Baby “yoga” instructor to bring practice to Europe, babies cry, vomit and scream

Lena Fokina, a Russian yoga instructor, has a very unique practice she does with babies. Grabbing them by the arms she  twists and spins them around in what she calls baby yoga. The 51-year old physical educator has been practicing it for 30-years and while some websites have banned it (for fear of promoting child abuse) she insists it is safe and beneficial.

‘It’s very good for babies and not dangerous at all. Some babies cry at first, but they begin to enjoy it,” she told the Daily Mail.

‘Most people think young babies can only lie on a bed, eat, and cry. But babies are born with natural reflexes, which we can use to help them develop physically and intellectually.

‘I work with parents from across Europe. I hope soon I will be working with a family in England. I think there are a number of open-minded parents there whose babies could benefit from my work.’

The practice, which can last for up to five minutes, is performed on infants as young as a few weeks to babies up to two years old and if often leaves them crying and screaming. It’s also not uncommon for them to spit up while being swung in the air. Critics are worried that the throwing around by the arms will result in damage to the babies from the brains being shook in their skulls (Shaken Baby Syndrome.)

But Fokina insists it is safe. Developed by Russian doctor Igor Charkovsky it apparently uses techniques from Africa.

‘The method was originally developed to cure and correct the health of children having muscular or skeletal problems but it is also suitable for healthy children,” says Fokina, “The movements are designed to improve their muscular abilities and development. And the children often turn out to be early readers, singers, talkers, swimmers. It also makes their hands stronger. We are humanists and we don’t do anything wrong.’

And it’s not cheap. A 12 day info session where parents learned about the practice and watched their babies partake in their first intense swinging session costs 255pounds (400$.)

Check out the video and see for yourself. Myself, I can’t bring myself to watch infants being swung through the air like rag dolls. I’ll stick to massages and mild stretched until they’re a wee bit older.  Source.