What is Itsy Bitsy Yoga?

Itsy Bitsy Yoga
For babies from birth to age 4 and a parent or caregiver

Itsy Bitsy Yoga® introduces your baby, tot or tyke and you to the many benefits of yoga in the first years of life. Helen Garabedian, an Infant Developmental Movement Educator and Registered Yoga Teacher, created this program which includes more than 125 yoga poses and techniques for babies from birth to 4 years old that are developmentally nutritious and deepen the parent/child bond.

According to The Heart of Yoga, by TKV Desikachar, meanings include 'to unite' 'to come together' and 'acting in such a way that all of our attention is directed toward the activity in which we are currently engaged.' Itsy Bitsy Yoga Facilitators help bring the various meanings of yoga to life for babies, toddlers and parents. When mom or dad comes to class, they are not distracted by the outside world. Parents relax themselves completely and witness their baby's growing personality and emerging body composition. To teach parents how to do the same through yoga brings forth so much joy and understanding. Parents who meditate (or practice yoga) are better able to understand their babies on a non-verbal level.

This is a valuable parenting skill that will continue to grow as the baby enters childhood and adolescence. Itsy Bitsy Yoga® Facilitators are highly trained in seeing the Yoga in each child. You and your baby will delight in practicing Yoga, discovering movement, and singing IBY rhymes together. Babies, tots and tykes participate according to their ability, learning style, and personality. They will learn yoga through repetition, play, and bonding.Are you wondering if yoga is safe for babies? According to pediatricians and nurses, the answer is a resounding "Yes!" Itsy Bitsy Yoga is safe, gentle and very effective when done with instruction at home or in a class setting. The parent is responsible for carrying out all of the baby's yoga movements until the baby is walking. In the more active program for tots, parents are there to support and assist their toddler into yoga poses whenever necessary. Parents also enjoy the time to practice yoga poses, while letting their child imitate and explore yoga on their own two feet.

For spirited babies, Itsy Bitsy Yoga includes a number of "Magic Poses" that can literally calm crying in seconds when practiced with the right intensity. As babies grow older, walking babies learn various yoga postures so well that they will move into different poses with IBY's Sing & Do technique. One of Helen's longtime students, Lily, a joyful 22 month old redhead, moves gracefully through many yoga poses such as mountain, tree, downward dog, cobra, upward facing bow pose, and extended child. It is beautiful to watch.The Itsy Bitsy Yoga® program has been featured in Parents Magazine, Yoga Journal, USA Today, ABC, CBS, and NBC News, MSNBC, CNN, People Magazine and many other media outlets!
As a certified Itsy Bitsy Yoga faciliatator I am very happy to be offering classes around Tokyo.
Sharee Hosoi