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NEW mums are getting back into shape with the help of yoga sessions ... and keeping a close eye on baby at the same time!
Trainer and practitioner Carina Nielsen from Denmark has set up a series of special 'mum and baby' classes at her home in Canary Gardens near Country Mall off Budaiya Highway.
She believes yoga is an excellent way to find relief from the aches and pains of carrying a little one around as well as coping with the stresses of parenthood ... and the classes are a great way for mothers will babies to escape the home and make new friends.
Carina, 32, has a five-month-old son, Gustav, and moved to Bahrain in January. She said: "As a new mum I was looking for places where I could exercise in a group while taking my baby along but Bahrain did not appear to offer many facilities.
"I started these classes because I like to teach and practice yoga and also wanted to meet some new people."
Babies watch playfully in awe during the sessions and if they get cranky or need a change there is plenty of room to do so.
The sessions have been set up specifically for new mums who want to get back into a 'physically-active' mode and want to share their parenting experiences.
The weekly sessions take around one-and-a-half hours. Carina explained: "You can start right after your delivery if you are feeling fine. One af the participants has just started with her three-week-old daughter.
"Often the babies just lie on the floor next to us and sometimes they fall asleep. So far the children have been very quiet. I think they are enjoying it but if they get cranky, mums can walk around and calm their babies down and can breastfeed or change them. It is a very informal and comfortable atmosphere.
"We will be doing very physical yoga and I am paying a lot of attention to see that it is done correctly. Soon after I had my baby I had a lot of tension in my shoulders, my back and my neck because I have been caring for my son. My exercises will be paying close attention to those areas.
"My objective is that after a session here you should feel better - not worse. I don't push anybody and encourage people to listen to their body and do it the best way they can. I also focus on breathing as it helps you to relax. And, in between the exercises, we can all talk about babies!"
Carina is also holding separate sessions for beginners. She describes herself as an 'outdoors person' and believes that yoga is a great way to calm down, relax, feel good and get a lot of new energy while getting fit.
Carina was practising as a nutritionist and working with overweight children and their families in Denmark before coming to Bahrain. She has also taken a two-year course on teaching yoga and was training at a health centre.
For more details she can be contacted on 36294978 or email her on Carina_b_n@hotmail.com
