Mommy & Me: 6 Yoga Poses To Try With Baby
Got a newborn at home and zero time to workout alone? Try incorporating your little one into a mommy and me workout with these fun yoga poses you can do with a baby.
Outfit details: Leggings (similar here) // Belly Bandit “Mother Tucker” Nursing Tank // La Vie Boheme Yoga Mat
After I recovered from giving birth, I was eager to get back to exercising. There was just one problem — many days I couldn’t get more than 10 minutes to myself!
Most new moms can relate. If you aren’t feeding, changing, rocking, or trying to get baby down for a nap, you’re washing bottles, doing laundry, or addressing your basic needs (like brushing your teeth). Basically, 45-minute yoga flow sessions are a thing of the past.
So a few weeks in, I decided if I couldn’t workout without him, I’d work out with him!
I strapped him to my chest for long walks, used him as a weight as I lunged around the house, and plopped him on my yoga mat while I downward dogged above him. It worked out great. My little guy loves being part of the action and I get to bond with my babe while getting a burn on.
Today I’m sharing my favorite yoga poses with baby for all my multi-tasking mamas out there. They go from easiest to most challenging. Make sure you’ve been cleared to exercise by your doctor before trying any of them. And please practice these poses at your own risk — your baby’s wellbeing is paramount, so if you don’t feel confident that you can perform these safely, don’t try them!
6 Yoga Poses With Baby
Forward Fold with Baby
Get some face to face with your little one while working on your flexibility. Forward fold stretches the spine, shoulders, and hamstrings.
Downward Dog with Baby
My little guy loves this pose. I start in plank, move into chaturanga, and give him a kiss on the forehead as I pull up into upward dog, then push back to downward dog.
Reverse Warrior with Baby
Maybe I’m biased, but I think mamas are particularly deserving of warrior pose. Birth certainly felt like war to me!
You can turn this one into a mini flow sequence. Start with a one-armed High Lunge. Open to Warrior 2. Transition to Reverse Warrior. Flip both feet inward and drop down into a Goddess Squat. Give it a few pulses, then flow back through the way you came.
Malasana with Baby
Deep squat was one of my favorite poses during pregnancy and it is postpartum as well. It’s a great hip opener and nice for snuggling with baby.
Tree Pose with Baby
Use extra caution with this one. Your balance may be a little off postpartum! When done properly and safely though, it can help you work on getting your center of gravity back.
Mermaid Pose with Baby
This pose is likely the most challenging. If Mermaid wasn’t in your practice before pregnancy, don’t push it with this one as your joints may still be a bit loose. A similar hip opening pose you can try instead is half pidgeon with baby resting in front of you. If this agrees with your bod, give it a go!
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Weigh In: Will you give these yoga poses with baby a try? What are your favorite postpartum exercises?
Katey Davidson says:
What a great article! Thanks for sharing this! I love the idea of this type of yoga!
Amy Gorin says:
These photos are absolutely stunning! Beautiful!
Amanda Howard says:
These are awesome! Thank you do mich for sharing!
Catherine Brown says:
What gorgeous poses! Love this article Whitney.
Emily @Sinful Nutrition says:
OMG LOVE this girl! So adorable!
Jodi Robinson says:
So adorable. What a sweet post.
Whitney E. RD says:
Thanks Jodi :)
EA The Spicy RD says:
Beautiful photos! It’s great you’ve found exercise you love that you can do with your baby. Sometimes I miss those day of pushing the double stroller uphill-that was a great workout!