Yoga isn’t just for adults or kids. It can also be great for babies and toddlers. If your baby or toddler is having a difficult time to calm down and sleep, you can do these yoga poses to them. Below is a video by Lucy Angels, a qualified Baby Yoga practitioner.
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The Baby Yoga Stretch Sequence balances the opening and the closing of the body. Babies and toddlers take a lot of comfort from this balancing.
Make sure that when you do these yoga poses, your baby is happy and you should only take the movements as far as they allow you to.
The Baby Yoga Stretch Sequence
You start with bouncing the legs and saying “relax, relax.” You will take one leg across the body and do the same for the other leg. When their legs are already crossed, it gives them a little massage as they are being rocked.
Untangle the crossing of the legs and cross one leg over the other. Rock the baby gently once again. Do the same for the other leg, and once you are done, spread the baby’s legs.
Now we move to the arms. We do the same by bouncing the arms and saying “relax, relax.” Cross the arms across the body and then give them a massage again while rocking them. Let the arms go after.
Next is do some little piggies on the toes. Start with the big toes and then work your way down to the smallest toe. You can use the story about the pigs going to different places while doing this. You end by saying, “This little piggy went to sleep. Shhhh!”
Can Yoga Help For Better Sleep?
The practice of yoga can be a great way to help you sleep better at night. However, you must be aware of the different styles of yoga and the degree of relaxation they induce. Some types of yoga are more vigorous than others, including hot yoga and vinyasa (flow) styles. Avoid doing these types of yoga right before bed. Other types of yoga are more relaxing and focus on body position and breathing.
Yoga nidra (deep breathing) is an excellent tool for helping you fall asleep. It can help you relax and increase dopamine levels, which are important for restful sleep. This is particularly helpful for people who have trouble falling asleep, as well as those who have trouble maintaining a restful night’s sleep.
Another effective yoga pose helps relieve anxiety, depression, and back pain. In this pose, you lie on your back, bend your knees slightly, and then spread your legs out to form a diamond shape. Hold this pose for five to ten breaths. The forward bend helps the legs and hips relax, which promotes restful sleep.
Studies have shown that older adults who practiced yoga at night improved their sleep quality, had fewer episodes of disturbed sleep, and took less time to fall asleep. Additionally, these people reported feeling more rested and energetic in the morning.
