Baby Rattan Love

One of my closest friends just gave birth to a sweet little girl a couple of months ago, so I have had baby on the brain a bit more than usual. I can't help seeing everything through the mama-lens. For example, how sweet would this little bamboo tiki cart be as a diaper station? Then, when Baby is out of diapers it can become an art-supplies organizer... Just sayin' ;)

Kindermusic in Santa Barbara

There are so many options when it comes to music classes for babies.  We went with Yellowbird Music with Alex because, while most of the instruments are the same, the teacher is who makes the class, and Alex is so amazing with the babies.  I brought my daughter to try out a free class, thinking that would be the end of it since money was tight.  We ended up signing up right then and are in our fourth "semester" now.

We sing songs, dance, blow bubbles, take towel rides, play in the parachute, pull the babies around on little carts, bounce on the air log, and of course play tons of instruments.  My daughter loves music class, and plays hard the entire time.  Each semester comes with a CD, book, and musical instrument, so we can get crazy at home, too.  Isla gets so excited when she hears her favorite songs come on (Giddyup Horsey and Let's Sing Hello, Hello), and she knows just what to do if you hand her a drum.

Mama and Baby (and Papa!) Yoga

I love yoga and am so excited that I can include my little one.  Santa Barbara has two great options.  Mama Emma and Baby Olivia lead my favorite class which is $12 at Santa Barbara Yoga Center.  Click here for a schedule of classes.  I love it for the workout, stretching, and zen-like state I leave the class in, no matter how frazzled I was when I came in.  Babies participate as much or as little as they'd like.  They crawl around some and play with each other, and crawl under and over their mamas who are holding poses or flowing through sun salutations.  They may give you a hand in your stretch like Olivia did for me today by crawling over and pushing on your leg!  They are remarkably entertained the entire time, and some even join in on the closing Om.  The babies I've met in this class are 3 months to 1 1/2 years old, and every age in between, and the moms are all different ages as well.  

The second baby yoga class available in SB is $16 at Yoga Soup with Dani.  Click here for a schedule of classes.  Also a blast for my daughter, this class is smaller and very different.  The first part of the class is more for the mamas, although babies are not ignored.  It is a mix with a kundalini emphasis.  Less poses and sequences than I'm used to, and more strength work.  Expect to do breath of fire and a serious arm workout, lifting Baby up into the air.  The last part of class is baby-focused and by far my favorite part.  Yogini kids music gets the little ones' attention.  A lot of the movements we did with our babies were more suited for young babies with colic, but were also fun for my 10 month old.

To sum it up, I get more of a yoga workout and stretching from Emma's class at SBYC, and leave feeling more balanced.  I think this is the class for moms who miss their yoga routine.  I also enjoy Dani's class at Yoga Soup.  For moms who prefer kundalini or strength training, you will love Dani's class, and my sense is older babies will really get into the yoga themselves in this class.  My daughter has a great time at both.  I really suggest checking them both out, since they are so different.