Yoga. A unique and ancient practice combining physical exercise and breathing techniques to tone the body and calm the mind.
Enter Rosie and Holly, our crying offspring in tow, as we arrive 15 mins late (can you ever be on time for anything with a baby?) for our first taste of post-natal yoga at Yogarise at the Bussey Building, Peckham.
Our first mistake? Going to the wrong studio. We ended up carting Holly’s pram – babe strapped in – up two flights of stairs to be told by a very kind lady that the class was in the other half of the building. Top tip no.1: go to the right Studio (2 – the entrance with the lift, obviously, though please note – it is very temperamental). Thankfully, the same very kind lady took pity on us sweating, stressed out mums and helped us cart the pram all the way to the correct studio. Crisis averted.
When we finally arrived in the right place – more shit-show than serene – the staff were so helpful; quickly showing us where the changing rooms and toilets were and ushering us in to the class.
With the yoga teacher (the wonderful Toni Osborne) in full flow we took up our matts, placing the babes on blankets and getting ourselves in to warrior one (or something like it). Top tip no.2: bring toys to occupy the wee ones while you attempt to tighten your pelvic floor and breathe in calm.
I was obviously spending too much time focusing on said region and too little time on the wee man who toppled over and started howling, prompting me to scoop him up and out within about 15 mins of our already late arrival.
I’ll be honest, I don’t think much yoga was practiced at this particular session – no sooner had I returned to the room than the wee man was in need of a feed. However I put that down to our chaotic arrival and the comedy of errors that proceeded. There were certainly other women there that seemed to be bending in to all the right positions while their babes played happily in front of them.
And we enjoyed it, so much so that I have been attending the Monday morning class (11.30am) on a semi-regular basis ever since; managing to arrive on time, to the right studio and even managing a near full hour of blissful yoga at each session.
A mum herself, Toni knows what you need and is happy to distract your babe should you need her to while you streeeeetch – and I ain’t one to complain about a helping hand sometimes!
And it’s not just about the mamas. Well it mostly is, but I definitely feel like the babes gets something from it too. The wee man seems to love it; babbling away at me and the other babies in the room, playing with his toys and enjoying the weird and wonderful shapes created by the yoga practice around him – and sometimes joining in.
Monday mornings have been transformed. An hour of gentle exercise; your mind and pelvic floor will thank you it. Ommmmmmm.
[If like Holly you prefer to keep your yoga practice babe-free, Toni also offers private classes at her home-studio in Forest Hill. Holly booked herself in for a session and said she’d had the best night’s sleep since the tiny dictator was born – and we all need a bit more of that, eh?!]
Yogarise in a nutshell:
Cost ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It’s a tenner – less than a standard class and I’m yet to find a cheaper post-natal class
Accessibility ⭐️⭐️
The Bussey is an old building and, in my experience, the lift is almost always out of order – if you can, you’d be better off bringing a sling.
Facilities ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It a lovely relaxed studio and while there’s no baby changing table, it’s a yoga studio so they’re very relaxed about you changing the babe wherever you like!
Feeding friendly ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Absolutely! Toni even sorted the bolsters for me so that I could lean back in complete comfort.
General vibes ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A lovely, relaxing hour for you and your babe, if you enjoy yoga this is perfect for you.
MotherCulture 