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Calm Your Baby with Itsy Bitsy Yoga

December 3rd, 2007

Monthly column for www.rasaspa.com written by Anne Marie Cummings.

 

One-on-One with Author and Yogi, Helen Garabedian

 

I'm not a mom, but if I were, I would be sure to pick up, and practice Itsy Bitsy Yoga with my baby. I spoke to Helen Garabedian, author of the fabulously endearing book, "Itsy Bitsy Yoga: Poses to Help Your Baby Sleep Longer, Digest Better, and Grow Stronger," and instantly fell in love with the entire concept of doing yoga with a baby. And how apropos since babies naturally do yoga in their own adorable ways, from their breathing to how they move and explore their bodies as they develop and grow.

Helen sent me her DVD, "Sleep n' Grow." I watched it on a rainy Sunday afternoon, and was thoroughly impressed with how she was able to calm a colicky baby by singing and gently maneuvering his body into a yoga pose. "Bonding time with baby is something every parent relishes, but not every parent knows how to achieve this," said Helen. "Some parents don't know how to adjust to the new member of their family." Itsy Bitsy Yoga certainly isn't the kind of yoga you'll see adults doing, but it's the perfect one-on-one time parents can give their babies.

"Babies like to move. It's what they respond to. It's what they need," said Helen. And she's right. Watch how fascinated your baby is when you hold his or her left foot near their ankle and stretch it to their nose singing, "Toes to the Nose!" They'll love you for it!

 

So Helen, you're a mom, right? Author and Yogi, Helen Garabedian: Yes. I have a three year old son.

Did you develop Itsy Bitsy Yoga before or after your son was born? I started the program before my son was born. I was working with babies and children while I studied to receive my certification to be an infant development movement educator and infant massage instructor.

What are some of the reasons babies and toddlers need yoga? There are a lot of great reasons. To begin with, it helps them sleep better and longer, it improves their digestion and eases gas pains, it turns fussiness into happiness, it promotes a healthy and physically fit lifestyle, it strengthens the parent-child bond, and it increases the neuromuscular development of any baby.

How did you combine your yoga and infant development certifications to come up with Itsy Bitsy Yoga? I was going through the yoga teacher training, and a lot of my friends were having babies, and since I was already working with children as a development movement educator, I decided to merge the two. I decided to develop extra classes to make Itsy Bitsy Yoga the best practice for any parent and child.

After watching your DVD, "Sleep n' Grow," I was very impressed by how comfortable you are with babies - where does this immediate comfort with children come from? I've always worked with children. I guess you could say it might have something to do with the fact that I started babysitting when I was a very young girl.

So you came up with the names and poses for babies that are in your book? A lot of them I did invent, yes. I also wrote all the songs that go along with them.

What are some of the reasons why babies are natural yogis? Babies prefer to breathe through the nose, they're only concerned with the present moment, they love unconditionally, they practice nonviolence, and as we've discussed, they practice yoga postures as a natural part of their development.

When is it best to practice Itsy Bitsy Yoga? With a baby who's fed and not overly tired. Babies are typically happy when they're full, and like adults, they need to move in order to aid digestion.

You mention in your book that the overuse of certain devices such as infant car seats, walkers and strollers, for example, get in the way of the natural movement of babies. What do you suggest in place of those devices? Well first of all, parents have to use these devices. I'm certainly not saying, ‘Don't use them,' I'm just saying that yoga helps counterbalance the restrictions those devices place on our children. It's always a good idea not to keep them restricted for too long.

Do moms need to have experience with yoga in order to teach Itsy Bitsy Yoga to their babies, tots, or toddlers? No, not at all. The poses I've put together are easy to learn if mothers, or fathers use my book to guide them.

A lot of babies get fussy and colicky. Can you please explain how yoga helps these babies? Is it best to do the Itsy Bitsy Yoga workout with them the very moment they get fussy? I think it's different for every child. The Magic Poses...

What are Magic Poses? The Magic Poses are tools to calm your baby very quickly. They're easy to do anytime, anywhere. But they do work best when they're done with the right amount of intensity and when practiced regularly. Originally, I created the Magic Poses to draw wandering and mobile babies back into the yoga practice. But I've discovered my Magic Poses bring most babies happiness. It's key to remember, though, that you shouldn't practice the Magic Poses that your baby is not developmentally ready for. You should only practice Magic Poses appropriate for your baby at each stage.

Right. So back to my previous question...is it best to do the Itsy Bitsy Yoga workout with a baby the moment they get fussy or colicky? Absolutely. If you can stop what you're doing and take a few moments with your baby then, yes, it's a great idea to give them the attention they need in that very moment. Choosing their favorite Magic Pose when they're fussy is a great thing to do. One thing that parents can really learn from is that a lot of children like movement, especially movement familiar to them. It reminds them of their experience in the womb.

Can you explain to me what the yoga poses are doing to babies' bodies that makes them feel so comfortable? Yoga engages their muscles and then releases them, leaving a baby feeling content and relaxed. I've noticed that babies have longer, more restful naps after Itsy Bitsy Yoga practice. Parents also tell me that their babies wake less during the nights that follow their yoga time.

I noticed when watching your DVD that the babies are instantly engaged once their moms sing to them and help them in and out of the poses. Why is this? Singing to them sets a pace, and it's nice because children love to follow along with their parents.

And you call this the Sing & Do Technique? Exactly. It's a musical inflection of the speaking voice to communicate respect, set the tempo of the yoga movements, create a calm space, help babies and tots learn through repetition and predictability, and deepen the parent-child bond.

You mentioned repetition. Why is repetition good for babies? Babies thrive on repetition; it's how they learn. It lets babies predict what's next. In Itsy Bitsy Yoga you'll notice that repetition is important because it gives children the time to recognize and to respond to the activity at hand. Through repetition, a child can learn to crawl onto his mother's lap when he hears his mother say the name of a yoga pose such as, "Hop Along Yogi."

One might think that babies don't get stressed, that it's the moms that need yoga, not the babies - but clearly babies and youngsters do experience stress, and need a way to release it. What kinds of stresses do babies experience? Babies are subject to everything in their environment. If the environment is stressful, then they will feel that. Babies are not "stressed out," but yoga is a great way for them to get calm, and of course the calmer the moms are, the more relaxed their babies will be.

I like how you write about the importance of Tummy Time for the babies that are at the almost-sitting stage. Please tell me more about this. This stage of a baby's life only lasts a short period of time. It's very important to allow the abdominal area to grow strong at its own pace before independent sitting, crawling, and walking takes place. So when a baby lies on his belly, it has a positive effect on his sitting posture. Pediatricians encourage dedicated and supervised floor time for babies on their bellies, or what I call Tummy Time. This practice helps a baby develop strength in the upper limbs, chest, and back, all of which are important for sitting and later crawling.

What are some of the names of the yoga poses you created for the Tummy Time Series? There's Tushie Touches, Kicky Cobra, Dolphin, Womb Wings, Baby Plank and every baby's favorite, Super Baby.

How does Tushie Touches work? Well the mother sits comfortably with her legs crossed in front of her, or in a V position, and she puts her baby on his tummy on a blanket in front of her so that her baby's feet are nearest her. Then she cups her hands around her baby's lower legs with her fingers facing in towards each other. If her baby's knee is willing to bend, then she begins to bring his heel in towards his tushie. It's not necessary for the baby's heel to touch his tush right away if it means using strength to do so. If this is the case, it's important for mom to tell her baby to relax. While guiding the heel to the baby's tush, the mom then sings "Tushie," and then "Touches" as she lengthens his leg back. Then the mother switches to the other leg and repeats the same movements while singing. Tushie Touches are very good for stretching and toning the baby's thighs.

Is it important for dads also to do yoga with their babies? A lot of times dads see mom doing it, and then they join right in. Dads can be great calmers - it's nice to share it, it's a special way for them to bond with their children too.

Do you offer classes just with dads? Around Father's Day every year I do.

You write that a baby can begin Itsy Bitsy Yoga as soon as they are born - really?Well not the moment they're born. Most moms wait six to ten weeks after their babies are born to start doing Itsy Bitsy Yoga with their babies. Moms that I work with generally get the okay from their pediatricians before they begin exercising again.

What do you think the baby's experience is when doing yoga? They can't talk, but clearly they seem to be enjoying it. They seem awfully happy to me. They're calm, serene, and relaxed. They seem to like the focus and attention that their moms give them. They certainly enjoy the movements. Also, when parents practice yoga with their babies, they'll begin to notice their baby's movement preferences. A baby's early preferences and body language may offer clues about how a parent may want to approach activities with their baby. For example, if a baby becomes stiff, a parent may want to use a lighter touch and resume the movement or pose at a slower, gentler pace. If a baby is super flexible, a parent doesn't need to worry about taking their baby deeper into each pose.

What kinds of props are helpful to have nearby when doing yoga with your baby? Pillows that make your baby comfortable, calming music to add another level of ambience, a small toy which can help guide a baby's head in turning a particular direction during a yoga pose, a receiving blanket as opposed to a baby yoga mat, and a full length mirror that allows a parent to see their baby's reactions when they are facing outwards. But Itsy Bitsy Yoga isn't about external stimuli, it's about the relationship between parent and child. All the moms and babies that do my yoga class get that immediately!

Helen Garabedian, a certified Hatha yoga and pregnancy yoga teacher and an IAIM certified infant massage instructor, was one of the first people to be certified as an infant development movement educator in the United States. Helen is the founder of Itsy Bitsy Yoga through which she conducts classes, workshops, and training naturally. She lives in Sudbury, Massachusetts. You can visit her website at www.itsybitsyyoga.com. There you can order her books and DVD's!

 

 

 

 

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