Postnatal yoga

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What about the babies?
While Reeves focuses on the mothers during her class, the babies get a lot out of it too. "I like to do a bit of baby time," she says. "If the babies are needing attention we'll stop the flow of the yoga and do some baby massage to relax them, calm them and connect with them. And later in the class we might sing some nursery rhymes and do some tickles and bounces."

Since everyone taking the class is a mother with a baby, moms can feel comfortable doing what they need to do to keep their little one happy. "I encourage women to stop and feed their baby at any time," Reeves says, "just to sit and prop themselves against the wall, or change a diaper when they need to -- they don't have to leave the room."

And while in the beginning babies might find the class a bit overstimulating, Reeves finds that as they become used to it and get a bit older they enjoy being in a group with other babies. "I've often found that the babies will sit and stare at each other," she says. "It's kind of fun to see them. Sometimes they make friends at five, six months of age, and they sit there and keep each other occupied during the whole class."

Find the right class
As in any discipline, whether academic, spiritual or physical, it's essential to have a teacher you trust and can connect with. That means trying out different teachers and being prepared to switch to a different class if you're not satisfied. As well, you should find an instructor with postnatal training (which often comes in a package with prenatal training) in addition to their regular yoga teacher training. "There are things they need to know about the postnatal body and mind," Reeves says. "Beyond that, the teacher needs to know how to keep the babies happy and involved so the mother can get her class in and have some fun with her baby."

Take your practice home
The benefits of a regular yoga practice can be increased by incorporating poses into your daily routine, even if it's just brief interludes in a busy day. Reeves encourages her postnatal students to practise every day, even if it's just three or four poses for 10 or 15 minutes. "It's going to help them tremendously just to do a couple of gentle backbends and a couple of abdominal strengtheners," she says, "and it's good for the baby to have their mother on the floor with them." She suggests asking your teacher for a handout or posture recommendations.

Find a class today!
With all of these benefits, why wouldn't you take a postnatal yoga class? Look for one today, by searching on the web or asking people you know for recommendations, then pack up your baby and go -- and above all, have fun!

Read our guide to making your postpregnancy life as stress-free as possible!

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