Sage's Carrot Cake Cupcakes w/ Goat Cheese Frosting

I am hoping I was not alone in my concern for finding a birthday cake for my baby's first birthday.  The idea of tainting his pure body with food coloring, loads of sugar and gluten made me cringe.  On the other hand, what's a birthday party without cake?  Especially one as significant as the FIRST!

My criteria for an ideal first birthday cake was no sugar, no gluten, and must taste good.  Once I began to look at recipes, I realized I was going to have to soften just a little.  There was no PERFECT cake recipe out there and reflecting on the bigger picture of his diet....what harm was one experience really going to do?

In our house we don't eat dairy.  We do minimal goat dairy products and cultured butter. We limit refined sugar.   Although there is not signs of anyone having a gluten intolerance, we also limit gluten in the house.  So with all these things considered this is how I created Sage's Carrot Cake Cupcakes w/ Goat Cheese Frosting.

Sage's Carrot Cake Cupcakes with Goat Cheese Frosting

Carrot Cake

2 cups gluten free baking mix
2 1/2 tsp cinnamon
3/4 tsp salt
4 Tbsp butter, melted
1/2 cup dried dates, seeded and chopped
3 large ripe bananas, mashed
3 medium carrots, grated
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup plain yogurt (I used goat)
2 eggs beaten

Frosting
8oz soft goat cheese
1/2 cup softened butter
1 cup coconut sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions
Mix the flour mix, baking powder , cinnamon, and salt in a medium bowl.  In a separate bowl combine butter and dates.  In a third bowl, combine bananas, carrots, and applesauce.  Stir  in the butter and dates mixture into the banana mix, and then add the yogurt and eggs.  Add the flour mixture and stir just until everything is combined.  Pour in to the cupcakes molds that have the papers in them.  Bake at 350 for about an hour and 15 min or until you can stick a knife in them and it comes out clean.  Remove and let cool.  Combine all ingredients for icing and mix well.  Then frost and serve.  Store in the refrigerator if needed.

How to make gluten free baking mix
1 cup brown rice flour
1cup sorghum
2/3 cup potato starch
1/3 cup tapioca starch
1tsp xantham gum

Why I substituted conventional sugar for coconut sugar:

- Coconut sugar is non-GMO.  GMO has been linked health issues such as infertility, immune issues, faulty insulin regulation and organ system issues

- Coconut sugar is rich in vitamins.  It contains a variety of vitamins including 12 of the essential vitamin B complex.

- It's unrefined.

- Coconut sugar is rich in amino acids.  It contains 16 amino acids which are required to build proteins that are used throughout the body for the growth, repair, and maintenance of the body tissues, enzymes, and hormones.

-It's rich in minerals.  Including potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron, boron, sulfur, calcium, and copper.

- It's low on the glycemic index.  Coconut sugar has a glycemic index of 35-40.  Conventional sugar is 58.  Low glycemic foods lead to better glucose and insulin regulation.

Ideas for a Low Impact Life with Children

We live in a consumer world.  Buy Buy Buy!  More More More! Convenience is the key word.   It's no wonder that when we have a baby, we feel the need to get all the latest gadgets.  There is so much out there that markets itself as making your life easier and completely necessary.

But really we are doing a disservice to our children by caving to the consumer mentality.  We are not only showing them that yes indeed this is the way we are supposed to be living our lives (which it is not!) but we are also creating mass amounts of waste that will have them suffering in the future.

It takes nylon fabric 30 to 40 years to biodegrade.  It takes a single use disposable diaper 250 to 500 years.  It takes plastic 500 years or possibly never to biodegrade.  A lot of things we just don't know because they were created so recently.

Think of all the legos, barbies, highchairs, bouncer seats, toy cars...the list goes on and on. And just for a moment let's put aside the impact that the plastic has on the landfills just in terms of space and lets discuss the toxins that are in the plastic that we allow our little ones to touch daily.  The toxins that will leach into our soil and water systems when sitting in landfills.  It's a bit overwhelming if you start to think about it.

Chemicals like bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates are key ingredients in modern plastics. They have been shown to disrupt the delicate endocrine system, leading to developmental problems in children, little girls getting their menses at age 7, and little boys growing breasts.  Not to mention there are a host of modern illnesses that have been rising for a generation - a generation of plastic.  Some of these illnesses include obesity, diabetes, autism, ADHD all of which could have chemical connections.  In a recent NY Times article Dr. Phillip Landrigan director of the Children's Environmental Health Center at New York City's Mount Sinai Medical Center was quoted in saying "We don't give environmental exposure the attention it deserves.  There's an emerging understanding that kids are uniquely susceptible to environmental hazards".

Plastics are just one aspect of the large environmental impact that children are not only having on the world but are also suffering from.  Think about how many car journey are made to tote children to and from school, to and from ballet, soccer, or karate.  Petroleum use and automobile transport is proven to be having negative effects on air quality and global warming.

Another huge impact that comes to mind when thinking about my child is food!  Kids eat a ton!  And if we follow mainstream culture, they are eating tons of processed packaged foods.  It takes a plastic coated milk carton 5 years to break down.

I feel I have made my point.  Children (and humans in general) are placing an overwhelming burden on our planet.  I know we are not perfect and that it's nice to gift a brand new box of legos for a birthday gift.  But I feel as responsible conscious citizens of this planet, we (and parents even more so) need to make conscious choices to reduce the impact we are having.

I've come up with some ideas of how we can reduce our impact while raising children.


Ideas for a Low Impact Life with Kids

- Try to limit purchasing new toys.  Make it special.  Birthdays or a holiday are more special when the attitude of gratitude accompanies.

- Buy wooden or enviromentally friendly toys whenever possible

- Buy second hand toys or gift used toys to friends.  Donate your used toys.

- Trade toys between playmates or borrow toys from a Toy Lending Library.  In Santa Fe, it is located in the Community College.

- Reduce the amount of packaged foods you purchase.  Try to make everything from scratch.  For those on a time budget, spend one day a week cooking and freeze for the rest of week.  Better for enviroment and your health.

- Reduce or discontinue car journeys.  Kids love being pulled in bike trailers, riding their own bikes, pushing their scooters around town.  Children also love trains and buses.  We can teach our children alternatives to cars.

- Grow a garden, shop at the Farmer's Market, or local Co-op.  The closer you can source your food, the better.

- When buying baby gadgets, look on Craigslist for second hand or ask friends if they are wanting to get rid of any baby items.  You end up using them such a short period of time.  It's better for your wallet too.

- Use cloth diapers.  I swear to you that cloth diapers are no more of a hassle then disposable.  The new designs are super convenient and they actually work way better than disposable.  I am currently doing the single mom thing and in grad school and still have time to wash my baby's cloth diapers.  SOOOO EASY!

- Opt for glass baby bottles and stainless steel water bottles.

- Use a dry erase board vs. paper to let little ones practice writing their ABCs and practicing math.

- Go to the library for books or buy second hand books at library sales.

- Decrease the amount of extracuricular activities your children are in.  They need down time and will appreciate a slower rhthym to their lives.  For those activities that you do partake in, carpool.


These are just a few ideas of how you can decrease the environmental impact your family has on mother earth.  Not only will these changes allow you more time with your family, increase the amount of money in your wallet, but you'll be teaching your children impeccable values.

Do you have any tips how your family leads a low impact life?  If so, please share in the comments below.


With so much love,

xoxo

Nancy


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Dec.8 Book Signing: Yoga Mama Yoga Baby

The time of pregnancy is an extraordinary season of transformation, a profound rite of passage that requires special care and guidance. The complementary tools and practices of Ayurveda and yoga have been used together for thousands of years to support a healthy body, balanced mind, and higher consciousness. With Yoga Mama, Yoga Baby, Margo Shapiro Bachman brings readers the first book to show how these "sister sciences" can support the miraculous journey of pregnancy. This thoroughly detailed guidebook shares practical and easy-to-apply teachings and information to help women experience pregnancy with radiant health and abundant joy.

Margo Shapiro Bachman, local author of Yoga Mama, Yoga Baby: Ayurveda and Yoga for a Healthy Pregnancy and Birth, will be answering your questions and signing books at Collected Bookworks in Santa Fe on December 8th at 1pm.  

Birth as a Touchstone

Often, as new mothers, we are overcome with birth memories which deplete our energy or challenge our self-esteem and our ability to choose wisely and joyfully the many decisions we must make for ourselves and our famililies on a daily basis. We just don’t have the time or energy to process or birth and yet, the birth of our children is a major touchstone in a woman’s life: an experience that shapes the inner landscape of how she defines herself as a woman and a mother. In fact, she revisits and refers to this “touchstone experience of birth” frequently throughout her life as a source of self-reflection and direction.

Before I go further, take a moment right now to reflect on the birth of your first child. Close your eyes, breathe and gently allow yourself to revisit this momentous experience in your life. What do you notice that arises immediately? Perhaps a mixture of positive and negative feelings and images begin to surface; or just positive or just negative. For a lot of moms, the predominant feeling that comes to mind first around her child’s birth are feelings such as disappointment, confusion, guilt, anger, sadness, powerlessness, betrayal, self-hatred or shame. Even when victorious in the eyes of others, she can’t seem to get beyond the fact that her birth did not go the way she envisioned or hoped. She did everything right, and yet it turned out so wrong (I use these dualistic terms of positive/negative, right/wrong loosely, but you all know what I mean).

We can “extract” if you will, touchstones of strength, courage, transformation, beauty and joy from both the negative and postivie experiences of our births. I’ll share a little of my birth story, which still, to this day I am so grateful for, despite the particular challenge I faced (not to mention I have a beautiful 24 year old daughter, Maia whom I love more than all the stars in the sky).

For years after my daughter’s birth, I could not fathom why my cervix got stuck at 9 cenimeters for 3 hours, with relentless back-to-back painful contractions. Why couldn’t my midwives fix this? I even thought that they were secretly withholding some pain relief that they could offer me. What was wrong with me? Why did I have to endure that kind of pain? I even thought for a long time, that I was being punished. Above all, I wondered how could my body betrayed me like that? The images of this phase of my labor haunted me for months after the birth. In time, I finally got the answer I needed to calm these relentless questions in my mind, which then actually allowed me to enjoy the real beauty and joy of my daugther’s birth.

I had a dream when my daughter turned 2,½ years old that began the very painful but liberating unraveling process of remembering my childhood incest. That’s a longer story – but I can clearly see now, how this affected my birth experience. Even beyond the confusion around sexuality that accompanies incest, for me the predominant obstacle was that I couldn’t trust my own body and, for those three miserable hours, I became distrusting of those around me. The truth is, I actually adored my two midwives and husband, and chose to have a homebirth for that very reason – I only wanted those present whom I could deeply trust. For those three hours, all that trust I had for these cherished three collapsed. I felt desperately unmet. In retrospect, I see how they all lovingly held space for me and never once doubted me.  

The touchstones I take away from this part of my labor allowed me to unlock repressed memories which had silently crippled my being for many years; to develop a level of compassion towards myself I had never known, which then allowed for healing in the years to follow; and finally to openly receive the faith others have in me which can then wisely love, support and guide me, especially in times of transition. What are some of the circumstances of your birth(s) from which you can select empowering and transmuting touchstones?

Elizabeth Rose has practiced and taught Massage for the Childbearing Year for 25 years, attended 100+ births as a Labor Support Doula, and is co-founder of MothersMandala.com with Elenya Grafals – the umbrella organization for their work. Most recently, she has become a Family Constellation Facilitator in the tradition of Bert Hellinger’s intergenerational healing work. She is also a mother to her inspiring 24 year old daughter, Maia. 

...:: H O M E M A D E ::...baby food made easy

Most parents have the intention or at least the desire to make their baby's food.  It's only natural that you want to provide them wholesome nourishment that you've prepared yourself.  But many find that time is against them and opt for the more convenient yet more costly option of packaged baby food.  Packaged food costs you more, creates more waste, and lacks the vitality of homemade food.

Don't get me wrong, I completely understand the time issue and the convenience of those organic squeeze packages!   I have gone through my son's infancy while being a full time grad school student and partially a single mother.  So I get it!  And my son has eaten his share of packaged foods while camping, on hikes, long car journeys, etc.  But when looking at the bigger picture of your baby's diet, it's important that you are providing them with the most vital nutrients possible.  For this reason fresh food is best!

When foods have been processed much of their nutritional value is lost.  All foods that come in boxes or packages have been processed.  Luckily most baby food brands limit or refrain from fillers and sweeteners.  But that doesn't take away from the fact that those foods are lacking in vitality.  If you are questioning this in the slightest buy a jar of baby food peas and then compare the color with the pureed peas you make yourself. The difference is drastic!

You are setting up your baby for success and health when providing them optimum nutrition, vitamins, and minerals.  There is no greater gift than a strong immune system and robust health.

Here's how I managed to make homemade baby food fast and convenient.

Silicon ice cube tray makes getting food cubes out mush easier plus you don't have to worry about BPA etc.

Peas are super easy and taste sweet.  Once your little one is munching along try mixing other greens such as broccoli or spinach to the puree.

Blend to puree in food processor or blender.  Add water to consistency desired.  I always add a tiny amount of  healthy fat such as ghee or coconut oil.

Pour into your ice cub trey.

Freeze and put into bags for storage.

Pull out cubes a few hours before meals to defrost. Or if you're in a hurry put in toaster oven on low temp. 

You can use this system with any type of food.  You need to make the food thinner when your baby is younger and make sure that you start with simple and easy to digest foods such as peas, butternut squash, sweet potato, cooked pears or cooked peaches.

Also, I always encourage people to keep the fruits separate from the veggies.  I know that most baby food brands do combinations but I feel that is setting up your baby to expect everything to taste sweet.  Remember that you are educating their taste buds.  It's ok for them to not like the taste of something initially.  A food should be introduced 15 times before giving up.  Once that food is accepted you can use it to bridge to other foods.

Do you have any baby food recipes you'd like to share?  If so please do so in the comments below!

With so much love,

xoxo

Nancy

Post-Natal Nutrition: Easy Does It

I loved being pregnant. I worked less, exercised more,cleaned up my diet, and delighted in preparing delicious and nutritious meals for myself and my baby to be. I had never felt better.
Then, after an unexpectedly difficult labor and the birth of my beautiful baby daughter who seemed to never sleep, things started going down hill fast. It’s not that I didn’t know what I needed,I did. As a Doctor of Oriental Medicine who specializes in Women’s health and nutrition, I knew how important rebuilding was for a complete recovery from birth. 

So how was it that my perfect pre-natal life had succumbed to a diet of toast, watermelon and chocolate?  The answer was simple - overwhelm and exhaustion.

Post-natal recovery deserves a well balanced diet and lifestyle, but just in case, here are some simple power food suggestions to carry you through.

• Build the Blood with small amounts of organic red meat and organic liver, dark leafy greens, and sea vegetables.

Do the bunches of kale,chard and collards purchased often end up as a vegetable drawer of wilted uneaten greens? No problem; rinse, cut and place them in a large stock pot of water along with a handful of dried sea vegetables such as wakame or dulse and simmer for about 45 minutes. Strain and enjoy a fresh cup of mineral rich broth at least twice daily. The broth is also superb as a stock for soups, grains and beans, and can be frozen in smaller containers to be used for a few months to come.

• Increase Essential Fatty Acids, B12 and Folic Acid.

This will help restore your energy and vitality as well as support critical developmental processes for your baby. Quick go to sources are: sardines, kipper snacks, smoked salmon and eggs, as well as walnuts and avocado. No cooking required!

• Include Whole Milk Dairy Products.

Milk contains Calcium and Vitamin D. Both of these nutrients are crucial for post- natal recovery and as essential building blocks for bones, brain and immunity for your child. Calcium and Vitamin D require fat and protein for proper breakdown and assimilation. Therefore, less fat in dairy also means less availability of vitamins and

minerals. I recommend eating fermented dairy products such as yogurt, keifer, and buttermilk. The fermentation process naturally breaks down lactose and pre-digests casein as well as increasing available assimilation of nutrients.

• Continue taking your Pre-natal Vitamins

Allow your system the extra support of nutrients while you recover.
These suggestions are potent additions when integrated into your regular balanced diet. But, in a pinch, they may be the best that you can do on any given day. Remember that food is energy. Choose wisely. And as for me ? Things balanced out in time as all things do. At this point in the journey of motherhood my baby has become a wise and wonderful teen who reminds me to work less, exercise more and who loves to cook great food !


Lisa Wilson, D.O.M


Lisa has been practicing as a Doctor of Oriental Medicine for over 25 years. She shares her knowledge of Acupuncture, Chinese Herbs, Nutrition,and Homeopathy with care and compassion, guiding individuals and families through all cycles of life and growth.

Lisa Wilson, D.O.M 505-989-4038 http://www.drlisadom.com 

Homemade Rice Cereal for Infants

Most people believe rice cereal to be the standard first food for infants.  I highly disagree with grains as a first food due to the fact that grains have a lot of potential for creating digestive disturbances or allergies.  Babies do not produce the enzymes to handle cereals and especially not wheat.  A Swedish study suggested that infants given substantial amounts of cereal, suffered from low concentrations of zinc and reduced calcium absorption.  It is best to wait until a baby is one year old to introduce grains.  When introducing grains it is best to use whole grains and make cereal (or congee) from scratch. The reason for this is vital nutrients!

Rice and other whole grains (millet, buckwheat, groats, etc.) are extremely wholesome when in their natural state.  If one can imagine a grain as a seed, then you can see all the potential life force that lies within it.  The problem with baby rice cereal or even processed oats is that the process that has made them quicker to cook and easier to digest has also denatured them.  It has taken away the vitality that lay dormant in the grain.

Because infants digestive systems are so immature it is not a good idea to serve them a bowl of rice.  Not to mention they would have a hard time getting it down. In order to make the grain digestible for them, yet keep the vitality, one must prepare them properly.

Homemade baby rice cereal takes about 12 hours to make start to finish.  That's because you want to soak the grains overnight.  This allows for the protected sheath (phytic acid) to dissolve.  This makes it easier for your baby (or anyone for that matter) to digest the grains.  If you soak it in water with a little yogurt that's even better! The acidicness of the yogurt will help predigest the grains.

Once you have your presoaked your grains, you want to cook it on a low temperature for a long period of time until it becomes a mush (or congee).  If you're busy, using a crock pot might be your best bet.

During the winter time when colds are more prevelant, adding a little ginger and cinnamon to the cereal will be great for your baby's digestion and immune system.  The digestive system needs to be warm to function optimally.  Feeding warm cereal in the morning with a little bit of warming spices will help to strengthen the immature stomach.  This will also decrease phlegm production which in turn will reduce belly aches and chances for colds.

After your grains have been cooked to nice mush, add a tiny amount of either smashed banana or maple syrup to sweeten.  Remember you only need a tiny amount of sweetner, your baby has never tasted these flavors so less is better.

Homemade Baby Rice Cereal
1/2 cup of presoaked rice
1 cups of water
1 cup milk of your choice (since I didn't offer dairy till after a year I chose a small amt. of canned coconut milk w/ more water since it's so rich)
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground ginger

Bring everything to a boil and then simmer.  You may need to add more liquid.  You want the end result to be mush.  Cook time pprx: 1 hr.

Viola!  Homemade baby cereal and a happy baby!

Do you have any warm cereal recipes to share?  If so please comment below!


With so much love,

xoxo

Nancy



Price-Pottenger Nutrition Foundation Health Journal.  Winter 1999, 23(4):5-8)

My Journey as a Doula

Part 1: The Beginning

After I became a Mom, I finally felt a “belonging” in my life. I could look at any Mother, anywhere and feel we shared a connection, without even exchanging a word. I began my studies to be a doula the year after my son was born. I wanted to share with women, teach women and guide women in their birth journey to trust their bodies, to make informed decisions, birth normally, breastfeed and embrace parenthood with confidence. I was led by my heart, while my logical mind protested; how could I be “on call”?, how could I be away from my still breastfeeding son for long stretches when I attended a birth?, could I stay up all night with a laboring Mama? This isn’t practical! I’ve come to learn that often when we’re moving toward a meaningful decision, resistance can put up quite a protest! I still moved forward. I decided to attend a training for doula certification. I thought, “If I’m completely on the wrong track here, I’ll just stop after the training”. Well, my commitment, desire and passion only grew once I attended the doula training.

The very first birth I attended as a doula was with a Mom having her fourth child and her husband had broken his leg two weeks before her due date. She was relieved to have the support and I was relieved she was an experienced Mama who wouldn’t be relying on me for her first journey ever through birth. I connected with her instantly, one Mom to another. Her prior births had been chaotic and directed by medical staff. She knew this would be her last baby and she wanted something different, something special. We talked at her prenatal visits about birthing normally and empowered. We practiced some breathing and massage techniques. She began to feel excited and inspired by the possibilities for her birth. I enjoyed seeing her learn about options. Her husband was supportive and confident that his wife would have a different kind of birth experience. I worried about how I would support her and how I would know what to do as a doula for the first time. My mentor told me, “Think with your gut, not your head, and you’ll know what to do.” This Mama had a lovely birth and I was very helpful (which surprised me because even walking into the labor room; I still wasn’t sure exactly what I would do). She later told me it was exactly what she was hoping for; something different and special. And from here I fell deeper in love with birth work!

I learned two valuable lessons from the beginning of my journey as a doula.

1. I knew in my heart I wanted to be a doula; I had a longing to feel intimately connected in the web of life, the journey of birth and to witness women in their most powerful moments. I watched my fear and resistance try to build a case of why I couldn’t possibly fit this work into my life. I almost said, “Never mind!” But I had my one year old son watching me and I wanted him to see a Mama who pursued my dreams, made a difference in people’s lives and LOVED my work when I walked out the door to be away from him. This was a powerful lesson for me. STILL TO THIS DAY, I listen to my intuition in this way. I question my hesitation, my resistance and I ask myself, “Is this real or is this FEAR talking, trying to persuade me to stay in my comfort zone?” I learned the valuable tool of trusting my heart, following my intuition and pursuing a goal and dream that is out of my comfort zone.
2. I also learned when I walked into the labor room as a doula for the first time that this work was not work of the MIND; it was work from the HEART, SOUL and “GUT” of my female-ness, my sisterhood and my KNOWING. When I arrive to that laboring Mama, I knew; not with my head but in my heart, what she needed and what I could do to help. I followed my instinct; I rocked with her, I rubbed her back, I wiped her brow. She looked into my eyes for an anchor and we found our way. We were connected in a meaningful way that brought her comfort and safety in her birth.

I feel so blessed to have learned these lessons of my heart and my gut. I go through life now valuing this resource within me. Being a doula is not only about serving each Mama I work with, it’s about trusting myself and expanding my sense of what’s possible.

By Abby Bordner

Certified Labor Doula (CAPPA) and CAPPA Doula Trainer

Director, Birth Work Institute Doula Training and Certification, The Birthing Tree www.thebirthingtree.com

Baby & Me Yoga: Bonding with your Baby

Looking around town I see a change in parenting. Parent-child interactions appear a bit different then they did maybe 10 years ago, or even 5 years ago. Is it our busier lives? Smart phone distractions? Societies expectations to be efficient “on the go” people? The need to bounce back from pregnancy into “efficiency” 3 weeks post partum! Whatever it is we need to make sure we center ourselves, find stillness amongst the chaos of life and connect with those around us. Really connect…

After I had my son Jaia 5 years ago I remember those long nights staring at him as he nursed and cuddled in my arms. Skin-to-skin, eye-to-eye, soul-to-soul. He came everywhere with me. I now have 3 kids and unfortunately those one-on-one moments are not as abundant. My mom used to say “When you have more than one kid your heart will grow in size. The heart won't need to be “divided” amongst your children, it just grows bigger!”.  My heart is much bigger but my “time” is cut in half, or even thirds. Sometimes the days feel like a whirlwind of chaos and my job is to keep everyone alive, fed and happy and my “big” heart is craving moments of stillness and connection. Therefore making time for bonding and connection is something I strive for each day. Whether it is just a few minutes of sitting, connecting and cuddling one of my kids…individually. Or, setting time aside for solo-dates with each kid. We are a family of 5 now and we do plenty of family activities, all together laughing and bonding. But the kids (and I) need those moments of one-on-one connection. Especially in today’s world- computers, smart phones, media… Sometimes I look around my small town and see parents texting and missing out on those “moments” of connection. Honestly, that is a whole other article I can write! We all see it. Parenting is changing. There are more distractions in our culture. So, how can we make time to bond? Put down the phone. Look into your baby’s eyes. Watch and study your baby. Interact. If you live in a whirlwind of chaos like I do…make time to connect. Try baby yoga! You can practice at home or go to a group class. Every day make time to have one-on-one connection. Baby yoga is just a start. Continue the practice of connection off the mat!

I find it intriguing that the Sanskrit word yoga translates to “unite, join or attach”. Traditionally, when one thinks of yoga they think of joining the mind, body and spirit. We not only join our mind, body and spirit within our own vessel, we join with the spirit of our child energetically. We join with our baby physically through touch, hugs, cuddles, and movement. We join with our baby mentally as we observe, understand and react. Yoga facilitates this deeper union between parent and child. It is especially beneficial to practice Parent and Baby Yoga in the first year of life to help with bonding, development of brain, muscles (fine and gross), language and the emotions. The earlier postpartum period (0-4months) is nicknamed by many pediatricians as the “4^th trimester”. Your infant still needs and wants to be close to you, to hear your heart and breath, to feel your warm embrace and loving hugs.

When we practice Parent and Baby Yoga in a group setting we “unite” in community, in friendship and in motherhood. In-group classes, the babies meet other babies and bond, mom’s bond with other mom’s. We join in friendship. Playdates are set up and presto…best friends are created! In fact many of my students have set up playgroups with their yoga classmates. They also set up “sitter swap” date nights. Our yoga classmates become our extended New Mexico Family! We grow roots together. CONNECTION with baby and beyond.

If you feel comfortable practicing yoga at home with your baby then try some of my favorite yoga exercises listed below! These are tricks I’ve learned though 10 years of teaching baby yoga and through mothering my own kids. 

Before we have fun lets discuss the rules of Sphere Mama’s Parent and Baby Yoga:

• Listen to your body. It is wise to consult your OB or midwife before starting any form of exercise. Most recommend waiting 6 weeks after a vaginal birth and 8 weeks after a cesarean birth.
• Observe your baby. If any of the exercises cause baby to tense up, fuss, or show any signs other than happy bliss you may need to stop, slow down and think about skipping that exercise.
• Communicate with baby throughout your practice. For example say “May I pick you up now?”, or “up”. This helps to show respect and also foster receptive and expressive language skills.
• Honor your baby. Your baby’s needs are priority. Feed, change, cuddle baby as needed. Never force a baby through a home or group practice. Take breaks as needed.
• Honor yourself. Trust your instinct.

Oh, and don’t give up if your first home or group Parent and Baby yoga class is not what you were expecting! It takes a few classes to get into the swing of things.

Beginning a Practice

- Sit comfortably with baby in your arms. Sing a soft song or mantra to cue baby this is the beginning of practice.

-I like to chant “OM” softly three times at the beginning of every group class. Babies love it!

The mantra “OM” translates to the sound of creation; everything that was, is and shall be. Chanting “OM” also resets our energy to a neutral. It lifts up our sluggish nature and calms down our hyper nature. Since we are working with little emotional babies that fluctuate though their ups and downs quickly AND since our babies are creation at it’s best, OM just seems like the perfect start to a wonderful yoga practice!

When my kids would cry in the car, I would chant “OM” from the drivers seat. They would instantly stop crying. It worked like a charm.

Parent and Baby Yoga for bonding

-Hold your baby at your chest, heart to heart.

-Tuck you chin over the baby’s head

-Wrap your arms around baby

-Sit with your legs up around baby’s bottom

-Take deep long breaths or sing/hum to baby

For baby, this exercise resembles the womb. Your body is surrounding baby. She can hear your breath and the beat of your heart. It is very calming for the baby’s nervous system. Helps to regulate baby’s body temperature and is great one-on-one cuddle time! Use this time to practice your Ujjayi breath. This will help calm you as well as baby.

Use this technique in any over-stimulating situations outside of yoga too.

Rest is essential for both parent and baby. In a society that is always “on the go” one of the best things we can teach our children is to slow down, rest as needed and let go of stress.

Namaste, Christa

Christa Tyson, E-RYT, E-RPYT, CLC, Doula, CCE, is mother to Jaia (5yrs), Ahma (3yrs) & Aven (5 mo.)  She teaches Parent and Baby yoga classes at Lena Street Lofts (Studio E2) in Santa Fe. Her classes are on Saturday’s from 11-11:45am with time for chatting afterwards. To learn more visit her website at www.SphereMama.com, where you will find coupons for free classes.

Many Mothers: A Saving Grace

We are so blessed in Santa Fe with some amazing programs to support new moms.  Many Mothers is one of those programs.  When I was pregnant, my doula told me about the non-profit group and highly suggested that I contact them.  I am so glad that I did.

Every mother, no matter the situation, financial bracket, or age, is exhausted after giving birth.  New moms often find it difficult to adjust to their new role and moms with other children need extra help with other little ones.  Many Mothers is a nonprofit organization that focuses on helping meet these extra needs in the first few months.  They offer free, in-home care for mother and newborns living in Santa Fe.  This program is designed for all new mothers, no matter what their need level is, within the first six months after giving birth.  They send trained and fully vetted volunteers to visit weekly.

When Sage was born, they came twice a week for the first month for 2 hours each visit.  Then the second and third month, my volunteer came once a week.  It was so nice to have free help during that transitional period.  Although the volunteers offer to help with running errands and light housekeeping, I just took advantage of the time to study (I'm a bit crazy and didn't take a break from grad school!) or just took a shower.

I found these services to be indispensable and would highly suggest to anyone having a baby in Santa Fe to take advantage of their services.  If you are interested in volunteering because you're craving a baby fix, they are always in need of more help.  Unfortunately, I have yet to attend one of their Mother's Circles but they have one every month at Santa Fe Soul and there always seems be a great speaker.

Here's their contact info for anyone interested:

Many Mothers
www.manymothers.org
Pat Stevens 505-983-5984


With so much love,

xoxo

Nancy