Mums Matter: Baby Yoga, Bonding and Breathing Space

The Mums Matter – Nature & Wellbeing Programme, delivered by Time to Connect CIC in partnership with Forest Frontiers and supported by Bolton CVS, continued this week with a beautifully gentle shift in pace - a Baby Yoga session led by Helen Swan, founder of Yoga Bunnies.

After weeks of woodland exploration, creativity and seasonal play, this session offered mums and babies a calm, nurturing indoor space - a chance to slow down, breathe, and simply be together.

A warm welcome into calm

From the moment families arrived, the atmosphere felt different - softer, quieter, and intentionally unhurried. Mats were laid out, shoes were slipped off, and babies were gently settled beside their mums.

Helen introduced herself and the ethos behind Yoga Bunnies, explaining that baby yoga isn’t about poses, performance or flexibility.

“It’s about connection, calm and confidence,” she shared.“There’s no such thing as doing it wrong.”

That reassurance alone visibly helped shoulders drop around the room.

What baby yoga really is

The session unfolded gently, with Helen guiding mums through a blend of yoga-inspired movements, sensory play, breath work and wellbeing conversation - all carefully designed to support both baby and parent.

Each element served a purpose:

• Gentle stretches for babies, supporting movement, digestion and body awareness

• Shared movements for parent and baby, encouraging bonding and confidence in handling

• Breathing exercises, helping regulate nervous systems - for mums and babies alike

• Songs and nursery rhymes, bringing smiles, rhythm and familiarity

• Sensory moments, inviting curiosity and engagement

• Gratitude, offering a mindful pause in the middle of a busy week

There was no expectation for babies to be still or settled. Some wriggled, some fed, some slept - all entirely welcome.

A space where nothing needs fixing

One of the most powerful aspects of the session wasn’t a movement or activity, but the permission it gave.

Babies cried. Mums responded. No one rushed. No one apologised.

Helen gently normalised the realities of early parenthood, weaving reassurance into the session through small check-ins and reflections.

This wasn’t about “doing yoga” - it was about learning to trust yourself, your baby, and the relationship you’re building together.

Supporting attachment and confidence

As the session progressed, it was clear how much value this kind of space brings — particularly for mums navigating the early weeks and months of motherhood.

Baby yoga supports:

• Bonding and attachment, through shared movement and eye contact

• Physical development and digestion for babies

• Confidence in handling, playing and responding to cues

• Emotional regulation, for both parent and child

• Connection with other mums, without pressure to talk or perform

Several mums commented afterwards on how calming it felt to have a structured space where nothing was expected - where simply showing up was enough.

Community in quiet moments

Unlike the more energetic outdoor sessions, connection here happened quietly.

Mums sat alongside one another, offering gentle smiles, nods of recognition, or a hand when needed. There was an unspoken understanding - a shared awareness of tiredness, love, overwhelm and joy.

These quieter sessions are just as powerful as the louder ones. They offer space for reflection, reassurance and rest - something many mums rarely give themselves permission for.

A perfect fit for Mums Matter

This session beautifully reflected the heart of the Mums Matter programme: creating spaces where mothers feel supported, seen and valued - not judged or rushed.

By bringing in Yoga Bunnies, the programme widened its offer, showing that wellbeing doesn’t look one single way. Sometimes it’s muddy boots and forest walks. Sometimes it’s soft mats, slow breathing and gentle connection.

Both matter. Both belong.

Looking ahead

As the programme continues, sessions like this remind us why variety is so important. Different weeks meet different needs - and different mums.

This baby yoga session offered a calm anchor point in the programme: a reminder that slowing down is productive, connection is powerful, and support doesn’t always need words.

As one mum quietly said while packing up:

“That was exactly what I needed today.”

And perhaps that’s the simplest measure of success there is.