Baby Yoga: Walkers

In my last post, I talked about my Baby Yoga outline for pre-walkers (or ages 0 to 15 months). In this post, I am sharing my outline that I used with walkers (or ages 16 to 36 months). A lot of it is similar to the pre-walker outline, with just a few changes:



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Session #2: Walkers

• Welcome/Introduction: This is where I greeted participants and gave a quick overview of the storytime. I also briefly talked about the benefits of doing yoga with babies.
• Namaste with Clapping: 
• In yoga, we say "Namaste" as a greeting at the beginning and end of class.
• Say each child's name twice with a clap for each syllable. Then bow (if able) and say "Namaste"
• Focus/Breathing: I had adults sit criss-cross applesauce with their babies in their laps, back to chest. I asked them to take a moment to settle in, then breathe deeply in and out 3 times.
• Stretches:
• I Love You (3 times)
• Hold index fingers out in front of baby’s hands. Invite them to grab fingers.
• Say I (help baby’s hands to heart), Love (arms stretched out to sides), You (baby’s arms into self hug and wiggle side to side.)
• So Big (3 times) – baby can do themselves if able facing you
• Parents legs out, baby sit between legs
• Take baby’s hands and stretch up in the air and say Soooo
• Lean forward and reach baby’s hands to ground/toes and say Big
• This helps energize their spine and aids in digestion
• Hands and Feet - wiggle and "say hello"
• Kneeling Pose (show baby how first)
• Downward Dog
• With baby standing. kneel/stand behind them and place your hands on the front of their hips
• Encourage them to reach forward to the floor
• If necessary, pull baby's hips up, making sure hands and feet are still touching the floor
• Once baby is ready, let go
• Bark if you like!
• Standing and Balancing Poses
• Sun Salutations (2-3 times)
• Stand up straight, reach up high then bend over to touch your toes. Baby does this too!
• Stand up and stretch to the sun, make a rainbow with arms in the air. Baby does this too!
• Star Pose
• Kneel or stand with baby standing in front of you with their arms outstretched if possible
• Sing "Twinkle Twinkle" and lean side to side, getting baby to lift each foot in turn
• Jumping Bean
• Sit or kneel with baby standing facing you and support them under their arms. Or if they can do it themselves, model it for them.
• Say Jumping (small jump), Jumping, Jumping, BEAN! (big jump)
• Book

• I read From Head to Toe by Bill Martin Jr. and we did the actions together. 
• Massage
• Lay your baby on their back, feet towards you with your legs outstretched into a "V". (Or they can sit up with their back to you if preferred.)
• If you do this at home, you might want to try it with a little lotion or baby oil on your hands
• Feet and Legs: 
• Stroke each foot with your hands and each toe.
• Hold ankle and gently lift, use other hand to slide down thigh towards baby's foot for each leg
• Gently massage each calf using small, gentle circles
• Tummy: Massage baby's tummy using an open hand in large circles
• Hands: 
• Take baby's hand in yours and use your other hand to slide from wrist to shoulder and back again. Switch.
• Gently stroke each finger or backs of baby's hands if they don't want to uncurl their fingers
• Now take baby's hands and open arms wide. Then cross into a self-hug!
• Closing Affirmation
• I am smart (point to head)
• I am loved (point to heart)
• I am wonderful (open arms wide)

Have you ever done baby yoga? What did you do differently?