Is Baby Yoga Harmful
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Is Baby Yoga Harmful
Yoga Can Be A Source Of Knee Pain Or The Ideal Therapy Here’s A Primer On Keeping The Joint Healthy On And Off The Mat
August 28, 2007
The chorus of pops emanating from Kyle Ray’s knee was his first clue that his body wasn’t happy in . It was the end of a relaxing yoga class in Louisville, Kentucky, and the teacher had instructed everyone to assume a seated position for some chanting. Sure, Ray’s knees had acted up on occasion, but he’d gotten himself into Lotus before and was confident he could do it again. He slowly nestled his left ankle into the crook of his hip. Then, grabbing his right calf, he used his arm strength to muscle the top leg into position.
“The noise was awful,” says Ray, 31. A second later, a quick, sharp pain shot through his knee. He gingerly unfolded his legs. After class, it was all he could do to hobble home and place an ice pack on the swelling joint. It took six months for him to be able to walk without pain. Although his knee pain did subside, Ray still frets about the stability of his knees and generally avoids knee-taxing postures like .
A Viral Video Shows A Russian Fitness Instructor Swinging A Newborn To Give Her A Workout How Dangerous Is That
Many new moms turn to yoga to get themselves and their children in shape. But a Russian fitness teacher living in Egypt is trying to push the trend beyond prenatal yoga and mommy-and-me classes. The instructor, Lena Fokina, made a “baby yoga” video that went viral this week showing her swinging a 2-week-old baby by her tiny limbs, even flipping the infant over her head. Is this an innovation that will help parents raise stronger babies, or simply child abuse?
This is a form of abuse: This video clip is absolutely “horrifying,” says Linda Marsicano at . This “so-called Baby Yoga” looks certain to “dislocate a limb or two!” Fortunately, it seems highly unlikely that “swinging newborns” will catch on in the U.S. — “to me it looks like child abuse.”“Baby Yoga: You have to see this horrifying video! Plus Mommy & Me yoga classes”
It is not as scary as it looks: Lena Fokina “isn’t actually hurting the baby,” says Sasha Brown-Worsham in , just swinging her “with highly controlled, almost circus-like motions.” This is just a “slightly amped-up version” of workouts many moms do with their newborns.” I wouldn’t try it, but Fokina’s a pro, and she’s doing this to help the child, not hurt her.“Chill out! Baby Yoga with Lena Fokina looks fun”
In Assessing Product Information I Rely On Scientific Sources And The Expertise Of A Medical Doctor
To begin with, I have been researching consumer product ingredients since 2012. I dove into this subject because I was looking for non-toxic products for my newly born son. Do you know what I discovered? First, that manufacturers’ claims often do not mean much. And second, that as consumers we should take responsibility for raising our own awareness regarding product materials and ingredients.
So, using three university degrees and my bank analyst experience, I started doing research. The scientific sources I use are comprised of reports from Cosmetic Ingredient Review Panel, the European Chemicals Agency, PubMed publications, the Scientific Committees on Consumer Safety, and so on. I also use the EWG Skin Deep database, despite its flaws. Plus, functional medicine doctor Myrto Ashe, MD, MPH, IFMCP reviews medicine-related information in my posts.
As a result of my commitment to reading ingredients, large consumer goods companies seek my professional counsel on their products. And to find out what documentary they interviewed me for, visit my page.
Baby Yoga Can Give You Better Rest Increased Flexibility And A Happy Baby
After nine long months, you’re delighted to have a sweet baby to cuddle and love. But a new baby means a new schedule, and you may find yourself with less time to focus on your health. It’s important to find an exercise regimen that is gentle enough for your body but is also challenging and exciting.
Whether you’re new to yoga or were a committed participant before you had your child, baby yoga is an excellent way to get you on a structured postnatal wellness path. “We recommend baby yoga for anyone who is looking for a healthy, playful bonding activity to do with a new baby,” says Lauren Chaitoff, co-owner of New York City children’s yoga studio Yogi Beans and contributor to .
Check out these nine reasons to do baby-centric yoga that will have you and baby feeling great in no time!
It’s a Great Bonding Experience With Your BabyMom and baby programs focus on both of you. “We modify traditional yoga poses so that moms can practice yoga while holding and rocking their babies,” states Laura DeNino, baby yoga instructor at the Yoga House of Charleston. The result is time dedicated to bonding.
You’ll Be Able to Ease Back Into YogaUnlike high-level adult yoga classes, child yoga acknowledges the changes that a new mom’s body has been through. You’ll work with your recovering and changing body instead of against it.
So grab that yoga mat and find a baby yoga class near you. Your body and your baby will thank you!
Care directory
Itsy Bitsy Yoga For Babies With A Parent/caregiverages: Newborn To Pre
Itsy Bitsy Yoga is a calming and nurturing yoga practice filled with ways to enhance bonding and make babies happier and more comfortable in their bodies. This class contains dozens of unique yoga postures designed specifically to soothe and support the development of a baby’s body. During the BABY Itsy Bitsy Yoga class, babies are mostly lying on their tummies, backs or in a parent’s arms. For parents and caregivers, this class provides a special time to bond with and learn about your baby’s emerging personality. Most of the yoga we do in Itsy Bitsy Yoga is for the child, but you will learn breathing and relaxation techniques and possibly practice some yoga yourself.
With or without yoga experience, Sweet Pea Yoga will teach poses and techniques from the Itsy Bitsy Yoga® program that:
Promotes parent-child bonding in a relaxed environment.
Improves your baby’s digestion and helps her sleep longer and better.
Calms a fussy or crying baby almost immediately using IBY Magic Poses™.
Helps you to understand your child’s developmental patterns.
Encourages your child to develop a healthy body, a confident self-awareness, and a happy spirit.
Fosters nurturing moments in and outside of class with special IBY Rhymes.
Benefits of Itsy Bitsy Yoga® for BABIES may include:
Better and longer sleep.
I Recommend A Cork Yoga Mat Instead Of A Polyvinyl Chloride Yoga Mat
Other popular mats nowadays are TPE yoga mats and eco-friendly yoga mats. I have tried them and described my experience in my Eco-Friendly Yoga Mats: Safe or Toxic? post. You will also learn what TPE material is.
So, after trying several yoga mats, I ended up with a sustainable cork yoga mat by . What I like about this biodegradable non-toxic yoga mat is that it is thick, not bulky, and not slippery. In fact, it has rubber backing against sliding. I also like the unique design of this non-PVC yoga mat, which contributes to my general feeling of ease. Read my review of the Scoria yoga mat to learn more about it.
Baby Yoga: 10 Reasons You & Your Newborn Should Consider Practicing
Doing Yoga with your baby has a lot of health benefits, and there are many reasons why you should give it a try.
Yoga: the great mind, body, and spirit connective activity. Despite yoga being very popular, many are unaware that those invaluable connections can be explored outside of one’s inner self. In fact, mothers who practice yoga with their newborns can experience an entirely new type of connection among a variety of other great and positive benefits.
RELATED: 15 Moms Who Should’ve NEVER Worn Yoga Pants
In addition to getting comfortable in one’s new mom role, moms are often trying to get comfortable in their new mom’s body and get adjusted to their new mom hours. There is a pretty good chance yoga can help with all of that. Read on for more ways to get that mom and baby on.
Rumor: Video Shows A Woman Wanted By The Fbi For Torturing A Baby
Video shows a woman wanted by the FBI for torturing a baby.
REAL VIDEO; INACCURATE DESCRIPTION
Although what’s depicted in this video is real and strikes most viewers as highly disturbing and dangerous, it isn’t a unique circumstance nor is it illegal, and the woman shown in the video isn’t “torturing a baby for fun” nor is she wanted by the FBI or other U.S. law enforcement agencies.
What’s shown in this video is the controversial back in January 2011. The video embedded at the head of this page is more of the same, showing another instance of an infant’s being put through a “dynamic gymnastics” routine.
As CBS News reported of the original video in 2011:
If you haven’t seen it yet, the video, which comes out of Russia, shows a woman tossing, twisting and spinning a baby in midair. She never lets go of the child’s arm, but the images of a child being tossed around like that are pretty jarring to an American eye.
The baby yoga guru is Lena Fokina, a 50-year-old Russian who lives in Egypt teaching yoga, free-diving and “dynastic gymnastics” .
Fokina said baby yoga helps children have more mobility, freedom and independence and has been practiced in Russia for three decades. “They are early readers, singers, talkers, swimmers. You haven’t seen anything like it anywhere!”
The blog also wrote of that video:
In Russia, parents pay to bring their children to Lena Fokina and have her put them through “baby yoga” routines:
And, although it is legal, it is highly controversial.
Is Tpe Material The Answer For Producing Sustainable Yoga Mats No
A while ago, I got a ThinkSport yoga mat as a present from a family member. Since another non-toxic blogger had researched the product and gave it the thumbs-up, I relaxed. Obviously, there was nothing else for me to do but to practice yoga. Then, while holding my pose, I took a deep breath on the mat. It smelled of toxic chemicals.
It Is Crucial To Use Credible Sources In Evaluating Pvc Yoga Mats
For starters, I have been in the product safety research business since 2012. Both my MBA degree and financial analyst experience have been of great help in the field of research. Nowadays, due to my expertise in this area, manufacturers and online retailers hire me as their product research and development consultant. I was also in a documentary that you can learn more about on my page.
Using credible sources is crucial in evaluating product information, so I do not rely on marketing claims. Instead, I read Cosmetic Ingredient Reports and PubMed publications. Additionally, I go to the European Chemicals Agency and the Scientific Committees on Consumer Safety databases, to name a few. The EWG is a useful tool, too, but you must learn to use the Skin Deep Database the right way.
Several years ago, when I did my first research on PVC yoga mats, I concluded that I should avoid PVC products. I was definitely glad that I did not own a polyvinyl chloride yoga mat. However, when I revisited the subject, I discovered articles by the chemical industry extolling the virtues of PVC. After reading them, it is easy to conclude that PVC is one of the best materials created by humankind. From every angle – environmental, production, safety, application – they described vinyl as an ideal material for every area of our lives. But to formulate my opinion about product safety, I look at independent sources to get a well-rounded view.
The Life Cycle Of Pvc Yoga Mats Produces Dangerous Byproducts
According to the European Chemicals Agency, vinyl chloride – the main ingredient in PVC – is a human carcinogen. Thus, the first report of liver cancer induced by vinyl chloride was in 1974 . Since then, new research has demonstrated the carcinogenicity of VC to other organs and at lower concentrations. I have no scientific evidence that one can get cancer from regular yoga sessions on a polyvinyl chloride yoga mat.
Additionally, one of the concerns with PVC is the generation of carcinogenic dioxins, byproducts of the manufacturing and disposal processes. Thus, the EWG rates 10 out of 10 due to high cancer concerns.
Because PVC is not biodegradable, the only way to get rid of it is to burn it. When burning, chlorine produces dioxins that end up in soil, fish, animals, water, air, and, ultimately, in humans. Dioxins are persistent . As a result, they may cause reproductive and developmental problems, damage the immune system, and interfere with hormones.
Therefore, US Environmental Protection Agency regards dioxins as highly toxic persistent organic pollutants. And the Stockholm Convention on persistent organic pollutants emphasizes the importance of limiting the processes that produce dioxins.
I think those are good reasons to avoid PVC yoga mats. Clearly, we cannot get rid of all plastics, but let us do what we can by making informed decisions. So, what yoga mat do I use?
In My Opinion The Best Exercise Mat Is Scoria Cork Yoga Mat
After having no luck with ThinkSport and Jade Harmony, I was excited to try one of ’s sustainable yoga mats.
This biodegradable non-toxic yoga mat is made of cork and has a natural rubber backing against sliding. Also, it comes in two thicknesses , is not bulky, and is not slippery. It does have some smell, but it is minimal, and it rolls well.
I really like this yoga mat! It is comfortable, has a unique design, and makes me feel good.
You can learn more about it by reading my review of Scoria yoga mats. So far, it has been the best workout mat I have used. You can purchase it on the Scoria website. It is a Canadian company, but they ship to the USA without any taxes and duties.
Yoga More Dangerous Than Previously Thought Scientists Say
Yoga is more dangerous than previously thought and causes as many injuries as other sports, a study has found.
The 5,000 year-old Indian discipline is said to boost physical and mental wellbeing, and celebrity fans include Beyonce, Lady Gaga and Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen – as well as David and Victoria Beckham.
However, in a recent study yoga caused musculoskeletal pain – mostly in the arms – in more than one in ten participants.
The scientists behind the research, which was published in the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, also found that the practice worsened over a fifth of existing injuries.
Professor Evangelos Pappas, of Sydney University, the study’s lead researcher said: “Yoga may be a bit more dangerous than previously thought.
“Our study found the incidence of pain caused by yoga is more than 10 percent per year – which is comparable to the rate of all sports injuries combined among the physically active population.
“However people consider it to be a very safe activity. This injury rate is up to 10 times higher than has previously been reported.”
International Yoga Day 2017, in pictures
His team assessed more than 350 people who attended yoga classes at two studios in New York.
Yoga is an increasingly popular complementary or alternative therapy for musculoskeletal disorders, with millions of people practising worldwide.
At a glance | What’s in a yoga class?16 photographs that prove we’ve reached peak yogaAbout | A-list yoga crazes
Baby Gymnastics: Russia’s ‘potentially Dangerous’ Therapy
Oleg Tyutin is a psychotherapist, but for the past 20 years he has been practising a different kind of medicine.
He trains young mums like Victoria Kurzina to do the kind of exercises with their babies that would spark an outcry in the West.
Mr Tyutin holds Victoria’s baby by the legs, so that little Pavel is dangling upside down – and swings him gently from side to side like a pendulum.
Then, like the game of cup and ball, he swings the baby up towards him and catches him in his chest.
Pavel is just 17 days old.
The Russians call this dynamic baby gymnastics.
The practice is legal in Russia and widespread. There are believed to be hundreds of practitioners across the country.
Oleg maintains it gives babies a head start in life.
“When they’re born, babies are very tense,” Oleg explains.
“They’re frightened by the wide, open space around them. This procedure helps a baby adapt to their new surroundings. It makes infants more open, more sociable, more relaxed. It also helps them develop more quickly.”
After lesson one, Victoria doesn’t feel confident enough to have a go herself.
“It’s a bit frightening really,” Victoria admits. “A specialist – well, his hands are confident, he has all the experience, he knows what to do. But I’m still at the learning stage.”
Lubricants In Plastics Reduce Friction During Processing
Apparently, there are external lubricants and internal lubricants. While the former reduces friction between the PVC and the processing equipment, the latter work on the PVC granules . It looks like there is no way for PVC yoga mats to work around these either.
“With PVC, typical external lubricants are stearic acid and its calcium, lead, cadmium, and barium salts, myristic acid, hydrocarbons such as paraffin wax, and low molecular weight polythene and certain esters such as ethyl palmitate… Amongst internal lubricants used for PVC are amine waxes, montan wax ester derivatives, glyceryl esters such as glyceryl monostearate, and long-chain esters such as cetyl palmitate.”
Among these, my concern lies with lead and cadmium salts for the reasons I stated in the heavy metal section.
Plasticizers Make A Polyvinyl Chloride Yoga Mat Flexible
First of all, a plasticizer makes plastic flexible, resilient, and easier to handle. Therefore, a plasticizer is crucial in PVC yoga mats.
While the most common plasticizers are phthalates, many products boast that they are “phthalate-free.” This is because phthalates have a bad reputation as endocrine disruptors .
So, is a phthalate-free polyvinyl chloride yoga mat safe?
Well, I encourage you to always ask what the manufacturer uses instead of phthalates. For example, other plasticizers are adipates, glutarates, sebacates, phosphates, polymerics, trimellitates, and epoxy compounds. The good news is that none of these seems to be as toxic as phthalates. However, they may have limited safety data, meaning that they do not know enough about their safety yet. And most of the time manufacturers do not tell us what they use instead of phthalates. So “phthalate-free” may sound good, but it may not mean safer.
Trying To Foam Roll A Muscle That Hasnt Been Warmed Up
Timing with foam rolling is important because if you spend too much time in a single area, there is an increased risk of bruising or injury. The risk is especially high when this is done on what’s called a cold muscle. This is essentially a muscle that hasn’t been properly warmed up before doing physical activity.
Foam rolling a muscle that has not been warmed up is preferable to static or dynamic stretching, however. Foam rolling is actually the first recommended step in warming up to exercise.
The risk associated with foam rolling too hard is similar to the risks associated with massage-bruising. If you experience this after rolling, ice can be used to comfort the area, however, any sort of swelling, loss of function, range of motion, or strength indicates that you should see a doctor immediately.
When you begin rolling a cold muscle, you should always start with softer pressure in order to avoid further damage or inflammation. When you move the roller too aggressively over a cold muscle, you run the risk of damaging muscle tissue which could make muscle aches even worse. Instead, keep the roller still, and maneuver your body gently in order to give your body the time to generate heat and further warm-up, which leads to the loosening of tense points.
Is Baby Yoga A Good Activity For You And Your Child
Categories Kids and family
To put it simply, yes, baby yoga is bound to be helpful to both you and your child on different levels.
For them, it’s more on the physical spectrum that aids in their development, while for you it’s finding the time to relax and decompress as well as help your body deal with postpartum stress, be it physical or mental.
Baby yoga at its core is nothing exceptionally complicated. Yoga poses range from the simple “tummy time” and baby massages we’re all used to doing with our kids, all the way to special yoga poses that include both mommy and baby.
The general idea behind it is to help kids who are facing difficulties in development due to the modernization of baby gear, as they too have started to suffer from becoming “lazier.”
Focusing On Certain Areas Of Your Body For Too Long
It goes without saying, but some areas of the body might have more pressure than others. With that being said, you don’t want to overdo it on any one spot by staying focused on it for too long. The recommended time to roll any one area would be 30 seconds to one minute.
30 seconds should be spent holding the muscle over the roller all while applying consistent pressure. 30 seconds can then be spent exploring dynamic pressure on the area. Dynamic pressure means that the foam roller is moved, as opposed to applying static pressure by just holding it in place.
It’s a good idea, to begin with, static pressure and then move to dynamic pressure. A great way to conduct this is by keeping the roller in a single place as you twist from side to side, moving your body across the roller and up and down the length of the muscle that you’re focusing on.
What Is Tpe It Is A Mix Of Undisclosed Ingredients
In the meantime, thermoplastic elastomers . Do these sound like proper materials for eco-friendly yoga mats?
According to the British Plastics Federation, there are seven main TPE groups available commercially. For example, one of the most common and least expensive ones is Styrenic Block Copolymers. To clarify, these are based on two-phase block copolymers with hard and soft segments. Thus, the styrene end blocks provide thermoplastic properties, and the butadiene mid-blocks provide elastomeric properties. Considering its properties and areas of application, I venture a guess that some so-called sustainable yoga mats are made with this kind of TPE.
If we look at the individual chemical polymers, this is what we will see.
First, they produce styrene in industrial quantities from ethylbenzene and use it to make plastics and rubber. The International Agency for Research on Cancer .
Second, butadiene is a chemical that they produce from petroleum and use to make synthetic rubber. The Department of Health and Human Services, IARC, and EPA classify it as a human carcinogen .
Based on this, I am skeptical about TPE. If a manufacturer describes their yoga mat as made of TPE material without specifying the ingredients, I interpret it as lack of transparency. In short, TPE is a blend of undisclosed synthetic materials that have not been proven safe.
Are TPE eco-friendly yoga mats biodegradable? No.
You would expect sustainable yoga mats to be biodegradable, right?
Heat Stabilizers Prevent Pvc Decomposition By Heat
To begin, stabilizers in plastics prevent environmental effects of heat or UV light and mechanical degradation during processing and use. The available heat stabilizers for PVC are organotin compounds, antimony, organochlorines, lead compounds, and cadmium .
First, the organotin compounds in PVC are mainly mono-butyltin . This evaluates their toxic effects on in vitro human cells. All three had a negative impact on human cells. DBT and TBT revealed the most toxic effects even at low concentrations.
Second, antimony enhances the flame-retardant effect of chlorine in PVC. In 1990, the state of California added antimony oxide to the list of carcinogenic chemicals , antimony may damage fertility or the unborn child. Also, it may cause cancer, harm breastfed children, and damage organs through prolonged or repeated exposure.
Third, organochlorines are synthetic pollutants to humans. Thus, many organochlorines are linked to endocrine disruption or cancer in experimental assays . Like antimony, organochlorines enhance the flame retardancy characteristics and the impact strength characteristics in PVC.
Heavy metals in PVC yoga mats
These substances in your polyvinyl chloride yoga mat can enter your body through skin contact and inhalation. In addition, they may contaminate your body via ingestion of the dust containing heavy metals.
And cadmium is linked to reduced mineral density in bones, preterm labor, kidney disease and damage has classified it as “carcinogenic to humans.”
Baby Yoga Promotes Healthy Development And Bonding
As a parent, your main priority is to keep your child happy and healthy. But you may need a chance to relax, too. Baby yoga is a healthy, engaging way for caregivers to bond with their newborns, tune into their cues and de-stress. Babies are “natural yogis;” you may have noticed your infant doing yoga poses already.
“Baby yoga is all about bonding with your infant through stretches, lots of tummy time and high-energy activities to help with the baby’s developmental path,” says Patti Ideran, OTR/L, CEIM, a pediatric occupational therapist at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital, who is also a certified educator of infant massage and a certified instructor of baby and toddler yoga. “I really look at this class as preventive medicine.”
It is well understood that yoga is a great way for adults to de-stress, but babies also benefit from participating.
The Problems Kids Face That Baby Yoga Helps Solve
The so-aptly dubbed “container babies” who end up spending more time in strollers, car seats, baby swings, and similar are the ones who suffer from the laziness problem the most, in the same manner that we adults do nowadays.
They start being a lot less active, which leads to their metabolism slowing down, in turn ending up making colic a more frequent occurrence from the digestion problems that come alongside it.
There’s also the problem of this inactivity causing delays in the baby’s developmental cycle, as well as issues caused by abnormal head shapes due to constantly having it rest somewhere.
All of these get properly sorted out through the application of baby yoga exercises; this way your little one then gets to enjoy a healthier lifestyle.
Frequently Asked Questions About Yoga For Babies
Is yoga safe for babies and tots?According to pediatricians and nurses, the answer is a resounding “Yes!” Itsy Bitsy Yoga® is safe, gentle and very effective when done with proper instruction. The parent is responsible for carrying out all of the baby’s yoga movements until the baby can walk. In the more active Tots Yoga program , parents are there to support and assist their toddler into yoga poses whenever necessary. Parents can also enjoy the time practicing yoga poses, while letting their child imitate and explore yoga on her own two feet.
How do I know which class is right for me–Baby or Tots Itsy Bitsy Yoga? If your baby is not yet crawling class so you won’t need to switch levels mid-session.
What if my baby cries during class?Crying is one of the ways babies express themselves and vocalize their needs. Just take a breath, center yourself, and attend to your baby’s needs. A wonderful benefit of the Itsy Bitsy Yoga program is that you will learn a number of the exclusive IBY “Magic Poses” which can literally calm crying in seconds when practiced with the right intensity.
What if my baby is hungry during class?We encourage you to attend to your baby’s needs at any time during the class. This is an environment supportive to both breastfeeding and bottle feeding parents. Out of respect to the potential allergies of other parents or children, we request that you not bring solid foods into the classroom.
Baby Yoga Video Is Real And Real Scary But Safe
January 20, 2011 / 12:06 PM / CBS News
Yes, the yoga baby video is real and really terrifying, at least to watch. But is it safe for baby?
If you haven’t seen it yet, the video, which comes out of Russia, shows a woman tossing, twisting and spinning a baby in midair. She never lets go of the child’s arm, but the images of a child being tossed around like that are pretty jarring to an American eye.
Some speculated the baby wasn’t even real, but Nathan Thornburgh, a former Time magazine editor who blogs at , says he tracked both baby and baby swinger down for a chat.
The baby yoga guru, writes Thornburgh, is Lena Fokina, a 50-year-old Russian who lives in Egypt teaching yoga, free-diving and “dynastic gymnastics” . The baby, he says, lives a few hours outside of Kiev, Ukraine, was only two weeks old when the video was shot, and is doing just fine two years later.
In fact, Fokina said baby yoga helps children have more mobility, freedom and independence and has been practiced in Russia for three decades. “They are early readers, singers, talkers, swimmers. You haven’t seen anything like it anywhere!!” she told Thornburgh.
Baby Yoga Woman Is Back With New Video: Unsafe
March 2, 2012 / 4:46 PM / CBS News
In 2011, Lena Fokina shocked the world when a video of her twirling and slinging his two week old baby from side to side went viral. She’s back again, swinging a new infant in a new video by Barcroft TV.
Last year, Fokina told the Dadwagon blog that the dynamic gymnastics practice — which was dubbed baby yoga — gave children a boost in life. Other Russian parents echoed her sentiments, saying their children walked and swam earlier.
Still, many viewers were outraged, prompting YouTube to take the original video down because it was in violation of their policy of “shocking and disgusting content.”
Baby yoga video is real and real scary, but safe?
Barcroft TV’s new video, uploaded March 1, 2012, catches up with the 51-year-old yoga guru as she teaches parents in Dahab, Egypt the art of baby yoga. She’s still dangling the infants by one arm or leg, while the children wail in glee or sheer terror, depending on who you believe.
Reasons Why Baby Tossing Is Good For Your Baby
Baby tossing spans the globe, from harrowing rooftop rituals in India to gymnastics training in Russia to baby Yoga studios in California and New York. Don’t be afraid to take your babies and toss them around, horseplay and otherwise push your limits with what you feel is a responsible level of baby tossing for your baby.
WARNING: THIS POST IS AGAINST EVERYTHING YOU’VE EVER LEARNED!
While we don’t advocate stressing babies or doing anything that endangers babies, many new parents have no idea that there are major health benefits to tossing and turning babies. We’re told repeatedly not to shake or toss babies, so we thought we’d look around and see what people are doing to thumb their noses at doctors’ advice.5 facts that baby tossing is good for your baby:
Doctors say horseplay with kids is good!Some are going on the record to say that it’s about time we accept the good in horseplay and start baby tossing. The Art of Roughhousing includes the the testimony of doctors who say “rough-and-tumble play can nurture close connections, solve behavior problems, boost confidence, and more.”
Dynamic gymnastics in Russia makes babies happyIt’s hard to deny the sheer joy and pleasure in this next video. “Gymnastics with Jaromir” demonstrates a tradition in Russia that some advocates say help train many of the best Olympians the world has ever seen.
Parents Should Beware Of Shaken Baby Syndrome
The supposed benefits of the so called are certainly doubtful, and the possible dangers are far more evident. Experts have long warned that inflicting unnatural and very vigorous movements on young babies can in fact be very dangerous and can be classified as child abuse.
We know that Shaken Baby Syndrome is a condition that can be caused by intentional shaking of a baby. It can cause internal bleeding of the brain and/or the retina, swelling of the brain, visual impairment, motor impairment and even cognitive impairment to varying degrees.
The type of injury to a baby from shaking is quite distinct from injury that occurs due to falls, trauma or impact, and will typically have no outer signs of the injury but the kind of damage that can occur can be fairly extreme and could even be permanent.
The Benefits You Get From Attending Kids Yoga
As I’ve mentioned earlier, it’s not just your little one who reaps the benefits of yoga, you will too.
Whether you’re a new parent or not, chances are that you are going to be struggling with postpartum stress and potential postpartum depression.
Taking baby yoga classes will help you deal with these in a warm, friendly, and accepting environment filled with like-minded individuals.
Whether it’s the other new moms who came here for the same reason as you or the certified yogi who’s there to teach you, it’s a place where you can get in touch with serenity and let your troubles melt away – at least temporarily.
A place where nobody is going to mind if your baby has an accident mid-session or starts feeling uncomfortable or crying for any reason. In fact, they’re more likely to help you out than anything.
Plus, it lets you expand your social circle and share advice with all of these other new mothers and the yoga teacher.
Your active little yogi may even foster some new friendships with the other kids. Anything is possible, as long as the kids yoga class is kept nice and interactive.
Now, I haven’t personally attended any of these baby yoga classes yet, but have managed do delve deep enough into it that I’d definitely give it a shot if hubby and I ever intend on expanding to baby #3.
That said, a couple of my mom friends who introduced the concept of child yoga to me in the first place described the experience they had for their first time at the yoga studio:
Is It Safe To Do Bikram Yoga During Pregnancy
Bikram yoga or hot yoga is fast gaining popularity all over the world. This type of yoga takes place in heated rooms with high humidity. Bikram yoga has many health benefits that are attracting more and more people. A better heart, improved physical fitness, reduced stress- all are pros of doing hot yoga.
However, there is a debate on whether bikram yoga is safe for pregnant women. Some people believe that the high heat and humidity required for this yoga can prove harmful fir the fetus. It can also harm the mother. This type of yoga is quite rigorous and might physically harm the mother and the baby. Pregnancy is a crucial phase in every woman’s life. It is important to know all about the benefits and risks of doing bikram yoga during pregnancy.
How Many Times A Week Should You Do Hot Yoga
As often as possible, the more you practice the more you will see progress and results. For good results regularly practice 3 times per week. For life-changing results, 4 or more times per week. Professional/amateur athletes cross train with Bikram Yoga 1-2 weekly.
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Baby Yoga What Is It And Why Should We Care
We explore the ins and outs of sharing a mat with your mini.
Melanie Dimmitt
When presented with the notion of yoga for babies, I scrutinized it as I would a designer diaper bag. A lovely idea, in theory, but do I really it? Amid the plethora of mommy-and-me offerings – music classes, French lessons, sign-language… even Salsa dancing – why choose yoga? Babies are naturally bendy, are they not? It isn’t called a ‘happy baby’ for nothing. However, on closer inspection, there’s more to baby yoga than child’s play .
First things first. What is it, exactly?
Baby yoga tends to mean one of two things – an adult yoga class that you bring baby along to, or yoga that is actually for your baby. In a parent-focused class, bub takes the role of spectator-slash-adorable-prop.
“The babies lie on a blanket in front of the parents’ yoga mat,” explains Neelu Shruti, of Love Child yoga studio in New York. “Throughout class, which includes upper body stretches and glute strengthening, we will include baby in poses such as ‘push-up kiss baby’, or hold baby while doing squats, lunges or abdominal exercises.”
Love Child studio’s Baby & Me Yoga class incorporates restorative poses and sequences well suited to new parents – so long as they’re okay with the occasional flow interruption and not-so-silent Savasana.
But there are, according to Neelu, ample reasons to abandon your landslide of laundry for a class such as this.
We’re listening.
Now… will a yoga mat fit in my new designer diaper bag?
Limit Babys Activities To No More Than 15
Most yoga classes are between 45 minutes to an hour. That’s fine for mamas, but that length of time is too much for babies. While a baby is more than welcome to have some tummy time or sit and babble happily away while you perform additional, restorative or strength-building poses, your baby should only be actively doing yoga for 15 or 20 minutes. Anything more than that can overtax his/her already busy and developing body.
The Yoga Instructor Should Be Certified
Certifications and credentials are always a good thing to verify when trusting your well-being – and your baby’s – to someone else’s expertise. However, yoga certification should be an essential “prerequisite” before enrolling in a class.
First and foremost, the instructor should be trained and experienced in teaching parent-and-baby classes, understanding which postures and holds are safe, and which aren’t, to keep your baby safe. Your safety is also a priority. Your connective tissue is still very elastic from the hormonal changes that took place to accommodate pregnancy, labor and delivery. Postnatal classes should support that, keeping you safe from stretches or postures that could lead to potential strain or injury.
If you find out your baby isn’t as into the classes as you are and you opt to take a yoga class on your own, make sure to inform the instructor you are XX weeks postpartum as s/he will probably amend certain poses for you until you’re body is further along in its recovery.
Is Any Yoga Harmful For Corona Patients
Health Sciences
Coronavirus affects the respiratory system causing damage to it. The virus targets our lungs and restricts its capacity, thereby, causing breathlessness. Yoga like Pranayama – an easy and rhythmic breathing exercise can help in improving the breathing and our psychological well-being. It helps in strengthening the entire respiratory system along with our immune system. A person’s maximum speed or breathing out air and low blood oxygen levels can be remarkably improved with the aid of yoga exercise. Blood oxygen levels are an important marker in determining the severity of the infection in patients.
According to a research study conducted by the Harvard Medical School, practicing yoga can modulate our stress response system. Yoga can have soothing effects and help to flush our negative thinking that can be linked with anxiety and depression .
Yoga just not gives us the physical strength to defend against Coronavirus, but also provides us with emotional stability and mental balance to negotiate through this tough period of crisis.
Benefits Of Postpartum Yoga For Mothers
It helps ease new parent jitters. Get started by attending a class taught by a trained instructor — it’s a safe and structured way to engage with your baby.
It’s a little TLC for your body. Any kind of yoga gives you an opportunity to nourish and care for your body through focused stretches and mindful breathing exercises, which is especially important after carrying a baby for nine months and then giving birth!
It stretches and strengthens the muscles that need the most TLC. The gentle movements and mindful breathing that are integral to yoga boost abdominal strength and activate the pelvic floor muscles, which aids recovery from giving birth, while classic poses — from upward facing dog to cobra — help open up the shoulders and chest you rely on for all of the rocking and cradling you do in the first few months with your baby.
It helps you meet new moms. After baby is born, you might not have as much time for socializing. But it’s reassuring to talk to other mothers who are going through the same experiences as you are. Yoga class provides a safe and nurturing environment for new parents to discuss worries and concerns. You’re not alone!
It helps you and your new baby bond. Yoga is a healthy, playful activity you can enjoy together.
Ten Reasons Yoga Might Be Bad For You
Ten Reasons Yoga Might Be Bad For You
Ten reasons yoga might be bad for you isn’t a list of reasons not to do yoga. It is intended to encourage people to do yoga consciously, with a specific eye on what their body needs in the moment, but also, possibly more importantly, what the body needs to age well. I often say in classes that I teach that what your body can get away with in your 20’s, 30’s and 40’s might come back to haunt you in your 60’s, 70’s and 80’s.
While I love yoga for the workout it provides, it should be more about building a vessel that accepts and cultivates the breath in pursuit of a long healthy life. From my perspective you need to approach your practice as a means to change, rather than reinforce, long held conditioned patterns. Certainly, exercising is better than not exercising – and very important for everybody – if you are doing it incorrectly it will not be good for you.
1. Forward Head Posture And Headstand
2. A Tucked Pelvis And Tadasana
It is essential to our pelvises.
3. Having Excessively Loose Joints
4. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome And Downward Dog
If you are doing downward dog with heel of the palm flat on the floor, rather than creating a tunnel for clear passage of the median nerve to travel through to the hand, you can actually make the problem worse. shares an affective technique for creating space in the carpal tunnel.
5. Weak Core Muscles And Wheel
6. The Shoulders And Chaturanga
8. Opening the Chest and Breathing Abdominally
A Polyvinyl Chloride Mat Is Not A Non
To lay the foundation, let us look at the essence of PVC.
Polyvinyl chloride, commonly called PVC or vinyl, belongs to the group of chloropolymers. They produce chloropolymers from alkenes by replacing one or more hydrogen atoms with chlorine. Polyvinyl chloride is the third largest-selling commodity thermoplastic after polyethylene and polypropylene. Imagine that more than 40 million tons of PVC are produced worldwide every year .
Further, the raw materials for PVC come from salt and petroleum. First, they produce chlorine by electrolysis of saltwater. Then, they combine chlorine with ethylene obtained from petroleum to form vinyl chloride monomer . Next, they polymerize VCM molecules to form PVC resin. Finally, they compound PVC resin into PVC compound. During this process, they combine PVC with additives which determine the properties of the products, e.g., color, clarity, and flexibility.
All PVC materials use functional additives which include heat stabilizers and lubricants. Additionally, they use plasticizers to make your polyvinyl chloride yoga mat flexible . Potentially, PVC yoga mats have all these additives, so let us talk about them.
Applying The Wrong Amount Of Pressure
Foam rolling should only be used when applying the correct amount of pressure, not too much or too little, or it may not be able to repair the damaged muscle tissue correctly.
Beginning at a medium speed may be the most effective at relieving tension, without causing too much strain on the muscle. That being said, it may take a while for the muscle that you are focusing on to relax. This will also change depending on the area of the body you are focusing on, because some muscles have trigger points, or may get tighter than others.
Different muscles will have varying degrees of tension, so it’s important to listen to what your body needs, and apply pressure accordingly. It can be difficult to tell the correct amount of pressure, however, it shouldn’t feel comfortable to do, especially with certain trigger points.
However, if you’re feeling no discomfort, you may not be applying enough pressure. Excruciating pain is not good either and communicates that you must lessen the pressure. Also important is not going too fast over certain sections, because this could lead to a lack of enough pressure.
Is Rubber Better Than Tpe It Depends
After my disappointment with ThinkSport yoga mats, my research led me to Jade eco-friendly yoga mats. When I received the mat, it had a smell, too, but not as strong as the ThinkSport mat. Despite its excellent properties – non-slippery and thick – I did not like it because it still smelled after several weeks.
According to the website, all Jade’s sustainable yoga mats are “made with natural rubber and contain no PVC or other synthetic rubbers.” However, the description also says that the mats contain both natural and man-made components, and the precise components are proprietary. In my correspondence with the company, Jade revealed to me that “these other ingredients are necessary to give our mats their properties .”
Additionally, Jade states that their yoga mats contain no heavy metals, ozone-depleting substances, PVC, TPE, phthalates, and formaldehyde.
It sounds good, but what bothers me is that there is no proof of any of those claims. I requested third party reports from Jade that would confirm the statements above. When I get them, I will update this post.
Flexible Muscles Vs Flexible Joints
To properly assess this safety issue, a distinction needs to be made: flexibility in joints is a different matter than flexibility in muscles.
Joints are where one bone connects with another bone. Joints are held together by ligaments. They are further stabilized by muscles and tendons. As Dr. James Garrick, M.D., orthopedic surgeon and Director of the Sports Medicine Center at Saint Francis Hospital in San Francisco, states in his book, Peak Condition:
Ligaments have some elasticity. They can stretch a bit, but if they stretch over about 10 percent of their length, then they are like Saran Wrap — you stretch it too far and it stays that way. It won’t go back.
The job of ligaments is to help hold a joint in alignment, yet still allow for normal range of motion. If a ligament is over-stretched, then it is unable to stabilize the joint as well as it did before. The joint becomes more vulnerable to injury unless adequate muscle strength is developed to compensate for the extra looseness.
If the ligaments are stretched sufficiently — either from a sudden impact — the joint will be injured. There will then be inflammation and pain in the joint, for inflammation is the body’s mechanism for stabilizing the compromised joint.
Therefore, in yoga or any other activity, care should be taken never to stretch the ligaments. Dr. Garrick states in another of his books, Be Your Own Personal Trainer
What Do We Wear And Take To A Class
Parents and babies should both wear loose, comfortable clothes that are easy to move around in. Jogging bottoms, loose t-shirts or vest tops are ideal.
For babies, I would recommend a sleepsuit with a short-sleeved vest underneath. Sleepsuits are comfortable and easy to whip off when needed.
During the baby massage you will have to take off the sleepsuit, hence the need for a vest. Some babies don’t mind being only in a nappy, whereas others hate it. Both of mine did when I took them to massage classes!
Most classes will tell you what to bring when you book a place, but a towel and/or a yoga mat will most likely be necessary. Some classes will provide the mat depending on where you go.
Many classes take place in a village hall or similar, where the floor can be cold and hard, so a mat is essential. Having somewhere warm and soft to lie your baby down is vital. Babies won’t relax if they’re not comfortable.
I’d also recommend bringing some water. It looks like gentle exercise and it can be taken slowly. However if you’re a newbie or trying to get in shape again, it’s going to take you a little while to get back into things!
Exploring The Benefits Of Baby Yoga Beate ChungCertified Yoga Instructor
Beate has taught yoga as a certified instructor in the US for over 7 years then she moved to Taiwan in 2010 to open her first yoga studio.
Baby yoga doesn’t seem to be as familiar a term as yoga itself, but more and more parents are seeing the benefits of yoga as a form of exercise that can help them bond with their little one while promoting the development of their babies’ gross and fine motor skills. This practice comes with many physiological benefits. It also improves social interactions among new parents and their babies. Let’s have a look at the benefits of Baby Yoga!
Is It Safe To Do Yoga With My Baby
There are so many reasons why doing yoga with your baby is a fantastic idea. In addition to getting you out of the house and into the world of mamas who are on the same journey as you, taking a Mommy-and-Me type yoga class is a sweet way to bond with your baby outside the confines of the normal daily routine.
Additionally, yoga is a safe, healthy way to speed up your postpartum recovery. It strengthens core and pelvic muscles, and rebuilds strength, flexibility, and balance in your post-pregnancy body.
That said, safety is always always the top priority for you and your baby. Check in with your OB before signing up for a class. Most physicians recommend postpartum moms wait at least six to eight weeks before getting back into an exercise routine, and you may need to wait longer than that depending on your labor and postpartum recovery process.
Yoga safe and fun to do with your baby as long as you adhere to the following conditions:
Getting To The Root Of The Problem
First of all, the number of people practicing yoga has increased, which explains some of the increase in the number of injuries. It does not explain the situation entirely, however, because not only do there seem to be more injuries than increased numbers of participation can explain, but also there is a wider variety of types of injuries, especially for the knees and lower back, as reported in the above article. So what else has changed in the last ten years?
For one thing, there has been a great increase in the popularity of heat-based and power types of yoga, which tend to be fast-paced and to foster a certain degree of competitiveness. There are also a lot more yoga teachers with little or no formal training stepping up to meet the demand for these classes. More and more yoga students in power and hot yoga classes are getting injured more readily as they push the limits of their bodies with little, if any, regard to safety.
Lorraine Kreahling stated that some physical therapists question the value of excessive joint flexibility, saying that it can lead to inflammation and pain. Some asanas that require extreme bending of the knees such as squats and sitting backwards on folded knees were particularly cited by a sports medicine doctor as examples of postures that are most likely to cause tears in knee cartilage. This naturally raises the question of the safety of Vajrasana and similar asanas.
Ways To Protect Your Knees In Yoga
1. Avoid Hyperextending: When joints are overly mobile and flex too far back, they’re hyperextended. In the knees, hyperextension often occurs in poses in which the legs are straightened, such as Trikonasana , putting an unhealthy tension on the ligaments. If you’re prone to hyperextension, keep a slight bend in the knees during standing poses and keep your weight evenly distributed among the four corners of your feet. In seated forward bends, place a rolled-up sticky mat or towel under the knee of the extended leg or legs.
2. Start With Your Feet: Proper alignment through the feet is the key to building strength evenly in the ligaments on both sides of the knee; when all the ligaments are equally strong, the kneecap glides effortlessly up and down and the cartilage doesn’t get worn down. Separate your toes and press actively through the four corners of your feet in every pose, even inversions. If your feet are out of alignment, your knees are going to suffer.
3. Keep Your Knees in Line: When moving into deep knee bends, such as Virabhadrasana II , first align your bent knee over your ankle, then draw your kneecap in line with your second toe. Maintain awareness in your back foot, pressing down evenly, while lifting up from the arch of your front foot. “If you let the arch drop, the knee falls inside the big toe, and you’re set up to suffer a number of different kinds of overuse and acute knee injuries,” says Angela Smith, a professor of orthopedic surgery.
For Your Baby Stretch Sense Sleep
Babies are extremely limber and this dexterity can help them perform basic yoga poses with ease. Obviously, the stretches are guided by an instructor or the parents. Yoga can help the baby sleep in more regular intervals, and the stretching and posing foster the baby’s gross and fine motor development. The practice has also been found to be effective in promoting better digestion, preventing constipation and relieving colic in infants.
For Yourself Touch Attach Connect
Aside from the physiological benefits, baby yoga fosters deeper emotional attachments between the parent and the baby. Throughout the exercises, the parent holds and touches the baby and the sedation of touch helps strengthen paternal or maternal bonds. The sensation of touch also promotes circulation, which gives both the parent and infant feelings of calm and relaxation. Parents who enroll in baby yoga classes are also given the opportunity to socialize with other mothers and fathers and discuss “new parents’ stuff”. The classes are also great places for babies to interact with other infants for the first time.
You Asked: Can Hot Yoga Be Harmful
Does Yoga change your body?
Although practicing hot yoga is safe for most people, it can cause some people to overstretch, and suffer from dehydration. In extreme cases, it can lead to heat exhaustion and heat stroke. To practice hot yoga safely, drink plenty of water, ease yourself into classes, and leave the room if the heat becomes too much.
Can Being Too Flexible Be Harmful
In When Does Flexible Start to Mean, Lorraine Kreahling asks, Does too much stretching cause injuries?
Ten to twenty years ago, when I was teaching yoga in San Francisco, one rarely heard of people being injured from practicing yoga.
During this time I worked both as a chiropractic assistant and in sports medicine research. To the extent that we saw yoga injuries at all, it was usually something that would be caused by going into or out of an inversion inappropriately. But even that was rare.
Recently, however, I’ve heard that the sports medicine clinic where I worked now treats yoga injuries more regularly than it did ten years ago. What has changed since then?
Yoga During Your First Trimester
Whether you have never practiced yoga a day in your life, or you are a dedicated daily yogi, this post is for you! You both have something wonderful in common. You’re newly pregnant and creating a beautiful life inside of your miraculous being. Yoga is a great exercise during pregnancy as it relieves stress, aches and pains, connects you to your baby inside, and allows you to discover a new strength and power from within. Check out our post about the benefits of prenatal yoga .
Before practicing any type of exercise, it is always important to consult with your doctor to ensure that it is safe for both you and your growing baby. There are many things to consider before starting or continuing your yoga practice during the first trimester. How do you feel? What is your goal with the practice? Is this your first pregnancy? How is your pregnancy going in the eyes of your doctor? You and your doctor know your body and your situation best so it is important to take a little bit of time to evaluate what kind of yoga and how much is best for you during this vulnerably delicate time. If it is deemed safe, yoga is a great exercise to pick up if you have never practiced a day in your life during your pregnancy. It is also something that experienced and dedicated yogis should continue to practice throughout their pregnancy, especially if yoga alleviates stress and anxiety in your day to day life.
Here are some general guidelines to practicing safe yoga during your first trimester.
Foam Rolling In The Wrong Areas
While most muscles aren’t an issue, there are some specific areas you should steer clear from. One of the biggest mistakes is to roll your IT band, which in actuality cannot be loosened. If you have a tight IT band individuals should focus on rolling quadriceps, glutes, and around the knee instead.
After this, you can focus on strengthening and physical therapy designed to strengthen your glutes and further take pressure off the IT band. This will decrease the likelihood of IT band syndrome occurring.
What Should I Do After Hot Yoga
How to refuel after a hot yoga class…
You’ve just had an amazing hot yoga class and you sweat more than you thought was possible. …
Try to avoid drinking coffee, caffeinated tea or alcohol after a hot class. …
Ultimately, listen to your body and get it the proper nutrition it needs. …
Here is some more great advice on what to do post yoga practice:
16.04.2013
When Should We Start Baby Yoga
You can start baby yoga as soon as you like. It really depends on when you feel ready, especially if you’re a mum who has just given birth.
Ideally wait until your six week check-up so your GP can give you the all clear for exercising. This is important if you’ve had a C-section, or have had any postnatal complications.
Dads can take their babies whenever they like – there’s no reason to wait. It can really help dads and their babies to bond, particularly if mum is breastfeeding.
Understanding Range Of Motion
So then we must ask, if a joint has a less-than-optimal range of motion, should we do anything to increase the range of motion? This is often referred to as stretching or opening up a joint. If the range of motion is restricted due to weak and/or tight muscles and tendons, then the answer is “yes”: we do want to increase the range of motion. If the range is limited due to the body’s structure , then, the answer is “no.”
Most of us never become so flexible as to feel that our bony structure is limiting us in our ability to go deeper into a posture. Back in my dancing days, I heard that in the not-so-distant past, the U.S.S.R. used to x-ray young, hopeful, ballerina girls’ hip joints to see if they had the maximum structural capability for 180 degree turnout. It sounds as though it was a terrible system, but I have to wonder if their ballerinas had fewer injuries caused by forced turnouts — and less need for hip replacements later in life — than their non-x-ray-selected counterparts in other countries.
Muscle is elastic and is meant to be flexible as well as strong. If flexibility is not maintained, the muscles will once again shorten. They have the ability to go back and forth from being short Tendons are the endpoints of the muscles where they attach to bones.
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