How to Relieve Back and Neck Pain When Feeding Your Baby

Guest Blog from Jessica at Treetots Yoga in Totnes, UK

New mother’s neck and upper back pain

Neck and upper back pain is common in new mothers, particularly those who are breastfeeding. A rounded shoulder position and forward neck posture puts a strain on the jointsand discs in the neck and upper back. This is a very easy posture to get into when feeding and once baby has latched on is difficult to correct.

Symptoms

Pain is often achy with a tight feeling between the shoulder blades or the back of the neck.

In the neck there may also be sharp twinges on sudden movement, stiffness, or achy discomfort.

Managing Neck and upper back pain.

Chiropractic treatment for neck and upper back pain pain includes releasing stiff joints using gentle joint manipulation to free the movement of the joints. Massage techniques are also employed to relieve muscle tension across the shoulders, between the shoulder blades and at the base of the skull. The most important action in reducing neck pain is correction of postures which are causing the problem.

The following should be practiced to minimise strain on the neck and upper back:

• Stand with the head held high and chin tucked, not jutting out.
• Relax the shoulders back and down, even when carrying you’re your baby there is no need to hunch up your shoulders.
• Try to alternate which side you carry your baby on.
• Get comfortable when breastfeeding, sit with your shoulders back and use supports and cushions to raise the baby up to your breast rather than lowering yourself down to the baby.
• When feeding check for tension in your shoulders and whether your head is forward.

Notice the difference in posture in the second picture below to the first picture.

Back is straight and well supported, shoulders relaxed, elbows hang vertically below shoulders, neck straight and looking forward, knees lower than hips, and baby well propped in cushions to hold them at the right height without strain on Mum’s neck and shoulders: 

comfy Mum- good latch- happy baby! 

All these points can apply to a well supported sitting position on a chair.

Below are some stretches to release tightness in the neck and between the shoulder blades.

Shoulders, stretch 1: 

Pull arm across body keeping torso facing forward.

Shoulders, stretch 2: 

Put backs of forearms together with elbows one on top of the other, it doesn’t matter if you can’t link palms. Gently push elbows downwards and pull arms outwards against each other, keeping them linked. You should feel a stretch between the shoulder blades.

Shoulders and upper back stretch 3: 

Kneel on the floor and lengthen arms in front. Reach as far forward as possible feeling a stretch in the upper back.

Neck strengthening: 

Lie flat and tuck chin to lengthen back of neck. Push head gently backwards into the mat (if you have a hard floor you can use a small cushion or towel). This will release muscles at the back of the neck whilst strengthening the deep muscles in the neck.

The content in this factsheet is intended as general advice only and does not replace a diagnosis by a qualified professional. It is based our combined professional opinions. Do not carry out stretches or exercises which cause pain, discontinue and seek advice. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions!

Sally Scott is a Chiropractor with a special interest in pre and postnatal care. She is based in Chorlton, Manchester http://www.sallyscottchiropractor.com

Jessica Healy is a baby and toddler birthlight yoga teacher with classes in Totnes. She is also a mum of three. More information can be found on http://www.treetotsyoga.com

Autumn Blues

I love autumn - the changing colour of the trees, bright crisp days and the crunch of fallen leaves underfoot…

But it can raise mixed emotions.

Shortening days, cold winds making you wrap up against the cold, rain and knowing that the darkness and cold of winter is on its way, can leave you feeling anxious or down. Autumn is a great time to take the opportunity to let go. Follow the lessons from trees as they let go of their leaves to conserve energy over winter and allow for renewal and rejuvenation in spring.

Try and get out in nature as often as you can in the coming weeks and take in the show that this season puts on.

Go for a walk and listen to the wind in the trees, collect fallen conkers, notice the change in the quality of the light, appreciate the beautiful colours of the leaves as they change week-by-week…

Autumn is a beautiful season, so relax, let go and enjoy!

Lack of Memory Post Pregnancy

My baby had just fallen asleep. I sat quietly, watching his chest rise and fall as he breathed and noticed how peaceful he looked. 

Suddenly, a moment of realisation occurred. I can do stuff! I am free! Right, now what was it I had to do?  

A lot of the problem is that there is so much to do, and really, I don't know how long my baby will sleep for, so it's difficult to match up the job with an amount of time required to complete the job. Also, the tasks I need to do vary from the easy mundane jobs (housework) to more complex mundane tasks (tax returns). Quite often in these moments of freedom, I walk quickly and purposefully into a room, to do something and then, it's gone. I have no idea why I walked into the room. Sound familiar?

Why Do We Forget Things?

Working memory loss can happen for a number of reasons. Often, while caring for young children, we are sleep deprived. We are also very busy and it's been proven that it's difficult to keep more than 3 - 4 items  in your mind at one time (ref. Alan Baddeley).

Motherhood can be stressful too. It is proven that when we are stressed, our bodies secrete a toxic hormone. This is why stress is very damaging to our bodies. Stress can lead to memory loss too.

How Yoga Can Help

It is proven that, 'neurones that fire together, wire together'.  This means that by repeating an activity over and over again, you can teach your brain and your body to behave differently. You can change. Wise yogis say that 'a calm mind is a focused mind'.  By spending 5 minutes meditating each day, you can retrain your mind to become focused and calm. 

There are also some very beneficial restorative yoga poses which allow your body to rebalance and deeply relax. Here is a restorative yoga sequence you can try.

I recommend, before you rush around trying to complete the many tasks ahead of you in a short space of time, to spend 5 or 10 minutes practicing a meditation or a restorative yoga sequence. You may notice a big difference in a short space of time.

Post-Holiday Blues

The weather has turned cooler. Long days where we could be a family unit, sharing time together and relaxing, not really having to be anywhere are in the past. Life has resumed it's routine of rushing to pack the children off to school, my husband rushing out the door and me rushing around managing the live's of 5 people and running classes. 

Life can feel miserable at the end of the summer. You may have said 'goodbye' to friends or family who you're not going to see for a long time. There may be nothing to look forward to and the winter holidays seem a long way away. It's important to acknowledge these feelings and know why you're feeling a bit sad and take time to think about it. Knowing that you're having these feelings is the first step to being able to move forward and find a way of making yourself feel better. If you don't feel like you can move forward, it could be a good idea to visit your doctor and seek professional advice.

5 Ways to Beat the Post-Holiday Blues

1. Get Involved: Find an activity or area of interest you really enjoy and volunteer, join a class, connect with others. 
2. Bringing gratitude into your daily life. Begin to list three things you feel grateful for each day and watch how more wonderful things start to come into your life.
3. Practice some restorative yoga poses. Child's pose is great, or follow a restorative yoga session on YouTube. This is a lovely one to try.
4. Remember, you are in charge of your feelings. Try and experiment and play with what helps you heal and feel complete again.
5. Plan an event, whether it be a walk in the forest, a coffee with a friend or a holiday. It doesn't have to be expensive, but it does need to be a date in your diary and something you can look forward to.

Tummy Time

Why do Tummy Time

As many babies are encouraged to sleep on their backs, giving baby set periods of time to be on their tummy has become a more important issue. Parents are concerned that their babies head has become flat at the back, or noticed that their baby has lost a lot of hair and has bald patches at the back of their head as a result from spending a lot of time on their backs. 

When to Start Tummy Time Play

Each baby is unique and each baby will have a differerent ability to hold their heads up for periods of time.  You may find that your baby doesn't develop neck, shoulder and torso muscle strength until they reach 3 or 4 months. As your baby’s neck and upper body control improves, you can gradually increase the amount of time spent on on their tummy.

For babies under 3/4 months old, you may find that your baby enjoys tummy time more if he/she is close to you. For example, you can try lying on your back with your baby on his/her tummy on your chest.  

For babies over 4 months old, you could try sitting on the floor with your legs out in front of you.  You may find it more comfortable to sit on a cusion, try to engage your tummy muscles and sit up tall, stretching out y our back.  You can begin by placing your baby on their tummy across your lap with a toy on the floor.

For babies over 6 months, your baby may be much happier to be on their tummy with some toys.

Is Crawling Important?

A baby is born with approximately 100 billion neurons and during their everyday activities the synapses are developed. Activity, interaction and movement are like food for an infant’s brain, helping it to develop.

Not all babies crawl. Some babies will shuffle on their bottoms or commando crawl to help them get from a to b.

The Au people of Papua, New Guinea have babies which don't crawl. They move around on their bottoms, propelling themselves with their hands.  Tracer, associate professor of anthropology and director of the Program in Health and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Colorado at Denver has carried out research among the Au people. Among the Au people, Tracer found babies in their first year of life were carried during 90 percent of their waking hours, usually by a mother, father or sibling.

In Bali, babies are not allowed to touch the ground until they are over 7 months. There is no record of any developmental difference between Balinese, the Au People of Papua New Guinea and Western babies who crawled earlier.

Published studies on the value of crawling have given mixed results. A 1991 study by Temple University researchers found that children who didn't crawl were later deficient on specific tests of motor development. But a 1989 study at the University of Padua, Italy, found crawlers were actually more likely to have delayed motor development.

Research demonstrates that it is not important if a baby crawls or not. It is important to observe that a baby's movements are balanced on both sides and it is important that a baby can move from one point to another. 

The Art of Attunement

You may have heard of 'Attachment' parenting. I would like to talk about attunement parenting. The art of being at one or in tune with your baby. For many, it may not come naturally. There are postiive activities you can do with your baby to help you become more attuned to each other.

1. Holding
By holding your baby, or wearing your baby, your baby will cry less. Your baby will not be worried about where you are, will be entertained and warm. 'When a baby rides in a sling attached to his mother, he is in tune with the rhythm of her breathing, the sound of her heartbeat, and the movements his mother makes—walking, bending, and reaching. This stimulation helps him to regulate his own physical responses.' Source, Baby Wearing International.

Baby yoga will demonstrate lots of different ways you can hold your baby.

2. Playing
When your baby is alert, (e.g. not tired or hungry) your baby will love to look at your face and interact with you. As your baby can only focus about 30cm away, your baby will love it if you hold your gaze at this distance. Please refer to this page if your baby has a visual impairment. 

Playing with your baby, will improve your babies cognitive development and enhance their social/emotional development. Baby yoga demonstrates many different activites and games you can play with a non-mobile baby.

3. Touch
For some reason, parents are frequently told not to hold their baby, 'you'll spoil her', 'he'll get used to being hold and you'll never be able to put him down'. 

However, many health professionals agree on the importance of physical contact between babies and their carers. Babies thrive on physical touch.  Not only does touch improve their circulation, digestion, breathing, hormonal balance, touch helps develop a baby's nervous system. Touch can also help carers improve their confidence when handling babies and improves communication. Touch also reduces stress levels for both baby and carer, promoting bonding and closeness 

During pregnancy and birth, new mothers release the hormone oxytocin, associated with relaxing, connecting and nurturing.  Baby massage and yoga both stimulate the on-going positive effects of this hormone. This means that doing baby massage or yoga is especially important for mum's who are not breastfeeding, as breastfeeding naturally releases oxytocin. 


 A loving touch also helps regulate the stress hormone, cortisol.  The more massage and yoga practiced with your baby, the greater combined sensory effects take place to enhance this closeness. Massaging and touching your baby is incredibly important to bonding with your baby, especially if you're not breastfeeding. 

Baby Yoga in Amsterdam

Teeny Tiny Yoga Has Arrived in Amsterdam

After arriving on the ferry in early October, following closely by a huge container lorry with our furniture, clothes and baby yoga equipment, we have arrived in South Amsterdam. 

My family and I have been travelling as much as we can by bike and enjoying exploring our new home.

We've also been busy looking into running baby yoga classes in Amsterdam and have found a wonderful new venue in Oud Zuid. Here is a sneak preview of the venue. As you can see, it is perfect for baby yoga, very clean and with a soft flooring.

Classes will run on Thursday mornings from the end of February 2014. Please contact teenytinyyoga@gmail.com  or www.teenytinyyoga.com for more information. Classes will be in English, with English songs.

Tuilips, Windmills and Cloggs

Classes are busy, I'm running baby and children's yoga classes at Debutots summer workship, the Lollibop festival and I've been offered three private contracts to teach baby yoga and my middle child will be in school for full days from September.

So, just when I felt that my life here was falling into place, something comes along to change EVERYTHING. 

My husband has accepted a new job in Amsterdam from the middle of August. We have decided to move to Haarlem in October this year. 

This means leaving behind family, friends, our lovely house and garden and my thriving business in which I've invested so much into during the last two years.

We don't speak Dutch, the children can't cycle and we barely know anyone in the Netherlands.

However, we plan to move by the sea, the children are safe to play out in the streets, the pace of life will be slower and we will learn about Dutch culture and learn to speak some Dutch.

So here are some things I am learning about Amsterdam:

• Amsterdam is the home of the Montesorri movement

• Bank holiday's take place on Thursday's so people can enjoy a 4 day weekend (unlike UK, where we often have a 3 day weekend as the bank holiday falls on a Monday).

• There are more museums in Amsterdam than any other city in the world

• There are twice as many bikes as cars.

• Children have no school on Wednesday or Friday afternoons and take a packed lunch
• The work-life balance is valued. People leave the office generally no later than 5.30pm.

It will take a few months to settle into our new home. 

While we live in the Netherlands, I plan to deepen my knowledge of yoga, carry out research and study the benefits of baby yoga and run new classes in Haarlem from January 2014. 

It will be fun to cycle around and visit new museums and make new friends. 

Our new house will be a short cycle ride to the beach, so we will look forward to visiting the longest beach in Europe and flying a kite.

Giving Your Baby the Best Start

The neurons in a baby’s brain, from birth, start to connect optimally when they are engaged in a positive communication with their main carer.  This exchange of love helps babies develop and make smoother transitions to the next phase in their development, for example from lying to sitting, from sitting to moving.

Therefore, best gifts an adult can give a child are attention, bonding and communication as well as time to play, create, dream and explore. It is scientifically proven that children learn best by listening to words coming from loving adults, either through talking or reading, by playing and by touching.  Research shows that bonding with a main carer is of key importance during the early years of a child’s life, particularly the first year.

When we are attuned with their desires or communication, we give and they receive cues to help understand their world.

As babies develop during the first year, they start to actively explore the world through all of their senses, the key being ALL of their senses. Often they will do an activity over and over again, and still think it is funny or fascinating. They are looking to their primary caregiver to interpret the world for them. When we are attuned with their desires or communication, we give and they receive cues to help understand their world. They are communicating using ‘words,’ eye contact, body language, and cries. As children become more mobile their world expands. It is truly amazing to watch a child go from sitting to becoming mobile in a matter of months, thus acquiring the new skill of independence.

Given the enormous physical and cognitive growth during this period, here are some ways baby yoga and baby massage can support the developments taking place:

1.       ATTUNEMENT – The art of being present and responsive. During this period of curiosity, attunement is essential; it is how babies learn. Baby massage and yoga bring connection and communication, stimulation and relaxation, calming and healing.  Babies need quality interaction with the adults closest to them to feel secure and free to explore.  Baby yoga encourages a relationship with your baby based on acceptance and patience and how to learn to decipher your baby’s cues. For example, when a baby looks turns his/her head away, your baby needs a break from interaction.  This can be misread as rejection. The only helpful response to this is to give your baby the break he/she needs.

2.       HOLDING –When a baby is being held, he/she feels safe.  Baby yoga encourages you to trust the power of positive touch together with your baby.  Through relaxed walking, specific holds and breathing exercises, it is possible to calm a crying baby.  Of course, it may not always work, but it is useful to build on techniques, knowledge and confidence in handling your baby. 

Babies can often spend a lot of their day separated from their parents’ bodies; in car seats, bouncers and cots.  Baby yoga exercises recreate active closeness, a structured way of relating dynamically with babies.  The postures are very gentle in the first few classes and then explore a greater range of movement.  This enhances the vestibular system, the part of our brain that coordinates our spatial awareness, sets a foundation for good posture, balance, flexibility and agility.

3.       PLAY – Children learn and develop both cognitively and physically through play. During a baby or toddler yoga class, a parent joins his/her child and they explore the world together through play.  The neurons in a baby’s brain, from birth, start to connect optimally when they are engaged in a positive communication with their main carer.  After three/four months, a baby loves communicating through play and starts to copy what he/she observes. As a result, the child feels safer to take risks and go beyond the original safety zone.  Yoga helps toddlers give physical expression to emotions, images and adventures as well as promoting spinal alignment, balance and flexibility.

4.       TOUCH – During pregnancy and birth, new mothers release the hormone oxytocin, associated with relaxing, connecting and nurturing.  Baby massage and yoga both stimulate the ongoing positive effects of this hormone.  A loving touch also helps regulate the stress hormone, cortisol.  The more massage and yoga practiced with your baby, the greater combined sensory effects take place to enhance this closeness.

There are many educational toys and activities available today which help foster curiosity and learning in babies. Having options to help promote the growth and development of children is wonderful. However, there is no replacement for positive one-on-one time with mum or dad and what better way to do this than by practising baby yoga or baby massage. Remember, most babies are more impressed with the boxes that the toys come in than the actual toy. Have fun with your baby; it is a time of incredible growth and learning for both of you.

www.teenytinyyoga.com

Ref. Cindy Hill-Ford, Francoise Freedman

Weight Loss Secrets

5 months after having baby Louis, I found myself weighing less on the scales than I did before I was pregnant. I've had many people asking me how I managed to loose the baby weight so quickly, so in the hope that it may help others, I thought my post pregnancy weight loss method may help you, whether or not you are trying to shift post-baby weight or just trying to shift a few stubborn pounds.

While I've always advocated eating a healthy, balanced diet, I ran into some trouble when breastfeeding Louis.  When he was 8 weeks old he wasn't gaining enough weight. Part of me thinks this is a nonsense as breastfeed babies weight measurements may not form a perfect line on a chart, but I also wondered if changing my diet would make any difference. 

I visited my local healthfood shop and asked how I could increase the amount of protein in my diet. I am a vegetarian, so the only source of protein for me is primarily through eggs, dairy, nuts and pulses. I was recommended hemp protein and spirulina. Every day for breakfast, I made myself a smoothie containing hemp protein, spirulina, half a banana, berries, rice or almond milk and vanilla essence.

Around the same time, I started hot yoga classes as well.  By going once a week, I felt this would tone up my muscles and firm the loose skin that had formed around my tummy.

The weight started to fall off.  Without thinking about it, I was easily loosing 2/3 lbs a week. I found I craved sweet foods less and barely had an appetite for lunch, yet my energy levels were steady, my nails and hair were strong and healthy and my skin and eyes looked bright. Louis weight increased rapidly over a month. Six months later, I am still making hemp and spirulina smoothies every day.  Baby Louis is huge and another benefit is that I rarely pick up colds and flu.

How to combat sleep deprivation

Sleep deprivation is very tough to cope with.  It can be debilitating.  Your mind turns to mush, your head hurts, even the smallest task can seem impossible to conquer. Time seems to tick by slowly, you struggle to find words when conversing and as to remembering why you walked into that room…Sound familiar?

Other than consuming large amounts of caffeine (NB caffeine can have an adverse effect to good sleep quality), one of the best ways to survive the day is to go for a long walk.  Not only will you feel better while you are walking, your baby will benefit from the fresh air.  Being outside and moving, is sometimes the only guaranteed way to help lift your mood.

The happiest people I know are those who spend a lot of time outdoors.

The science behind why we feel good after spending time outside, is that sunshine is the best source of vitamin D.  We have been taught that Vitamin D is a ‘vitamin’, but it is more accurate to describe it as a sun hormone. During pregnancy, your baby will sap up lots of your body’s store of vitaimin D, so it’s vital to make sure you and your baby have lots of fresh air.

Vitamin D will help regulate both yours and your babies sleep.

Vitamin D is a chemical produced on our skin during sun exposure.  While it is possible to source vitamin D from foods, the most beneficial source of vitamin D is from the sun. All forms of vitamin D are fat soluble, which means they are stored within the body when in excess and used when needed.  Early vitamin D deficiency signs include extreme sweating, heightened anxiety, fatigue, reduced appetite, mild depression, muscle cramps and sore joints.

One of the many roles of vitamin D is to regulate the pineal gland's secretion of melatonin, a "master control" hormone that regulates circadian rhythms and controls the cascade of other hormones and chemicals needed for falling asleep and waking up.  With the help of vitamin D, melatonin is released into the blood during periods of darkness or episodes of reduced sunshine.  Research has shown that insomnia and sleep apnea are due in part to vitamin D deficiency and that spending safe amounts of time in the sun can reverse many sleep irregularities. So, while exposure to sun won’t give you a much needed 12 hour sleep, it will mean that when you do sleep, your sleep will be deeper and of better quality.

At this time of year, you may feel like staying at home, especially if it is raining.  I strongly recommend buying a waterproof coat with a hood (if you don't already own one) and braving the elements. 

There is so much to enjoy outdoors.  Observe the budding leaves on the trees, feel the squishy mud underfoot, listen to the birds singing, notice the varied colours of the flowers, the changing shapes of the shadows and appreciate the beautiful colours in around you as summer bursts into life.

I wish there were a magic sleep pill available, but sadly it hasn't been invented yet.  You may lose count of the number of times people advise you to, 'sleep when your baby sleeps', but we know this isn't always possible, especially if you have other children to look after, dinner to make or washing to do. 

Try to follow the Norwegian principle, 'there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing'. So, even if it's raining, put on that rain coat and remember that life is not about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to dancing in the rain.

Born to Move

I have been searching the internet to find some research to evidence why babies love movement so much. There is lots of information on baby wearing, which does involve movement, but nothing specifically on movement.  Perhaps the answer to why babies love movement is very simple?  

When I was pregnant, I noticed that while I was busy during the day, the baby was quite still, but once I got into bed, the baby kicked. A lot. So maybe this is the origin of why babies love the sensation of being carried and held. 

An unsettled baby loves to be held and a great way of holding a baby is in a sling or baby carrier. It makes life so much easier for the caregiver, as it enables you to have both your hands free and still provide comfort for your baby.  Many newborn babies spend a lot of time sleeping.  I found my babies slept for only short bursts in a moses basket, but would sleep for much longer periods in a sling. 

Once a baby starts to be awake for longer periods, you may wish to look for ways to play with your baby.  And this is what makes baby yoga so unique.  Baby yoga involves movement for your baby, while combining exercise for you in the process. As your baby's caregiver, you are the centre of their world and by interacting with your baby through touch and with movement, you will find a whole new way of playing with your baby. There are different holds to help relieve colic and calm them, different ways to give your baby some much loved feeling of movement and ways to hold your baby to protect your back.  I have held many babies in 'Tiger in the Tree' pose at the end of the class and it never fails to settle a tired baby. Unless of course, they are hungry.

Knowing a few baby yoga tricks can make life with a small baby so much easier and even more fun. Teeny Tiny baby yoga classes are also a personal journey as babies change so rapidly, you'll notice the developmental differences between movements your baby did at the beginning of the course and at the end.  While toys and external stimulation have a place in your babies life, I strongly believe that you are all your baby needs and baby yoga is a beautiful way of giving you more resources to play with, and comfort your baby.

How I fell in love with yoga

Welcome to the Teeny Tiny Yoga blog. This blog aims to cover aspects of yoga linked to babies and children, lifestyle, food and seasonal changes and inspiration.

As this is my first blog EVER, I thought it apt to fill in the gaps and explain how I arrived here.

I fell in love with yoga in my early 20's.  Here was a non-competitive form of exercise which made me feel great and keep fit. I loved that it wasn't just about exercise, that my vegetarianism and personal philosophy fitted so perfectly with yoga.  My father was a GP and my mum, a nurse, I have always been interested in how the body works, diet and complementary medicine. I went on to train as a massage therapist and a reflexologist and often bring my knowledge of these areas into my classes. I set up a pampering business with a friend and worked in the evenings running pamper nights and 5 days a week in the city.

 After having my first child, Ava, in 2006 I took her to a baby yoga class when she was only 6 weeks old. The baby yoga class completely changed my relationship with my baby. Having not had any contact with babies before my baby came along, the class taught me ways to settle her, play with her and enjoy her. And after 6 months, I returned to my job in the city. Something had shifted and while I continued to practice baby yoga with Ava, I realised there was a way to combine two things I love, babies and yoga. I signed up for a Birthlight Baby Yoga Practitioner course when Ava was one year old.

Two years later, Aaron was born. Initially, I decided not to return to work and set up two baby yoga classes a week in local church halls. I called my business, 'Love Baby Yoga'.  A year after Aaron was born, I realised that for financial reasons, teaching baby yoga had to be put on hold and went back to the city with a heavy heart and a plan. The money I earned in the city funded the SMART (Stretch Move and Relax Together) Toddler Yoga course which I completed in 2011.  'Love Baby Yoga' no longer worked as a name, as the business name needed to encompass toddler yoga.

Once I completed the course, I spent a long time writing a business plan for 'Teeny Tiny Yoga', building a website, a logo and carefully selecting venues, and I was ready
 to set up my own business, teaching baby and toddler yoga. I handed in my resignation and was about to work my three months notice period, when...I
 realised I was pregnant.

 This was a tough time for me as my energy levels dropped and I found it difficult to carry heavy yoga mats in and out of venues.  I ran classes until one month before baby Louis arrived and started again when he was only 10 weeks old. He was my perfect demonstration baby.

 Baby Louis is now 8 months old, my 4 year old has just started pre-school
 which finishes at 11.45am each day, and Ava is now 6 years old.  They all
 love yoga.

It is very difficult to make a profit, when you consider the cost of childcare, hall hire and marketing. It has taken 17 long years since I left university to find a job I can do that I love.  I used the time while I was working in the city to build a portfolio of skills which would help me when I had set up my own business, for example, using spreadsheets, web design, gaining a CIM Marketing Certificate, copy-writing and PR and communication. I've since formed a network of people running pre-school groups, ante-natal groups and yoga teachers. I consider myself incredibly lucky to be doing
 something I love and also be there for my children when they need me.  This
 the optimum position for me to be in. My next steps are to complete the Advanced Baby Yoga certificate and become a Hatha Yoga Teacher
 by the end of this year. I see my teaching growing with my children and hope to train as a children's yoga teacher and teach at lunchtimes in primary schools.