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Looking for more classes and services for pregnant and new moms and families? See the Matrika Prenatal website.
Matrika Mom & Baby Yoga Class Schedule
SATURDAY
10:45-11:30 am Mom & Baby Yoga at Magee Hospital (Oakland)
Registration through Magee is REQUIRED. Drop-in students are not admitted.
WEDNESDAY
10:45 to 11:30 am Mom & Baby Yoga at Yoga Matrika
$10 to drop-in or a 6-class package for $50
CLASS DESCRIPTIONS
Mom & Baby Yoga
This is a yoga class for moms to share with infants up to one year of age. This class is limited to women and infants only. Dads, Grandpas and male caregivers are warmly welcome to the Friday morning Baby and Me class, but this Wednesday class is just for women. Toddlers and older children are welcome, but the yoga activities will focus on yoga for babies (gentle stretches, songs and playful movements). Yoga for moms is postnatal appropriate and we will always offer modifications for moms who have had surgical birth or need a more gentle practice for any reason. This is a breastfeeding supportive environment and we support all mothers, no matter how you choose to feed your baby, in feeding baby on demand.
Do you have an active 9-month-12 month old baby who crawls and perhaps is even starting to cruise? You might be happier in our Baby and Me class on Fridays at Yoga Matrika from 11:15am to noon. The yoga for babies is more active and there are less passive activities. It’s up to you and you know your child better than anyone! Dads and caregivers are welcome to bring baby to the Friday class, but the adult that comes with your child should be consistent for maximum benefit.
Mom & Baby Yoga Benefits
- Increased strength, energy and endurance for mom
- Recover physically & emotionally from pregnancy and childbirth
- Stabilize strength in pelvic floor and abdominals
- Learn yoga techniques to calm and delight baby
- Bond with your baby and share an activity that brings you both increased health and happiness
- Network with other new moms and share ideas, resources and support. Make new friends too!
- Reduce anxiety, stress and some of the aches and pains of motherhood: sore shoulders, back and neck especially
- Learn ways to cope when you feel overwhelmed and exhausted
Doing Yoga Together: Preparations and Expectations
You love yoga and now you want to make it a part of your child’s life too. We are delighted that this is the case and we have a few things to keep in mind that will help you and your child enjoy the experience.
Keep an Open Mind
We find that it takes a couple of visits to the studio for children (ok, it’s actually true for adults too!) to understand what the activity is and what is expected of them. You might find that your child acts bored or is not interested in doing yoga. The way that babies and children enjoy yoga classes may be different from the way that you enjoy them. What we know is that, over time, sharing yoga together with your child creates beautiful memories and is time that you will cherish forever.
Prepare for Class
As much as possible, make sure that you and baby have had a snack and are wearing comfortable clothing. Try to leave enough time to get the studio so that there isn’t a lot of stress before class. Bring your little ones favorite toy or comfort item and some snacks as appropriate. Bring a receiving blanket for newborns and pre-crawling infants and a change of clothing and more diapering supplies than you think you need. For young children, after the first class, make sure that you talk with them about it and start talking about it again a few days before class—–remind them of the teacher’s name, another child’s name or some feature of class that they remember (a story, a sound or ritual).
Enjoy the Moment
When we release our expectations, we can enjoy whatever is happening. This is yoga! Yoga together is very different from adult yoga, but it allows us to stay fit and take time to meet our own needs as adults while sharing something that is very important to us with our children. Sometimes it goes as planned and sometimes it is a bit of a disaster, but know that you and your child are never judged at Yoga Matrika. There isn’t one of us who haven’t had a child tantrum during a Mom & Baby class or who didn’t have a baby who cried through an entire class——we welcome you and your little one, even if you are having “one of those days.”
