Study Buddies

The Fun and Variety of Baby and Me Classes

By Kelly Burgess

Lisa Kenny of Tallahassee, Fla., took a yoga class with her new daughter, Leilani, because she wanted to get back into shape, learn how to relax her mind and meet other new moms. She didn't realize how much it would benefit Leilani.

"I cannot begin to list all of the wonderful things my daughter gets out of our class," says Kenny. "She really enjoys the class as well as the interaction with me and the other moms and babies. At home, any time she's upset, I lay her down and we do some of the poses from our class and she immediately smiles and forgets what she was fussing about."

Lisa and Leilani both benefit from the classes they're taking together and, according to Skylar Hill-Jackson, that's what "baby and me" classes should be all about. Hill-Jackson is the owner of Baby & Me Pregnancy and Postpartum Fitness in Ontario, Canada. They offer fitness and Pilates classes, yoga, stroller fitness classes and aquatics programs. All classes are located in neighborhoods to make them more accessible for moms and to increase the chance that mom will find like-minded moms to bond with.

"On the first day when the moms introduce themselves we have them say what street they live on as well so they can figure out who lives close to them and perhaps make arrangements to get together outside of class," says Hill-Jackson. "This is great for new moms because it allows them to get out, meet friends and discuss parenting issues with moms who are going through the same thing at the same time."

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