What Is Baby Yoga?

Baby yoga is a relatively new trend in the world of exercise and parenting. It’s also known as ‘yoga for babies’. But what does it entail?

In this article, we’ll answer that question and more! We’ll talk about what baby yoga is. How it works to improve your child’s health and fitness levels. And, finally, we’ll mention some poses you may want to try with your child at home.

The Benefits of Baby Yoga

First of all, let’s take a look at the benefits of practicing yoga with your baby.

Yoga is a great way to keep your child in good shape. Yoga helps to develop muscles, keep the joints supple, and is good for helping children develop good balance.

But by practicing yoga with your baby you will also be teaching them the importance of being mindful and centring their attention on themselves, rather than all the crazy things that happen outside! This skill can help children become more confident as they grow up.

What Yoga Poses Are Good For Babies?

Happy baby pose – This is a great pose for both babies and adults. Baby can be placed on the ground, then bring the knees towards the chest and then pull the legs up towards the head. Grab the toes with your hands and flex the feet and hips.

Baby in table pose – This is a pose for babies that are crawling or almost walking, you put them on their front and they can either get down to the floor with hands supporting underneath themselves or if more able then stand up.

As your baby grows and is able to stand as a toddler then you can get going with many more poses. For example:

Pretend to be a dog – otherwise known as downward-facing dog. So the feet and palms are flat on the ground and the bottom is lifted into the air.

Stand like a tree (tree pose) – stand on the mat and lift both hands above your head and clasp them. Then lift one leg and place the foot on the inside of the other knee. So you’re standing on one leg. Great one for balance of course.

Squat pose – this one again is about balance, but with the centre of gravity closer to the ground. So you stand and put palms together in front of you (like praying). Then squat down and hold the pose.

There are many great poses for children and you can normally convert most adult poses to an easier one for your child.

The main thing about yoga for babies and children is that it should always remain fun and not too intensive.

How Often Should You Do Yoga With Your Baby

Yoga isn’t generally an intense activity, although for adults it can be. For children the exercises are simple and easy to do. So you can do them as often as you like, but the main thing is to build a routine.

Make yoga with your baby a regular activity and they will learn to look forward to it. The more you practice, the better off both you and your baby will be! Generally speaking 2 or 3 times a week is about right, at least to begin with.

Are There Yoga Mats For Kids?

Yes! Babies and children love to mimic their parents. So they will see when you do yoga that you have a mat. They will quickly be wanting a mat of their own of course! And the good news is that many of the yoga mat makers also make versions for children. Take a look at our reviews of the best yoga mats for kids.