Congratulations to the wonderful staff at the Leeds Mother and Baby Unit, who recently completed their MamaBabyBliss Baby Yoga Training. There are 15 Mother and Baby Units in the UK, this is now the 2nd unit to have participated in training with us. It was lovely to see the staff being so enthusiastic about the many ways they will be able to use the techniques to benefit the parents and babies at the Unit .

“‘I have really enjoyed the course. I will recommend to others. I can’t wait to get started’ ”

The staff loved the fact that the training was onsite andspecifically tailored to their needs as a Unit and also the fact that their Outreach Team can use the techniques at home visits after discharge from the Unit. The Baby Yoga is going to offer them a wider repertoire of weekly group activities that can be done when mums return as part of Outreach Support and to encourage socialising between mums and babies. At the Nottingham Unit a member of staff was inspired to write her own relaxation script, that was specifically relevant for the mums she worked with which was just beautiful . The work these staff do in supporting women at such a difficult time in their lives is amazing, so it was a privilege to provide them with new ideas and see their enthusiasm and confidence in adopting these new techniques.

“‘I would like to thank you and all the other ladies greatly for providing your services. It has proved to be a real asset to the ward and I know the ladies have thoroughly enjoyed every session‘”

The Baby Yoga includes a quick 5 minute Dry Massage section that is done with baby fully clothed, but covers all body parts and encourages eye contact and bonding. This will be valuable for those patients with low concentration levels, or for whom undressing and redressing their babies’ takes a lot of effort and stress. The Dry Massage is also beneficial for short term patients who may not get the chance to learn a full Baby Massage routine.

Both the Nottingham and Leeds Units loved the fact that there are so many different elements to the Baby Yoga that can be used separately, according to the needs of patients on that day.  For example deep breathing and stretches for mums, relaxation and exercises for babies. Many of the stretches, deep breathing and relaxation techniques can even be done in bed, if the patient is struggling to get out of bed that day. The staff were so pleased to learn breathing and relaxation techniques and physical yoga moves, that can be used to calm distressed mums prior to medical procedures or meetings with consultants.  They also liked the exercises for mums who are still physically active, despite being so fragile emotionally, with exercise being a great way to release natural calming and uplifting endorphins.

The staff are looking forward to empowering the mums in the unit with the calming Baby Yoga techniques, that will enable the mums to calm their own babies. They also liked learning the specific activities for aiding the digestive system in babies. Often in a medical environment, babies may be prescribed medication or formula milk; possibly prematurely, when activities to alleviate digestive ailments and build the digestive system may now be used first.  The staff now have lots more activities to help stimulate   babies who have a long day and potentially months on the hospital ward. The songs and activities are such fun too, so will be uplifting for the ward, for staff as well as the parents and babies. There are also techniques that staff will be able to share with dads if the mums are sleeping or with a consultant when they visit .This is a difficult time for partners too, being separated from their partners and babies. The staff were planning lots of activities to do with mum, dad and baby, to promote that re bonding as a family also, when families have had to spend weeks, or months apart.

The work in the Mother and Baby Units has come about from the MamaBabyBliss Charitable Foundation, this enables our teachers to support parents who wouldn’t ordinarily be able to attend our classes.

Fabulous course. Clear instructions. Vanessa really down to earth and approachable. Thank you very much for coming and delivering the training. We all enjoyed it and have come back with lots of ideas and inspiration

Angela Simpson, Leeds Mother and Baby Unit.

Seeing the benefits of what we do, led to the training in both the Nottingham and Leeds Units. Our mission is now to spread this to all the 15 Units in the UK. Bringing new life into the world is challenging enough and to do this whilst suffering with your own severe mental health issues and in many cases whilst miles away from home; due to the fact that there are so few of these units across the country, must be so desperately hard. If we at MamaBabyBliss can play a small part in adding some valuable, helpful techniques for the staff; who do such an incredible job, the parents and babies, then we are truly grateful and privileged.

We thank you Joanne Godson of Mama Baby Bliss for this introduction to the benefits of what Baby Yoga classes are about…. look out for more information from Joanne in the future.

We live our lives at such a fast pace these days don’t we?  In fact we are encouraged to do so, so much of what we read and see is encouraging us to make the most of every day, strive to be better, always look for ways of improving and fulfilling our dreams and ambitions.  And all of this plays an important part in having a fulfilled life, but amongst it all we mustn’t lose sight of being happy with now, and this becomes even more important when we become a mum.

A friend of mine told me these wise words when my twin boys were tiny babies, they are 13 years old now and I still try to treasure the sentiment :

Hush Cobwebs

Now’s not the time for cleaning and cooking, because children grow up when we are not looking, so ‘Hush now you Cobwebs – Dust, go to sleep – my time’s for my baby because babies don’t keep…’

The time with our little ones is so precious as it passes so quickly and they grow up before our eyes; but what better way to give you and your little one some quality time together than with some baby yoga moves. Baby yoga has many health benefits, and not just for baby but for mummy too, through baby yoga you learn moves that help your baby strengthen core muscles and encourage neural development, aswell as developing  babies body-mind awareness and co-ordination and encourage both bonding and interaction.  And as for mum, well amongst other things you are releasing the hormone oxytocin into your system which helps us to cope with stress.

Most of all, baby yoga is about spending some truly quality time, just you with your baby, having fun, capturing the now, the added beauty of it is that once you have the moves you and your little one can just keep practising at home as often as you wish, so you can extend that feeling of contentment into your daily routine, each day, just treasuring that moment, knowing that you and your baby are benefiting greatly from doing so.

Another potential benefit of Baby Yoga is that it may also provide you with skills to help you relax and focus within those moments of despair or extreme tiredness – these skills reaching far beyond the baby years  …..

We thank you Joanne Godson of Mama Baby Bliss for this introduction to the benefits of what the classes are about…. look out for more information from Joanne.

HAVE YOU EVER ATTENDED BABY YOGA ?? PLEASE DO COMMENT BELOW ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCES…..

Joanne godson, from time2behappy is a baby yoga and baby massage teacher with MamaBabyBliss and explains why enjoying the moment and having fun with baby yoga can bring huge benefits to both you and your baby.

Joanne Godson
Regional Associate Teacher.
MBB North Notts and Mansfield – Baby Yoga and Baby Massage
MamaBabyBliss Dedicated to the wellbeing of mothers to be, mothers and babies
Specialist in Developing Personal and Organisational Effectiveness