Lisa's classes are suitable for all levels of yoga practitioner, from complete beginner to advanced Yogini.

Lisa is a Birthlight trained Post-natal and Mother & Baby Yoga teacher. She teaches in small group classes of 6 mums & babies and the classes are suitable for babies from 6 weeks to nine months, or crawling.

Dads and other family members are welcome if mum cannot come to class.

MUM + BABY YOGA

The postnatal period is a very special time for mothers and babies and postnatal yoga supports both mums & babies in this time of adjustment and great change.

The classes provide a friendly, fun & relaxed environment for mothers and babies to spend quality time together. Classes offer a lively mix of practices for postnatal recovery for mums to help regain their pre-pregnancy body and practices for babies to help explore their own movements, giving them greater confidence, and supporting their balance and development of co-ordination.

A typical session includes postnatal asana and pranayama for mums to alleviate tiredness and stress, practices to help tone pelvic floor and abdominal muscles to gently get mums back to pre-pregnancy shape, practices for better posture and to relieve back strain – all postures and practices aim to help mums to re-energise and recover strength and vitality. Importantly, sessions always include time for relaxation so that mums leave the space feeling nourished, calm and re-energised.

Sessions also include gentle exercises for babies with rhythmic movements accompanied by action songs to take babies through a full range of movement, incorporating gentle baby massage strokes. There are also plenty of practices for two to give mums and babies new ways to relate to each other that are safe, fun and playful.

Classes can vary and each class is unique and captures the needs of both mother and baby together. Sometimes a class is calm and quiet and sometimes there is crying. Sometimes the babies are happy to do Yoga and sometimes they want to be held by Mum and feed. Sometimes mums are knackered and sometimes they're full of energy. Whatever the mood on the day, there are always appropriate practices for each dyad and the class has a spirit of 'give and take', alternating yoga for babies, with yoga for mums and yoga together.

BENEFITS FOR MUM

• Brings fun and pleasure to both parent and baby
• Strengthens the back, abdominal and pelvic floor muscles
• Releases tension in shoulders , back and neck muscles helps to improve posture
• Decreases overall stress and promotes relaxation
• Rejuvenates the mind and increases energy
• Builds patience and inner-calm
• Provides an opportunity to connect with other parents
• Creates a safe environment to bond with baby

BENEFITS FOR BABY

• Yoga lays a wonderful foundation for baby’s health and well-being
• Touch and movement give powerful multi-sensory stimulation
• Rhymes and actions help with baby's spatial awareness and development
• Helps relieve colic and aids digestion
• Helps baby sleep better
• Teaches babies the life skill of relaxation and self-soothing
• Encourages and prepares babies for crawling, sitting and walking

THINGS THAT ARE GOOD TO KNOW!

• If you have twins or triplets, you are very welcome to join the class – do call me to discuss options.
• If you have had a C-section, please seek your doctor's advice before attending.  We recommend joining a class 8-10 weeks after a C-section, or after you have healed and feel ready.
• Please bring anything you need for the comfort of your baby (toys, pacifier, food, nappies, etc). Lisa provides mats, cushions and blocks.
• Unfortunately there’s not enough space to bring prams and buggies into the Sunflower Centre, but they can be left outside where they can be secured against the bike racks and are covered should it rain. Car seats can be brought inside.