A quirky exercise class involving both mother and baby is the latest fitness craze to hit Dundee.
From October, baby yoga sessions will be available at various locations across the city.
The Ready Steady Go programme, in partnership with Leisure and Culture Dundee, aims to create a bonding experience between babies and their parents.
Gentler and slower than traditional yoga, a lot of the moves are adapted for babies.
The sessions, which are said to improve a parent’s emotional well-being, also help with a baby’s digestion problems and sleeping.
Alison Blake, an early years coach (ages 0-five) at Leisure and Culture Dundee, said: “For parents, it’s a way of communicating with your baby and bonding with your baby.
“For babies, it encourages sensory play, hopefully improved sleep and a way of communicating between mother and baby. It can help with depression too.
“It’s just a way of mums and babies having a lot of fun together and socialising with other mums and babies.
“I think it’s probably very popular at the moment. There’s a lot of private companies that do it.
“At Leisure and Culture we’ve not had a lot of stuff for very young babies so this is the start of us trying to include mums and babies from a very young age to get them into exercise early on.”
Claire Melville, who has been bringing her daughter Aria to the classes for four weeks, said: “They’re a nice way to be able to get out and meet other mums and babies.
“They’re really reasonably priced as well in comparison to a lot of the private classes. Being on maternity leave it makes them more accessible for us to go to.”
The social aspect of the classes was what appealed to mum Louise Butchart, who has been practising yoga herself for years and is now taking daughter Isabella along with her.
The Broughty Ferry mum added: “I think (the benefit) for me personally (is) meeting other mums, new mums in similar situations, and for Isabella learning new techniques when we are at home for relaxation before bed time.”
Megan Sands, an early years and health and well-being team leader at Leisure & Culture Dundee, said: “I felt there was a lack of baby yoga classes in the city and the benefits can be phenomenal to the baby and mother’s well-being, therefore it was a no-brainer.
“Parents and carers love that the sessions are so informal and relaxed. They have also been telling us how warm and friendly our staff are and that everything is explained well.
“Most importantly, the babies are very relaxed and happy, it’s amazing. During the yoga, parents relax their minds and their positive energy is most definitely passed onto the babies.”
Alison hopes that there will be a roll-out of more baby yoga sessions throughout the year.
Classes will run on Tuesday mornings and you can book by ringing 01382 436982.
Alternatively, you can email readysteady.go@leisureandculturedundee.com
