Is your baby getting ready to crawl? Lots of scooting on his tummy and raising his head and chest off the floor? These times are so exciting and rewarding. here are a few Yoga poses to help baby build up his shoulders, arms, tummy and back, while relaxing the hips.

Y ou should never force a baby into a Yoga pose. If your baby is unable to do a pose or resisting a pose then move on to the next pose of try Yoga another time. This practice should be a fun bonding experience for both Mom and Baby. At no time is this to be a stressful practice.

Before you begin will need a Yoga mat, towel or blanket spread out on the floor to start. Additionally consult your baby's doctor before you begin any new Yoga practice.

1. Boat Pose

Start by having your baby lying on his back on your lap, you two are sitting on the floor on a comfortable blanket. Taking the back one one knee in each of our hands lift your feet off the floor. Your knees can be straight or bent. Watch as your baby lifts one leg or two copying your example. You can even sing row row row your boat as you do this exercise. Singing is a great way to communicate that Yoga is fun and this should be enjoyed.

2. Cobra Pose

In this pose the baby is placed on his tummy on a mat on the floor. The hands are placed next to the baby's ears. As your baby's neck gets stronger you will see her head lifting up then the shoulders, chest and tummy. Your baby will start to push up and lift his head up. As the baby pushes up evenly the chest and tummy rise up off the floor. Never leave your baby unattended in Tummy time as it is important to make sure that you baby can always breath. Tummy time has been linked to SIDs, Sudden Infant Death Syndrom, Consult your baby's doctor before you begin any new Yoga practice.

The more advanced is the Adho Muka Savasana or Upward Dog Pose with the Hips off the floor as well and the chest and Tummy.

3. Chair Pose

Do not force legs. Start with Baby lying on back comfortably. Gently take a thigh in each hand, make sure that your fingers are on top of the let and your thumb is on the back of babys thigh. Lightly lift the thigh up so the femur bone is at a 90(approximate as every baby's flexibility is different) degree angle with the hip. Watch as your baby wil bend his knees and be sitting in an imaginary chair.

4. Tummy Twist

Great for spine flexibility and to gently release stress from all the tummy time and attempts at crawling.

Baby is lying on back comfortably. Bring both legs together above baby. Hold ankles in one hand, bringing legs at about a 70 degree angle, do not force legs. Gently bring feet to the right of the body, watch to see if left shoulder stays on floor as you twist to the right side. Bring legs back to center. Repeat with legs going to the left torso gets a nice twist, right should is on floor.

5. Happy Baby Pose

Time to laugh! Again Baby is lying on back and your are going to take a foot in each hand. Gently take a hand in each of your hands as well. Rock baby left to right gently.

Fun with this pose, baby will automatically do this pose without your help. I have caught my baby in this pose lying in his crib giggling. Babies find their hands and toes are fascinating at this age.

6. Baby Lotus Pose or Cobbler Pose

Baby Lotus: great hip Opener for baby, this pose will relax any hip tension. Take the right foot in your right hand and bring the right foot to baby's left hip, right ankle is slightly above baby's belly button. Take the left foot in your left hand, bringing baby's left foot to his right hip. Left ankle is below belly button. Unwind and then repeat with the left ankle above the belly button and right ankle below belly button.

Baby Cobbler pose:If baby is able to sit up on his won then place baby in sitting pose with legs bent at knees, baby sitting forward with strong back supported on hands. Do not force legs, if baby does not want to sit up or have bent knees and is too relaxed then do the lying down lotus pose. I always like to sit behind my son so that I can pick him up if he gets so low that he squishes his nose and has trouble breathing.

7. Star Pose

Time to relax, wrap baby in a warm blanket or in some warm clothes it is time to relax. Have baby stretch out in a comfortable spot and just relax into Star Pose.