Maintaining a sense of calm and taking care of your self is very important when you became a parent – not to mention a parent living in Brooklyn. One way to find some inner peace, alleviate tension, improve posture, strengthen muscles and challenge your body is by practicing yoga. This calming practice can also be enjoyed very early on with your baby as both a bonding experience and a way strengthen your body. There are also toddler and classes for pre-teens that focus on activities, music, games and imaginative play to enhance a child’s imagination and natural curiosity to help kids learn. Check out some of these yoga studios in Brooklyn and let us know about your experiences (and if we are missing one you LOVE!) P.S.- do it in the comments section below.
Abhyasa Yoga Center
Abhyasa Yoga Center offers personal, breath-centered, therapeutic yoga practice to the Williamsburg community, including a kid (age 2-5) and parent class and a baby and me class. All classes are $12 and offered on Tuesday and Thursday from 2:45pm to 3:30pm (kids and parent) and on Friday from 12:00 to 1:30 pm (baby and me).
Details: Abhyasa is located at 628 Metropolitan Ave. (Williamsburg). For additional information, please call (718) 782-8272 or visit: abhyasayogacenter.com
Bend and Bloom Yoga
The yoga and toddler class at Bend and Bloom focuses on imaginative yoga play such as mimicking animals and shapes in nature to help kids develop strength, flexibility, coordination and an appreciation for the environment. As kids indulge in imaginative yoga play they learn to focus, to cooperate with peers and to use their breath. The studio allows kids to indulge in yoga fun while parents and caregivers enjoy their own serene practice in the adjacent studio. Classes are offered in groups – ranging from baby to 10 year-olds. Family Yoga for Tots is offered on Tuesdays from 10:00am to 10:45am and Fridays from 9:30am to 10:15am. Kids from 2.5-6 yrs can take the Saturday morning class from 9:45am to 10:30am. Sessions are $240 for 12-week Family series ($24 drop-in for adult and child, $10 for additional family member).
Details: Bend and Bloom is located at 708 Sackett St. (between 4th and 5th Ave). For additional information, please call (347) 987-3162, email info@bendandbloom.com or visit: bendandbloom.com
Bija Kids
Family Yoga classes at Bija Kids are designed to provide tools, games and poses that can be practiced at home with kids of all ages. Through group and partner work, games, breathing practices and more, beginner and experienced yogis will have fun exploring the possibilities. Classes improve strength, coordination and flexibility. Meditation, chanting and relaxation techniques are incorporated into each session. Family Yoga (2yrs+ with adult) starts 1/22 on Saturdays from 10:00 am to 10:45am. Kids can also take their own classes without their parents and Bija Kids offers school break and summer camp additionally.
Details: Bija family yoga classes are held at 412 Waverly Ave (btwn Greene and Gates) on Saturdays and on occasional Saturdays at Mala Yoga at 162 Court Street (@Amity). For additional information, please email yoga@bijakids.com or visit www.bijakids.com.
Everyday Athlete
The tumble tots program for children 18 months – 3 yrs is a joy-filled movement education program that combines basic tumbling skills and movements to teach balance, coordination, self-confidence, social skills and motor development in a supportive atmosphere. Classes are taught on Tuesdays at 11:00 am and noon. The center also offers Childbirth Preparation Classes, Breastfeeding and Newborn Care classes, Breastfeeding Support Groups, Colic Support Groups, Prenatal Yoga, pre and postnatal training (with childcare!), nutrition, massage, craniosacral therapy, and more.
Details:The Everyday Athlete Studio is located at 136 Union street (between Hicks and Columbia.) For additional information, please call (718) 852-6300 or visit: http://everydayathlete.com/
Greenhouse Holistic
Greenhouse Holistic is a Yoga and Hot Stone Spa offering classes in Yoga, Tai Chi, Pilates and Belly Dance as well as Healing Services in Hot Stone Massage, Body Treatments, Facials and Acupuncture. They also offer a Baby Yoga class that addresses the common aches and pains in a new moms back and arms from lifting, carrying, and nursing, while providing special bonding poses for you and your baby. The poses are also designed to enhance a baby’s motor development, relieve colic, and help them sleep better and longer – so you can sleep better and longer too! Babies 6 weeks through 9 months are welcome.
Details: Greenhouse Holistic is located at 88 Roebling Street. For additional information, please call (7180 599-3113, email michelle@greenhouseholistic.com or visit: greenhouseholistic.com
Karma Kids
Located in Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn Dojo offers a parent and child class and a mom (strong walkers through age 3) and a baby class (starting at 6 weeks through walkers) on Thursday and Friday. This unique class combines yoga and play to get back in shape while strengthening the bond between you and your infant. Experience flowing asanas, challenging postures, and calming restorative time in a playful and safe environment for babies. The exercises are designed to strengthen growing muscles, aid in digestion, promote better sleeping patterns, and help your infant towards their next stage of development. The parent and child class is taught from 11:30 to 12:15 on Thursday and the mom baby class is taught from 12:30-1:30 on Thursday and 12:00-1:00 on Friday. The mom/dad and baby classes are 20 sessions for $300; 10 sessions for $180; 5 sessions for $90 and drop-ins are $20. The Parent & Child Yoga Classes are 20 classes for $460; 15 classes for $360; 10 classes for $240 and drop-ins are $27 per pair. Also, the first class is free and Dads are welcome too.
Details: Karma Kids Yoga is located at Brooklyn Dojo, located at 93 Pineapple Walk, a pedestrian walkway extension of Pineapple Street in Brooklyn Heights. For additional information, please email downdog@karmakidsyoga.com or visit: http://www.karmakidsyoga.com/brooklyn.html
Lucky Lotus
Join instructors of Lucky Lotus for a baby and me yoga class on Tuesdays from 4:00 to 5:30 pm. Starting as a trial class, the studio is looking for interested participants to make this a regular class on the schedule. One class – $17 (unless otherwise noted)
Two class card – $33;
Five class card – $80
and a 10-class card is – $150.
Details: Lucky Lotus Yoga is located at 203 Dekalb Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11205
(718) 522-7119. For additional information please email info@luckylotusyoga.com or visit: http://www.luckylotusyoga.com/
Midwood Martial Arts and Family Fitness Center
Located in Ditmas Park/Midwood, the studio offers numerous classes such as Pilates once a week each, Yoga offered four times per week (including a weekday at noon, a late evening and two weekend classes). In addition, they have other offerings; Aikido, Capoeira, Tai Chi, Wing Chun Kung Fu/Catch as Catch Can Wrestling/Western Boxing, African Dance, Cardio Kickboxing, Gymnastics, Musical Theatre, Karate, Mediation, Chi Gung, Feldenkrais, Nei Kung, Pilates Mat, Yoga, GymStars, Juguemos A Cantar, Zumba, Creative Movement, Music and Rhythm, Pre-Ballet, Sign-A-Song, Story Time, Yoga for Children.
Details: Midwood Martial Arts is located at 1302 Avenue H (at the corner of E. 13th Street) (Ditmas). For additional information, please call (718) 258-KICK (5425) or visit: www.midwoodmartialarts.com
Prema Yoga
Prema offers a toddler yoga classes for kids 18 months–3 years with instructor Ellynne Skove. The class includes elements of meditation, pranayama (breathing practices), and yoga poses. This includes activities that are playful and engaging as well as games and music to introduce toddlers to the wonderful benefits of yoga. Classes are held on Tuesdays from March 15th–May 24th (1 week off for Easter break) from 11-11:45am. The class is $195 for 10 weeks. Drop-ins are welcome for $25/per class. Also, if kids that are younger than 18 months but are walking and mobile, they can also enroll.
Details: Prema Yoga is located at 236 Carroll Street, 1F. For additional information, please call Amanda Harding at 917/776-0250, email amanda@karunanyc.com or visit: http://premayoganyc.com/workshops_events.html#toddlers
Sangha Yoga Shala
Mommy/Baby Integrative Pilates is designed for a postpartum mother with a pre-crawling baby. Bring your baby to class with you while you start or continue the journey back into pre-pregnancy jeans! This class will focus on rehabilitating the postpartum body while offering challenging, low impact exercises to bring the heart rate up and help shed the “baby weight.” Taught by personal trainer and Pilates instructor, Charlotte Blake, new moms can expect a whole body workout that will focus on strengthening and rehabilitating the core, working the pelvic floor, relieving common new-mom aches and pains, releasing stress, and losing weight. Mommy/Baby Integrative Pilates is offered on Tuesday from 10:45am to 11:45am. There is also a Little Yogi’s class for kids 2 to 5 years old that focuses on imagination and natural curiosity to help kids learn. Through this yoga experience, children will exercise social, non-competitive, sensory and motor skills. Keeping their creativity and bodies flowing through simple yoga poses and interactive games, discovering that cooperation can be fun. There is also an Emphasis on enhancing concentration and listening skills. The 12-week winter series runs from January, 13th through March, 31st.
Details: Sangha Yoga Shala is located at 107 N.3rd #2H (between Berry and Wythe). For additional information, please call (803) 960- 4590, email: charblake@gmail.com or info@sanghayoganyc.com or visit: www.sanghayoganyc.com
Vayu Yoga Center
Yoga for all ages and stages including: prenatal yoga, baby and me yoga, toddler yoga and family yoga and movement workshops. These workshops not only promote a healthy lifestyle with movement, but also teach families to work together through trust exercises and other innovative practices.
Details: Vayu Yoga Center is located at 259 Columbia St. (bet. President & Carroll). For additional information, please call (718) 403-0305.