Yoga and the baby

 The babies can practice yoga since they are at least 2 months old. Generally, the babies at age of 3-5 months old already have strong neck and they can lie down still. So, this is a good time for parents to practice several yoga postures for them. The yoga practice should be done since the babies are small because this will make them get used to the yoga practices so that they can do more difficult postures when they grow bigger.

Practicing yoga for babies will help them to have better development of the body and the brain, relieve sufferings from constipation and improve excretory system, enhance their imagination, and have good mental effect that make them grow up with happiness and love for the others. During the practice, mothers should talk to the babies and have eye contact with them. Talking will transfer the feeling of mothers’ love and gentleness to the babies. Such transfer of love via touches from mothers result in good mood and mental health of the babies.

Yoga postures for babies

1. Let the baby sitting on your lap with the back facing to you, and then alternately raise each of the baby’s leg to touch the head. This posture stretches the baby’s leg and help to relieve gas in the stomach, resulting in more effective food digestion system.
2. Let the baby lie down on the floor with their face upwards, and then raise both legs of the baby to touch the head. This posture help to relieve gas in the stomach, massage the internal organs within the stomach, stretch the spine, and exercise the baby’s leg and back muscles.
3. When the baby sits with leg stretching forward, gently push the baby’s back to lean forward until the head touches the feet, trying to keep the baby’s legs close to each other (the benefits are the same as those of previous posture).
4. The dog posture. While the baby is crawling, you can make them crawl in the dog posture by lifting the baby’s hip while the legs and hands are still on the floor. Mothers can also help to stretch the baby’s legs. This posture helps much better blood circulation to the head zone so that it stimulates the brain development, prevent the bending legs, and strengthen the arms.
5. Leg spreading. To do this posture, the mother sits behind the baby and spread the baby’s leg away from each other to the sides. When the baby leans the body forward, the mother still holds the legs. This posture helps the baby to better stretch the body and also help to adjust the bending legs.
6. Tree posture. The mother holds the baby to stand upright, stretching the baby’s arms upward and close to the ears. This posture helps the baby to stretch the spine and exercise the arms.
7. The standing head posture. The mother holds the baby’s legs upright in order to allow more blood circulation to the head zone. The baby will naturally use arms pushing on the floor in order to support the body (this posture must only be practiced by mother because it is needed to be done with love and high care).