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Mother and Baby Yoga Class

Posted on: Monday, 9 May 2005, 15:00 CDT

Elissa Rosch is a registered nurse, certified doula and a yoga instructor. She has a new take on the ancient Hindu discipline of enlightenment, designed specially to help mothers and their babies achieve spiritual bonding.

"Close your eyes and bring your awareness into your physical body," Rosch says in a soothing tone. Stillness and silence fills the room, as mothers coddle their babies. "Settle into the now ... turning into your natural breathing rhythm, notice the inhale and exhale. Feel the rise and fall of the chest and abdomen. Become aware of your baby's breathing. ... . Take a deep breath and we'll chant the sound of ...."

Whaaaa, whaaaa, whaaaa. Suddenly, the inward journey through the koshas is interrupted by a colicky baby. This is pretty much how it goes in the mother-and-baby yoga class, alternating equally between a higher consciousness and a crying infant. After all, when you have a room full of mothers and their infants, oneness with the universe isn't so easy.

Yoga is a philosophical and physical way of achieving harmony with the mind, body and spirit. The mother-and-baby version is designed to help the mother get some gentle exercise, and build a stronger bond with her newborn. "It's a way for moms to be with other moms," Rosch says. "And a way to strengthen the body after pregnancy. It promotes bonding. It's a support group."

The class is for mothers and babies up to 9 months old. They meet once a week for six weeks. One mother is breast-feeding her 6-month- old, while another is chanting om. One mom is coming into stillness, while another is chasing after her infant. One newborn is fast asleep next to his mother, while another is crawling toward the door.

Rosch says the class helps the mother, but the baby benefits as well. "They get some of that yoga energy," she says.

Lisa Pribamic says she never took yoga before, but likes what the class offers new mothers. "The birth and caring [for her 7-week-old son, Rowan] was hard, physically demanding. I needed some gentle stretching. [I like] the aspect of getting with other women who just gave birth."

Yoga instructor Liz Aitken has no children of her own, but loves the class. She brought Nicholas, her best friend's child. "It's something special to share with him," she says. Aitken and the other moms do stretches with their new babies, balance the toddlers on their knees and cradle them as they meditate. Clearly, the moms leave more relaxed than when they arrived.

"Health, fitness and nutrition are so important," says new mom Corie O'Brien, who took yoga with Rosch while pregnant. "It's like the wave of the future. It's very spiritual."

Source: Record, The; Bergen County, N.J.

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