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Karma culture to make babies calmer

Laura Thistlethwaite
14/ 8/2008

FRESH from the yummy mummies of London’s exclusive celebrity suburb Primrose Hill ... Karma culture for babies has arrived in Chorlton.

Baby yoga has seen celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow and Geri Halliwell cooing into their prams with delight.

Dubbed the ‘Karma Couture’, the celeb-led yoga revolution is now winning the hearts of Chorlton mums and their bendy babies.

Barlow Moor Road co-operative The Yoga Rooms is one of the first venues in Manchester to hold post-natal and baby yoga sessions.

Instead of the usual ‘coochie-coo’ sounds parents make to soothe their little ones, mums at The Yoga Rooms can be heard chanting ‘Ham’, ‘Ram,‘ ‘Yam’ and ‘Umm’ – noises which apparently replicate the natural sounds of the body.

The gentle exercise is designed to help keep both mum and baby healthy and relaxed, while having fun together.

The activity involves a range of movements, sounds and even songs.

Baby instructor Sarah Hague was taught the unique form by London yoga guru Uma Dinsmore-Tuli, who specialises in pregnancy and post-natal yoga.

Sarah, 32, who is expecting her first-born in November, said: "The classes involve a range of things, from gentle massage to singing to the babies. The mums make their babies movements to encourage the way they would naturally move.

"Most love it; when you’re doing the movements it’s interesting for the baby and it’s very relaxing so it tires them out. It’s also great for post-natal recovery in general, with a range of non-strenuous pelvic floor exercises for the mums and helps with their back and neck problems which come from breast-feeding and carrying their children."

One of the more unusual elements to the class is the breathing practice, Bremari, or ‘humming bee breath’, and Bija mantra, creating sounds like ‘ham’, which is meant to correspond with the chest and ‘umm’, a stomach-type noise.

Sarah, who has been teaching yoga for eight years, said: "The baby lies down and the mums make noises on their babies bellies – kind of like blowing a raspberry. Different sounds correspond with the tummy, chest and head. Babies particularly enjoy the ‘umm’ belly sound, because of the vibrations.

"I got into baby yoga because I taught classes for pregnant women. We use the sounds in those classes too, the idea is that the baby is used to the comforting noises by the time it’s born."

Mums can take part in the classes as soon as they feel ready and the sessions are flexible.

"You can do as much as you want, and the same goes for what your baby wants; you soon find out which bits work for you both. Babies can come until they are about eight months old. Once they start crawling it is impossible to keep them still," Sarah said.

The next series of classes begin in September and places are rapidly being snapped up by mums eager to ease themselves back into fitness and bond with their babies.

The Yoga Rooms also has classes for toddlers aged two-and-a-half and upwards.

For more information visit www.theyogarooms.co.uk or contact Sarah on 0161 226 8021.