New mom connection

The first thing I tell moms about my Baby and Me Yoga class is that there are no expectations! Moms do not need to have any prior yoga experience and babies do not need to be calm and quiet. The class is completely relaxed and very casual, and because newborns are five to 10 years away from a partially developed brain-controlling social skills, we go with the flow. And go with the flow we do! In Baby and Me Yoga, a class of new moms and their newborns, it can be nothing but! 

The class meets at Enders Community Room in Baldwin Park and is open to all residents. It makes no difference if the mom is an experienced yogi or has never taken a yoga class. Yoga and movement for mom is the goal — but not the only goal. Finding connection to other moms in the community is critical to many caregivers, especially those of babies and young children, and was the inspiration behind the creation of this class.

INSPIRED BY LIFE
Fifteen years ago, when my older son was born, my world as I knew it was thrown upside-down, backward, inside-out and completely out of whack. I would have likely fallen into postpartum depression had it not been for one thing: my mommy groups. I will never forget the feeling of accomplishment as I buckled my 8-week-old into the car seat and drove us to our first mommy and baby group. At this breastfeeding support tea, I also successfully fed, diapered and transported my fussy little guy. 

That experience led to other mommy and baby groups around town with a group of moms I met at the breastfeeding tea. We did music classes, yoga classes, puppet shows, museum visits, play dates at our homes, and even a book club (moms only!). 

When my son got older and his brother (who also rocked my world) was out of the baby stage, I turned to yoga to deal with the stress and exhaustion ever-present in my life. And I loved it. After I received my certification to teach kids’ yoga and was in training to teach adult yoga, my teacher devoted one session to exploring options post-certification. 

“What do you want to do now? Where do you feel called?” she asked. 

And the answer that surfaced to the front of my heart was: new moms! I knew I wanted to create classes to help moms manage the lonely days, long sleepless nights, and the challenging transition to mommyhood, just as they were created for me. 

BRINGING IT HOME
After teaching Baby and Me Yoga for a few years at the Maitland Jewish Community Center, I decided it was time to bring the class to Baldwin Park, my community, where young families can be spotted on every street. In 2022, I offered the inaugural session and was thrilled by the level of interest and participation it drew.  Anyone who teaches fitness classes knows the struggle to attract and maintain students. Getting moms and their babies out of the house is no small feat, but these amazing moms made it happen. 

Not only did they show up, but also the moms exceeded my expectations by connecting outside of the class for play dates and support. To this day, the kids continue to play and the moms continue to serve as a support system to one another. 

“It was such an incredible addition to my life,” says Jenni Lonski, a Baldwin Park resident. “It was a positive environment and a way for me to connect with others going through the same things, at around the same time, which was extremely validating. My son was also able to make friends and we still hang out!”

WHAT TO EXPECT
So what do we do at Baby and Me Yoga? There is no set agenda, but I do try to include three components that are essential for that sense of connection new moms need. 

 1. Connection to baby. After introductions, I start the class with yoga for baby. We begin with a Good Morning stretch. “Good mooooorning,” the moms sing as they gently lift their baby’s arms over their head. As they repeat the salutation a few more times, the moms begin to light up with grins of adoration! The stress seems to melt away, as mom and baby gaze lovingly at each other, moms singing “IIIII looooove youuuuu!!!!!” while opening/crossing their baby’s arms a few times. The gentle stretches are helpful for the baby’s growth and development. When paired with physical touch and verbal communication from mom, including singing and smiles, it becomes a rewarding multi-sensory experience that also strengthens the connection between mom and baby. 

 2. Connection to self. Some of the moms who come to class are physically fit — having kept up with exercise during their pregnancy and bounced back into a modified routine relatively soon after delivery. Some have been away from exercise for a few years or have dedicated minimal time to it. Regardless of the level of mom’s fitness, yoga is a perfect way to connect to the body. Yoga allows us to “take inventory” of our entire self. With this knowledge, we can take action to fill any deficiencies or desires; conversely, eliminating any unneeded surpluses that do not serve us. Moving the body and finding stillness in the body can help postnatal moms better discover their path to recovery. 

With the baby lying on her back at the top of the mat, moms are led in gentle poses that stretch the areas of the body where they typically need love — the lower back, neck and shoulders. Cat/cow is a favorite, as is the child’s pose. Moms are reminded to listen to their breath instead of their swirling thoughts and are encouraged by just a few moments of much-needed rest. They are grateful. 

If baby is not sleeping and is ready for some fun, baby and mom also get to practice partner poses, which always draw big smiles and giggles from both parties! If baby is catching some Z’s, mom gets to practice solo! Warriors with mom lifting baby in the air (hello biceps!), tree pose with mom rocking baby (hello balance!) and superbaby pose with mom on her back, flying baby on her legs (hello laughter!) are just a few of the mom/baby poses well-loved by all! 

“My favorite stretch was bridge pose while supporting my baby on me,” says Jenni Lonski, who was able to reconnect with her postnatal body with the help of the class. “Once I felt stronger, I loved holding him for Warrior One! I love yoga, but it was hard to practice it during my pregnancy.”

 3. Connection to other moms. No matter what happens, there always needs to be time for conversation. Whether it’s an introduced topic (“If you could get one hour to yourself, how would you spend it?”) or the moms share whatever is on their mind, related to mommyhood or not, connection to other moms is established. These connections are important and very much needed, just as they are at any age and stage of life. Having a neighbor or a friend in your life going through similar life experiences, with all of the highs and the lows, leads to less stress and doubt and more of the good things we all hope for: safety, security, happiness, excitement, peace, love and more.

 In addition, the support system is beneficial to many moms who don’t have extended family nearby. Because Central Florida is home to many transplants from different parts of the country — or out of the country — many locals are not easily able to rely on grandparents for help or celebrate holidays with loved ones. These friendships are a welcome substitute when extended family is not available.