namaste Yoga and Healing Center: Call 253-6985 or visit: www.namasteasheville.com

Haywood Regional Health and Fitness: Call 452-8080

The Asheville Yoga Center: Call 254.0380 or visit www.youryoga.com

Awakening Heart: Call 277-1767 or visit www.awakening-heart.com

For more information about Itsy Bitsy Yoga visit: www.itsybitsyyoga.com

 

Susan Semzon helps her daughter Arielle do an Itsy Bitsy Yoga position at the Movement and Learning Center. Yoga helps babies digest and sleep better while creating a parent-child bond.

Toby Clarke helps her daughter Jessica do an Itsy Bitsy Yoga position during a yoga course for toddlers at the Movement and Learning Center. "She used to be very hyper, but now she has calmed down and is much better about sleeping through the night," said Clark.