The Metrowest Daily News: "'Itsy Bitsy Yoga': The teeniest tiniest babies do yoga with mom using Marlborough author's book"

By Jennifer Lord / News Staff Writer
May 11, 2004

Cathy DeYoung, left, and Sarah Paharik, both of Hopkinton, swing their sons, Evan and Nicholas, respectively at Earthsong Yoga. (Photo: Allan Jung)

What's nirvana to a new mother? A napping baby.

Mothers and babies in Helen Garabedian's "Itsy Bitsy Yoga" classes regularly achieve that feeling of great bliss by the end of class at Earthsong Yoga in Marlborough. Babies, who at the start of the class fussed or looked around wide-eyed at all the other infants, are reduced to slumber after an hour of "Swirlies" or "Divine Drops."

Clearly, this is a class for yoga beginners. As one mantra says, "Like spit, yoga happens."

Garabedian, 33, developed the infant yoga program more than four years ago, refining and adding new postures through watching her students. She not only trains teachers in the new postures, but she has written a new book for parents, "Itsy Bitsy Yoga: Poses to Help Your Baby Sleep Longer, Digest Better and Grow Stronger."

"I was thinking about when I have kids, what I would do with my baby," Garabedian said, stroking the belly bulge her students have dubbed "Baby G," due in July. "I've always been involved with yoga...I now have 75 postures for babies and they just continue to grow as the babies show me more things."

Garabedian notes in her book that infant development mirrors classical Hatha Yoga postures developed more than 5,000 years ago. For example, a baby coming up to a walking stance reflects the Downward Facing Dog pose in yoga.

Her tiniest students and their mothers gathered recently at her Main Street studio, ranging in age from just weeks old to nearly a year. The babies' attention span was mixed. Some demanded to be nursed, others were enthralled by the presence of so many other small creatures.

Kristen Collins, a new Maynard mother, found herself just listening to Garabedian's lesson as tiny Fredrick fussed in her arms. On Garabedian's recommendation, she perched on a large ball, bouncing up and down. Fredrick almost instantly began to coo.

Little toes waved in their air as their mothers moved their legs in and out. The babies beamed and gurgled as they were moved through the "womb wings" poses, their mothers chanting along with Garabedian "Womb wings, womb wings, womb wings, woo, womb wings, womb wings, I love you."

"This is what they were feeling in your womb," Garabedian said, demonstrating postures with the aid of a realistic baby doll.

Cathy DeYoung of Hopkinton has been using Itsy Bitsy yoga at home with her son Evan, 7 1/2 months. They've been taking the class since he was 8 weeks old.

"If he's really fussy, this quiets him down," DeYoung said. "I'll do womb wings or divine drops, and it really helps."

That's music to Garabedian's ears.

"I wanted to help," she said. "I just saw how much the program helped parents and children in my area -- everyone kept telling me I had to share it with a lot more people. I hope (the book) helps mothers find some peace."

Many of the mothers in her class come from Garabedian's prenatal yoga classes. And with Itsy Bitsy Yoga now 4 years old, the babies of the inaugural classes are now in yoga classes of their own.

"It's really sweet to watch the babies grow," Garabedian said. "I've had parents tell me it's impacted them in a positive way. They seem to be more aware of their bodies."

Aware -- and very tired.

"She takes longer naps after class, which is nice," said Linda Aciernl of Bolton, whose daughter Katie, 5 months, slept limply in her arms. "She's so full of energy all the time and look at her now -- it pooped her right out."

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