Organizing and Implementation of a Child-friendly Yoga Class for Mothers in the Childcare Stage

• Published in: Journal of Japan Society of Sports Industry Vol. 22; no. 1; pp. 141 - 145
• Main Authors: YAMAUCHI, Yayoi, NAKAMURA, Yoshio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan Society of Sports Industry 2012
• Subjects: Backache; Child-friendly; Childcare Stress; Exercise Class; Health; Moods; Mother Support; Promotion; Shoulders; Sports; Stress; Women; Yoga; Yoga Class
• ISSN: 1343-0688; 1884-2534
• DOI: 10.5997/sposun.22.141

The purpose of this article was to describe and report on our “Child-friendly Yoga Class” for mothers. The class was aimed at contributing the opportunity for mothers in the childcare stage, to gain “exercise” “refreshing” and “contact with society,” since many women who become mothers tend to be temporarily left isolated from society. The yoga class for mothers was organized in order to help solve related problems, such as depression or abuse increased by stress related to childcare. The number of participants gradually increased, and several positive effects for both mental and physical were reported from the participants, such as resolving physical inactivity, improving shoulder stiffness and low back pain, and refreshing for mood change. Furthermore, becoming friends in the yoga class was promoted, so that the mothers were able to achieve a breakaway from “isolated parenting” and increase communication between mothers. This report suggests that the “Child-friendly Yoga Class” not only contributed to their physical and psychological health, but also became a “Community” providing a social network for mothers.