Category: Yoga

The Benefits I Have Seen with My Toddler and Itsy Bitsy Yoga

3/14/2012

I wanted to share my experience as a "lay" yoga person with all of you. Many of you read Whitney Parker Marshall's first blog here on Cape Cod Mommies about her experience as an Itsy Bitsy Yoga Instructor at Turning Pointe Dance Studio. My son Ethan and I are about to begin our THIRD session this week with Whitney and we are so excited and I wanted to share why!

Whitney is such a fabulous, patient, passionate and energetic instructor! Every week she comes in with a smile on her face for the tots and babies, excited to share her passion with all of us. The engaging songs and movements she leads us all in every week are catchy and fun, we reap the benefits of both in the long and short term!

Ethan began mastering down dog in the beginning of our second session. Now anytime I sing "Down Dog", he responds saying in toddler speak "Dow Dawg" back to me and promptly bends over into the perfect position. He is always so proud of himself that he can do this and often likes to go to the big mirrors in class and watch himself as he does it.

The longer we have practiced with both sessions and at home, the more adept Ethan has become at the movements. He now has mastered the "kicky cobra" move (see picture below), "ring around the yogi", "whale tail", and many more. Not only do we get the benefits of promoting an active and healthy lifestyle, but he sleeps better, his digestion seems better due to the "twisting" move and he really enjoys spending time with his friends!

In fact, spending time with his friends and other moms is another huge benefit to the classes we attend for both Ethan and myself. We have been lucky enough to have grown with other tots in our class who also started at session 1 with us and will continue into session 3. It is such a joy to see them all every week and watching as they all grow, master the moves and enjoy the time together. Plus the moms always get to share at the end of class with common questions we may have or stories we can share. I look forward to our weekly time together that is special for us.

If you haven't checked out Whitney's class yet, you really should! You can try a drop in class or a whole session. If you aren't near Falmouth, I highly recommend finding an Itsy Bitsy class near you!

Do you have any stories to share about your own experiences with Whitney or another instructor because we would love to hear about them!

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Benefits of a Healthy Lifestyle with your Child

2/13/2012

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"Dooowwwn Dog!" I sing in my universal key of B Minor and suddenly my daughter, who is 11 months old, bends at the waist from a sitting position towards the floor, until her forehead is actually touching the carpet! She pops up with the most accomplished grin on her face. I melted. Again I sing "Dooowwwn Dog!" and there she goes, leaning towards the floor. This time I demonstrate. I sing "Dooowwwn Dog!" and come into Downward Facing dog or Adho Mukha Svanasana myself. I do it one or two times and as she watches me, she rises to her feet, bends at the waist and comes into the most perfect Down Dog I have ever seen.

Suddenly my life felt complete...as funny as that may sound to some. You see, I am an Itsy Bitsy Yoga instructor and a proud 1st time parent to my little Delaney Mae. There is a huge sense of pride when any of my students come into a pose knowingly for the first time on their own. It's a feeling of accomplishment, combined with the joy of seeing a parent's face when their little one not only masters a pose, but does it during class, for all to see!

As moms we know first hand how your perspective changes the minute you become a parent. There isn't an exact way to describe the change within yourself, but it happens, naturally and it feels good. It feels right. For me sharing yoga with other is natural. It feels good. It feels right.

My daughter and I began practicing Itsy Bitsy Yoga when she was just six weeks old. We went to class weekly and put the poses to use at home. We used Apana (In and Out) often for relief when she had those squirmmy moments of gas pains. Then we used Corkscrew to aid in digestion when she began to eat solids. Sure enough, not long after a few circular movements of her chunky monkey legs, a rumble in her diaper would bring a smile to my face, as well as hers'. I raved about Itsy Bitsy Yoga. We practiced almost daily, whether it was doing actual poses or singing a yoga song. It naturally became a part of our lives, almost as naturally as you will see a child "do yoga" in their everday movements! They are natural yogis and now I aim to bring it out in all of them! IBY opened the doors to a whole new array of tricks to use in everyday life, whether it was to calm and sooth, to get us through a long wait at the doctor's office or simply to get moving and be active on a cold, rainy day. In fact, I fell in love with Helen Garabedian's Itsy Bitsy Yoga program so much, that I knew shortly thereafter that I must share it with others.

This past summer I became trained in Itsy Bitsy Yoga for Babies, Tots and Tykes. I am able to offer yoga to children from the age of 3 weeks to 4 years old. I love this because I will be able to watch my students flourish over the years, not just as yogis, but as little humans! In a recent interview I did for a dance magazine I was reminded how special IBY is, as it is the one of the only programs where a child can begin at such a young age, which allows moms on maternity leave to participate in an activity with their newborn before returning to work, if that is the case.

Babies can begin IBY at just 3 weeks and modifications of the poses are made to accommodate their tiny, new bodies. I strive to be a healthy role model for my daughter and my students and I encourage a healthy and active lifestyle for children of all ages. A healthy baby equals a healthy tot, which equals a healthy tyke, a healthy adolescent, a healthy teenager and inevitably a healthy adult. So come join us, meet new friends, learn something new and encourage a healthy, active lifestyle for your little ones. It may even inspire you to practice.

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Healthy Lifestyle: Leading by Example

10/25/2011

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We were pretty excited when Everyday Health shared this article with us featuring Bethenny Frankel and yoga! Often as moms, we think and take care of ourselves last. On top of it when we do find time to think about "ME", we have a tiny window in which to make something happen before the kids, family, pets, house etc need us. Yoga is a great way to find those few minutes for yourself. You can also encourage your little ones to join with you. They are often quick learners and will rapidly mimic your moves trying to be just like mom. It ends up being a win win for both because we are leading by exampling a healthy lifestyle. Take a few minutes and enjoy the latest read, we hope it inspires you today! http://www.everydayhealth.com/fitness/bethenny-frankels-secrets-to-staying-fit.aspx

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And the Winners of the TWO Mommy Timeouts are.....

10/24/2011

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Congratulations to fellow Cape Cod Moms Kellie and Emily on winning the two amazing giveaways sponsored by Turning Pointe Dance Studio in East Falmouth.

Kellie won the 9 week session of Body Conditioning with instructor & owner: Laura Faria Scoirtino!
Emily won the 9 week session of Itsy Bitsy Yoga with instructor: Whitney Parker Marshall!

Cape Cod Mommies is happy to award these giveaways to our hardworking moms! As mothers, we are often the last ones we think about because we are so busy taking care of everyone else, we often forget to take some time to be healthy for ourselves, so some fun exercise classes are a must!

Congratulations Kellie & Emily!

Check out our friends at Turning Pointe Dance Studio for some amazing classes! Stay tuned for future giveaways!

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More Giveaways for Cape Cod Moms Courtesy of Turning Pointe Dance Studio!

10/7/2011

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We think that all our Cape Cod Moms are so fabulous that we are going to offer 2 more giveaways for the month of October! That's right, that means currently we have 3 active giveaways going on for all our fabulous Cape Cod Moms!!!!

This newest one will have 2 winners courtesy of Turning Pointe Dance Studio But pay careful attention because you have to enter separately for each one!

The two Giveaways are.............
~ a 9 week session to Itsy Bitsy Yoga at Turning Pointe Dance Studio in Falmouth.
~ a 9 week session to Mommy & Me Conditioning at Turning Pointe Dance Studio in Falmouth.
* Both these giveaways apply to new clients only.

Here's How To Enter!

1. Please answer the following question by posting a comment for each entry.

To win the 9 week session of Itsy Bitsy Yoga:
What do you do to encourage physical activity with your child and as a family? - 1 ENTRY

To win the 9 week session of Mommy & Me Conditioning:
What kind of healthy physical or mental activity do you do for YOURSELF? - 1 ENTRY

2. Refer a friend to Cape Cod Mommies but make sure they message or post on our board that you referred them or you won't be entered to win! - 1 ENTRY per friend you refer who tells us you referred them! *Only New Members after 10/7/2011 apply

GOOD LUCK!

______________________________________________________________________________

Contest Rules

Please email info@ccmommies.com if you need help with any part of the posting.

2. No purchase necessary.

3. Void where prohibited or restricted by law.

4. Eligibility is limited to 1 prize per household.

5. All prizes must be claimed within thirty (30) days unless otherwise stipulated during the contest

6. Winners may be required to pick up prizes during business hours.

7. Failure to claim prizes within allotted time may result in forfeiture of prize(s).

8. Prizes not redeemable for cash or their merchandise.

9. Winners consent to the use of their name/picture/likeness without compensation for advertising or publicity purposes.

10. Cape Cod Mommies Coordinator and Sponsor employee's are not eligible.

11. Sponsors accept no responsibility or liability in connection with any injuries, losses or damages arising from
the prize(s) awarded in this contest.

12. Additional restrictions may apply depending upon prizes being awarded, or contest sponsor rules.

13. All federal, state and/or local laws and regulations apply.

14. All Decisions are final.

Please note:
Contest ends at 11:59 PM EST October 20, 2011. One winner will be randomly selected by random.org. The winner will be notified via email, Facebook or a blog post on Cape Cod Mommies, so please make sure your email address is correct. The contest winner will have 48 hours to respond, if no response is received, then another winner will be selected.

Contest Sponsored by: Turning Pointe Dance Studio in Falmouth, MA

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Itsy Bitsy Yoga Classes Begin Sept 20 at Turning Pointe Dance Studio!

8/12/2011

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Turning Pointe Dance Studio in Falmouth is now offering Itsy Bitsy Yoga with Whitney Marshall for ages 3 weeks thru 3 years! The fall session begins September 20 and there are many classes to choose from!

ITSY BITSY YOGA™

Itsy Bitsy Yoga is a fun and gentle developmentally-centered program for young children and their parents. Itsy Bitsy Yoga® was developed by Helen Garabedian, Certified Yoga Teacher and Infant Developmental Movement Educator and Author of two best-selling books.

Itsy Bitsy Yoga® offers parents and caregivers three class options depending on their child's age and developmental stage. There are Itsy Bitsy Yoga® classes for babies, tots, and tykes. Babies as young as 3 weeks and children as old as 4 years can enjoy the structured one-on-one interaction the classes provide.Collectively you can enjoy over 125 Itsy Bitsy Yoga® poses, rhymes and activities that provide developmentally nutritious interaction between parent and child. This nurturing program gives parents and caregivers the tools and support they need to bond with, and comfort their little ones as they grow into their bodies and explore their surroundings.

ITSY BITSY YOGA™ For Babies

Tuesdays 4:15-5:00
Fridays 11:00-11:45
Saturdays 10:15-11:00

Ages: 3 weeks-10 months with a parent or caregiver

Itsy Bitsy Yoga for Babies is a supportive, fun-loving class that contain dozens of unique yoga postures designed to encourage your baby's development. Each class is filled with calming, nurturing ways to enhance bonding and help baby sleep longer, digest better and grow stronger.

During class, babies enjoy yoga while on their backs, tummies, or held in loving arms. For parents, this class is a special opportunity to meet other moms and dads, get support, and learn about baby's emerging personality. Most of the yoga we do in Itsy Bitsy Yoga is for baby, but you will also learn breathing and relaxation techniques as you practice a bit of yoga yourself.

No yoga experience required.

ITSY BITSY YOGA™ For Tots

Tuesdays 5:15-6:00
Fridays 10:00-10:45
Saturdays 11:15-12:00

Ages: 10-24 months with a parent or caregiver

Itsy Bitsy Yoga for Tots is a supportive, fun-loving, and active yoga class. As Tots' mobility increases and they naturally become busier, classes offer tot-centric poses that encourage and support their physical explorations, as well as their creative spirit. Itsy Bitsy Yoga for Tots continues to build and nurture the parent/child bond.

During class, crawlers and walkers playfully practice yoga postures while they are standing, sitting up, walking, and jumping. Tots become more confident in their moving bodies as they practice yoga in and out of class. No yoga experience is required.

ITSY BITYOGA™ For Tykes

Tuesdays 3:15-4:00
Ages: 2-4 years old with a parent or caregiver

Itsy Bitsy Yoga for Tykes combines unique, toddler-friendly yoga poses with songs, stories, and games to create an enriching parent/child activity. Each class is personalized around Tyke's curiosities as they learn yoga through social interaction, repetition, and play and help Tykes and their caregivers discover and enhance their physical and social development.

In Itsy Bitsy Yoga, Tykes also learn how to relieve frustration, improve motor skills, and increase attention span by actively following directions. Help your Tyke build the foundation for a healthy and fit lifestyle while having fun!

No yoga experience is required.

Whitney Marshall

Trained Itsy Bitsy Yoga Facilitator
for Babies, Tots and Tykes

Whitney is a trained Itsy Bitsy Yoga Facilitator for Babies, Tots and Tykes. Whitney fell in love with yoga when she began practicing over 5 years ago. Her love for yoga grew stronger when she began taking her daughter Delaney. The birth of her daughter deepened her yoga experience and inspired her to teach other parents. Itsy Bitsy Yoga has combined her love for yoga and her love for children.

In addition to teaching yoga, Whitney works as the Marketing Manager at Millennium Partners Sports Club Management, the corporate headquarters of The Sports Club/LA and Reebok Sports Club/NY. Whitney holds a Bachelor Degree of Science in Education from Florida State University where she studied Sport Management. Whitney strives to be a roll model for her daughter and encourages a healthy and active lifestyle for children of all ages.