Family Yoga in Camden County, Georgia! Yes!

If you are a resident in Camden County, Georgia and are pretty consistently finding yourself asking what you and your family, especially those with young kids, can do this weekend, you’re in luck! Come to Family yoga in Kingsland. Classes will be at The Language Learning Center building beginning on Saturday, May 27, 2017 at 10:30 AM. Not only will it be a new way to pass the time, you’ll reap excellent benefits, like…

First and foremost, our Family Yoga class is for families of all types, shapes, and sizes who want to have fun and bond. Using the Kidding Around Yoga method, Family Yoga classes are equally silly, thrilling and relaxing. Seriously! We laugh, play, craft, stretch, and breathe.

In our Family Yoga class in Kingsland, Georgia, you will learn why we do yoga (hint: to still the mind).  You will learn how to breathe in different ways that help us calm down when we are upset-this is particularly helpful for avoiding those afternoon meltdowns. For real. You will learn what meditation is, how to do it, and why. It isn’t scary, I promise!

You and your kids will play fun yoga games together. Think a variation of “Simon Says”. You and your kids will get more flexible and more active through songs, storytime, and partner poses. Everyone in your family will feel closer, more connected, and more confident after going to Grow Yoga’s Family Yoga classes. You’ll take everything that you learn in our weekly yoga classes into your week. The adults and the kids in your family will become more grounded and able to find a bit of peace in daily life. And we definitely could use more peace, right?

We don’t take ourselves too seriously, but we are ecstatic about the serious benefits of kid’s and family yoga! We peace out together, we learn together, we have a blast together, and we GROW together!

So, come on out every Saturday to kid’s yoga/family yoga, beginning May 27, to The Language Learning Center in Kingsland to stretch, bend, breathe, and grow with us!

Peace,

-Heather

 

You Can Wear Your Baby AND Do Yoga!

I’m here to tell you that you can wear your baby and do yoga. What? Why? How?

Let’s face it.  We often do not get a single minute of the day to ourselves if we have babies around.  Our best efforts end up being afterthoughts when the clock shows us what can’t possibly be true! You meant to unroll your mat and stretch a bit, but it just didn’t work out today because you didn’t have your hands free.  You don’t mind, per se. After all, they won’t be a baby forever, but you do long for a few moments to practice.

In solidarity and in celebration of International Babywearing Week,  I have put together a small routine that takes no longer than a half hour.  You can wear your baby and do yoga at the same time so that you can get a few thoughtless moments, some deep breaths, quick stretches, and bonding memories with your little one.

As always, check with your doctor before beginning an exercise/health routine.  I would also recommend being familiar with babywearing.  Check your baby frequently and ensure he/she is secure and his/her airways are free. Lastly, it is imperative that you practice with safety in mind.  Throughout all poses, activate your core by acting as if you are protecting your abdomen (you are!) against damage/impact.  To do this, draw your naval toward your spine while simultaneously contracting your perineal muscles “upwards”.  This helps keep your pelvis neutral and your spine protected.  It also serves to strengthen your transverse abdominal.  However, pregnancy and childbirth drastically change our bodies, so please take care to slowly work up to more difficult poses, use your environment (like a wall), and listen to your body (stop, if you feel any inkling of pain).

Begin your practice in easy pose with your sit bones firmly and evenly on mat.  Criss-cross your legs in a way that is comfortable for you.  Engage your core as if you were “bracing” yourself against impact.  Sit tall, drop shoulders, and relax the knees.  Hold your baby and as you clear your mind, allow your baby’s sweet smell to ease you. Sit for a few minutes.  Try not to give any attention to “to-do’s”. Let thoughts pass.

As you leave your meditative state, inhale and gently twist to the right. Keep back tall, shoulders relaxed, and hands on baby’s bum.  Place your right hand on the outside of your right thigh, fingers splayed on the mat.  Feel the contraction/twist in the muscles surrounding your spine. Keep your core engaged.  Repeat toward the left side.

Straighten your legs out in front of you for staff pose.  Again, ensure that your bottom in completely grounded and hips are even. Roll your shoulders up, and then back placing your hands right alongside your hips.  Gently press your hands and hamstrings into the mat while keeping your shoulders relaxed and your chest open.  Your transverse abdominus (core) should remain active in keeping you stable and your spine tall.  If you need assistance, sit against a wall and as you inhale, fill your belly and lungs.  As you exhale, draw your bellybutton inwards towards your spine. Use the wall to keep you stable yet relaxed.

Mountain pose is simple, but does require intention and effort. Feet should be hip-width apart and confidently standing on the ground.  Find stability in your pelvis by keeping your tailbone pointed toward the floor.  Lengthen your spine by lifting the upper chest then relaxing shoulders. Face palm upwards and stand strong.

This modified triangle keeps both feet forward-facing so that both hips and the pelvis is neutral (this is especially important while babywearing and/or if you have recently been pregnant).  Stand with legs wide apart.  Just as in mountain pose, keep back neutral and tall. Slowly inhale and raise one arm upwards while you stretch the side of your torso with a slight (maybe an inch or two, at most) lean. Let your ribs expand and keep your lower back stable.  Hold baby at the same time!

Tree pose is an excellent balance pose.  If you feel unsteady, use a wall or a partner!  Starting with both feet fully planted into the ground, inhale and shift your weight to one side/foot.  Make sure the whole foot is coupled with the mat.  On your next inhale, slowly lift the opposite leg and place the foot on the inside of your calf.  Turn the knee outward and contract your glutes.  At the same time, engage your core, stand tall, and press hands together at heart center.

Hero pose can also include a teensy backbend. Sit on your knees, but lift your bottom just a bit so that you aren’t putting all of your weight on your joints.  Roll shoulders up and back, point heart toward sky, and  let your hands fall behind you.  As always, keep core engaged.

At the end, unwrap baby and lie side-by-side for savasana.  You could even listen to a guided meditation together.  Take these last few minutes to bond with your baby and rest your body.  Hopefully, you feel a bit of gratefulness for babywearing and yoga…at the same time!

Namaskar,

H