A Is For Apple, Y Is For Yoga

By Lisa McLaughlin

Some overachieving infants (along with their parents) take swimming lessons. Others turn to music-appreciation classes. But today the very hippest babies are relaxing from the trials and tensions of infanthood by taking up the age-old practice of yoga.

The babies aren't doing strict yoga poses. It's difficult enough for adults to master such exotic positions as the Downward-Facing Dog, let alone kids who are still learning to roll over or sit up. Instead they are led through yoga-influenced stimulation exercises, massage, games and a variety of rocking and balancing exercises, accompanied by their moms, who get into postpartum shape by doing more traditional poses. According to DeAnsin Goodson Parker, a child psychologist and author of Yoga Baby, parent-child yoga classes provide special "relating time" between child and parent. Yoga also stimulates the immune and circulation systems of a baby, aids digestion and can lead to better sleeping habits. --L.McL.