MUMS & BUBS OR MUMS ONLY?

When new mums decide to (re-)start exercising yoga in a group, they may have different options: a class for mums & bubs or a class for mums only. But what is best?

Some mums like the idea to do something alone (on their own), without the baby, just for themselves. The good thing of practicing without the baby is that you can concentrate on yourself and are not distracted by your child’s requirements. You can enjoy an intensive session, including a long relaxation and/or meditation, which make you leave wonderfully relaxed and recharged.

But to enjoy a “mums only” session without regret, you must be sure that your child is in good hands, and that your little one accepts you being away. If breast feeding, the feeding interval must be long enough to allow you going to the class, or you need to provide a bottle of expressed milk, so that your partner or babysitter can do the feeding. In this case, make sure that your baby can drink from a bottle before you start attending a yoga class!

Obviously, a session together with your baby is different. You need to care for your little one during the session, which means feeding, changing nappies or pacifying the child when it is grumpy or crying. All the things you do at home, too. So you may have “good” sessions, when your baby is calm and happy, but also “bad” sessions when your baby is challenging your patience.

However, you can benefit from a “mums & bubs” session in many ways. First of all, you don’t need a babysitter, and you don’t need to worry about short breast feeding intervals as you can do the feeding during the session (most important in the early weeks after delivery). You may not have the opportunity to enjoy long, intensive sequences, but you learn how to include your baby in your yoga routine, which helps you to develop a regular practice at home. Furthermore, an experienced yoga teacher can give some advice regarding safe ways for lifting and carrying your baby, finding relaxed feeding positions, and the like. Some classes also include short sequences of “baby yoga” (easy exercises for the babies) or baby massage, so that you can support your child’s healthy development.

In the end it is up to you, which form of postnatal yoga you choose. If possible, try both, or do the “mums & bubs” first, when the feeding intervals are short, and add or switch to the “mums only” later. Find out what suits you best and matches with your family’s timetable. You must feel happy with your decision.

No matter how you decide, a postnatal class is a wonderful opportunity to meet other mums - including the teacher - and to discuss your experiences with them. You will discover that all mums have similar problems, and both you and your child are pretty normal. Chatting with your fellow yoga students is also a great source of wisdom, regarding the daily life with a child, and more.