Class Tips, Fees and Policies

Nope, sorry. We don’t offer drop-in options for classes for crawling or older children or trial classes during the regular session. 

Children really do need the consistency of a weekly class both for comfort and so they can best learn and drop-ins can be disruptive to the class routine. Read more. Since it often takes several classes for a child to settle in, dropping in once is not really the best indicator of whether your child will enjoy class.

However, we get that it can be tough to commit to a class when you can’t imagine what happens or how your child will react, so:

1. We have a no-risk refund policy. If you register for a class and decide for any reason it’s a bad fit for you, your child, or your schedule, and you decide early in the series, you can drop the class and get a prorated refund. See details.
2. We occasionally offer trial/drop-in days, when the teacher will spend a little extra time explaining the class routine and parents get a chance to see a class in action.

We also understand that life is unpredictable and have a generous makeup policy for families that wish to commit to a series but know they will miss a class or two.

We have several different parent-child yoga classes on our schedule and people have asked, which one should they should sign up for? To answer that, pick the best description that fits your situation:

If you have one child, pick the appropriate age range:

• newborn to almost crawling babies – Baby Yoga & Play or Infant Massage
• crawling (or almost crawling and at least 7 months old) to 1 years – Tot Yoga
• 12-24 months – Tot Yoga or Toddler Family Yoga or as a younger sibling in Little Family Yoga
• almost 2 to 4 years – Toddler Family Yoga or Little Family Yoga
• 3 yrs – Toddler Family Yoga, Prenatal Yoga or as a younger sibling in Family Yoga
• 4 yrs – Little Family Yoga or Family Yoga
• 5-10 yrs – Family Yoga

If you have a 3 year old or children in multiple age ranges, you have a choice of classes:

Toddler Family Yoga (steady walking – 35 months)

• Very active, playful class with simple movements, yoga poses, and beginning breath and body awareness exercises
• Beginning to incorporate imaginative play and simple storytelling in relation to the yoga poses and activities
• Typically only uses yoga mats as a prop or for relaxation
• Younger siblings welcome (non walking infants free)

Little Family Yoga Yoga (21 months – 4 yrs)

• Very active, playful class with age appropriate yoga poses and beginning breath and body awareness exercises
• Incorporates imaginative play and storytelling in relation to the yoga poses and activities
• Games are very simple, usually consisting of only one or two steps: jumping in and out of circles, following directions …
• Partner poses are very simple
• Typically only uses yoga mats as a prop or for relaxation
• Especially good for young 4 year olds or reserved children likely to stay close to their parent during class
• Appropriate for siblings younger than 2 to participate (may enroll at half price, non walking infants free)

Family Yoga (4-8 or 10 yrs)

• Still active and playful, in fact a bit more athletic as coordination improves,
• More imagination/pretend, more and more involved stories,
• Games become more complicated and start to have rules: move & freeze, musical mats …
• Partner poses with parents begin to be recognizable as yoga poses
• Uses mats for the majority of the class, but children will move around the room for many activities
• Appropriate for younger siblings 2.5 years and older or older siblings 10 and younger to participate (50% sibling discount, strongly recommend second adult participant when sibling is younger than 3)
• May also be appropriate for 3-year olds who’ve taken our classes for several months and would enjoy the challenge of keeping up with the big kids. By permission only.

All classes can accommodate younger or older siblings, so what do you do if both children are not within the same class age range?

You have multiple children to enroll:

• A 3-year-old and a 1-year-old – Little Family Yoga (2-4 yrs) with the younger one enrolled at half price
• A 5/6 year old and a 2.5 year old – Family Yoga (4-8 years) with the younger enrolled at half price
• A 5- and 9-year-old – Family Yoga (4-8 yrs) with the older enrolled at half price.

Sibling discounts are automatic; just sign up both children.

Our Tot Yoga (crawling-24 months) and Preschooler Yoga (21 months-4 yrs) have a 3 month age overlap on purpose. Personality, more than physical development, should be the deciding factor between the two classes.

Tot Yoga tends to be a quieter class with more repetition from week to week, so suits more reserved toddlers better.

Preschooler / Little Family Yoga tends to be louder and move move more quickly from activity to activity to suit the energy level of 2-4 yr olds. Little Family Yoga requires more verbal direction following, incorporates more imaginative play, and typically involves less physical helping from parents. Very active almost-2 year olds often do well in this class because the social environment challenges them more than that of the younger group. Younger siblings accustomed to the energy and speed of older toddlers and preschoolers tend to enjoy this class as well, even if they are not able to do every pose.

Toddler Family Yoga (walking-4 yrs) is a crossover class which is very much like Little Family Yoga with some adaptations 12-21 month old students.

Nope, sorry. We don’t offer drop-in options for classes for crawling or older children or trial classes during the regular session. 

Children really do need the consistency of a weekly class both for comfort and so they can best learn and drop-ins can be disruptive to the class routine. Read more. Since it often takes several classes for a child to settle in, dropping in once is not really the best indicator of whether your child will enjoy class.

However, we get that it can be tough to commit to a class when you can’t imagine what happens or how your child will react, so:

1. We have a no-risk refund policy. If you register for a class and decide for any reason it’s a bad fit for you, your child, or your schedule, and you decide early in the series, you can drop the class and get a prorated refund. See details.
2. We occasionally offer trial/drop-in days, when the teacher will spend a little extra time explaining the class routine and parents get a chance to see a class in action.

We also understand that life is unpredictable and have a generous makeup policy for families that wish to commit to a series but know they will miss a class or two.

We have several different parent-child yoga classes on our schedule and people have asked, which one should they should sign up for? To answer that, pick the best description that fits your situation:

If you have one child, pick the appropriate age range:

• newborn to almost crawling babies – Baby Yoga & Play or Infant Massage
• crawling (or almost crawling and at least 7 months old) to 1 years – Tot Yoga
• 12-24 months – Tot Yoga or Toddler Family Yoga or as a younger sibling in Little Family Yoga
• almost 2 to 4 years – Toddler Family Yoga or Little Family Yoga
• 3 yrs – Toddler Family Yoga, Prenatal Yoga or as a younger sibling in Family Yoga
• 4 yrs – Little Family Yoga or Family Yoga
• 5-10 yrs – Family Yoga

If you have a 3 year old or children in multiple age ranges, you have a choice of classes:

Toddler Family Yoga (steady walking – 35 months)

• Very active, playful class with simple movements, yoga poses, and beginning breath and body awareness exercises
• Beginning to incorporate imaginative play and simple storytelling in relation to the yoga poses and activities
• Typically only uses yoga mats as a prop or for relaxation
• Younger siblings welcome (non walking infants free)

Little Family Yoga Yoga (21 months – 4 yrs)

• Very active, playful class with age appropriate yoga poses and beginning breath and body awareness exercises
• Incorporates imaginative play and storytelling in relation to the yoga poses and activities
• Games are very simple, usually consisting of only one or two steps: jumping in and out of circles, following directions …
• Partner poses are very simple
• Typically only uses yoga mats as a prop or for relaxation
• Especially good for young 4 year olds or reserved children likely to stay close to their parent during class
• Appropriate for siblings younger than 2 to participate (may enroll at half price, non walking infants free)

Family Yoga (4-8 or 10 yrs)

• Still active and playful, in fact a bit more athletic as coordination improves,
• More imagination/pretend, more and more involved stories,
• Games become more complicated and start to have rules: move & freeze, musical mats …
• Partner poses with parents begin to be recognizable as yoga poses
• Uses mats for the majority of the class, but children will move around the room for many activities
• Appropriate for younger siblings 2.5 years and older or older siblings 10 and younger to participate (50% sibling discount, strongly recommend second adult participant when sibling is younger than 3)
• May also be appropriate for 3-year olds who’ve taken our classes for several months and would enjoy the challenge of keeping up with the big kids. By permission only.

All classes can accommodate younger or older siblings, so what do you do if both children are not within the same class age range?

You have multiple children to enroll:

• A 3-year-old and a 1-year-old – Little Family Yoga (2-4 yrs) with the younger one enrolled at half price
• A 5/6 year old and a 2.5 year old – Family Yoga (4-8 years) with the younger enrolled at half price
• A 5- and 9-year-old – Family Yoga (4-8 yrs) with the older enrolled at half price.

Sibling discounts are automatic; just sign up both children.

There are a lot of yoga studios advertising parent & baby classes, but it’s sometimes hard to tell from the descriptions what will actually happen in class.

Some instructors focus exclusively on mom. They keep the lights low and the room warm in the hopes that baby will sleep.

Some instructors incorporate infant massage and movements in the first few minutes of class and then shift their attention to adult yoga for the rest of the class.

In a lot of classes, baby’s roll is relegated to being used as a weight, all be it a very cute one.

While there’s nothing wrong with any of these approaches, that’s not what we are doing at in Baby Yoga & Play.

Baby Yoga & Play focuses on the interaction between baby and caregiver with lots of baby-centric activities, but we do incorporate postpartum appropriate stretching and strengthening for caregivers.

Babies participate while on their backs, tummies, or held in loving arms. For grownups, this class is a special opportunity to meet other parents and caregivers, get support, and learn about baby’s emerging personality

We blend baby moves with postures for parents

Grownups in Baby Yoga & Play will also get to do a bit of postpartum-appropriate yoga themselves, including strength- and flexibility-building postures, breathing exercises, and relaxation techniques to address common physical complaints and mental/emotional stressors during the new-parent period.

Breathing Space Baby Yoga & Play series also incorporates developmental topics and time for parent-to-parent support during class. Our hope is that the community built in yoga will carry over into friendships and playdates off the mat.

Most appropriate from 6-weeks until baby is mobile. Moms, dads, grandparents or other caregivers welcome. No previous yoga experience necessary; be prepared/dressed for movement.

So how about Breathing Space Postnatal Yoga?

Please bring a baby blanket and small, quiet toy to all our class locations.

Most of our venues have a few yoga mats to lend, but you may prefer your own yoga mat for hygiene or comfort. If so, please bring one.

We often here from parents that they are hesitant to enroll if they aren’t sure their child will enjoy a class. We get it. That’s why we have our:

No Risk Refund Policy – Not sure if a kids & family series class will be right for you or your child? Register and come to the first class. If you notify us in writing within 48 hours after the first class that you will not be able to continue the session, we refund all but $22 for that first class.

We are also very flexible about switching classes for students who have nap time shifts during the course of a series. For example, if your child is enrolled in an 11 am class and starts napping at that time, we’ll happily switch her into one of our 9 or 9:30 am classes instead.

Yes, please do. We often have younger siblings in tow for Little Families Yoga classes. They are welcome to nap or be in arms during class. No charge for non-walking siblings, just bring them along.

Learn more about Early Childhood Yoga

Baby Yoga & Play focuses on the interaction between baby and caregiver with lots of baby-centric activities, but we do incorporate postpartum appropriate stretching and strengthening for caregivers.

It is not designed as a workout for caregivers, but you do need to be prepared to move and we hope you will leave feeling better in your body than you arrived.

Comfortable, stretchy clothing is important and jeans are not recommended. We spend a good portion of the class sitting criss-cross or in other positions on the floor and we get up and down several times. Almost every class incorporates lunges or squats while holding baby as well as some shoulder or low-back exercises for caregivers. All postures can be modified to address caregiver movement limitations.

Generally, class is most appropriate after 6 weeks. We strongly recommend that you be cleared for exercise, especially if you had a surgical birth or complications. Baby too tends to be more ready to participate after about 6 weeks. A 45-minute class is a long time for a newborn. Very young babies often sleep, eat, or fuss their way through class.

That said, you are still welcome to come. We’ve had moms happily start class as soon as they are ready to be out and about, modifying exercises that are too strenuous (such as skipping the abs) and addressing baby’s needs as they arise. Sometimes, just being at class is what mom needs. If that’s you, please come.

If you would like to wait until the six-week mark but class is already starting, don’t fret. Late registration is welcome for several weeks into the series as long as there is room in the class. We are happy to reserve your child’s spot in advance if you contact us.

Your baby will cry.

Let’s just get that out in the open. That’s how babies communicate; it’s totally fine.

Even the fussiest babies are welcome in class. Your instructor will not be distressed and is happy to have you there and, I promise, the other moms/caregivers have been there and will be far less upset about your baby fussing than you will be. Please join us.

That’s fine too. We are not running baby boot-camp.

Yep. We move a ton.

Generally, if you are enrolling in a class for your child’s age, we are prepared for your child to behave in age-appropriate ways.

For Little Families Yoga (2-4 yrs), we don’t use yoga mats and instead move all over the room. Some of our students are always on the go and that’s really quite alright. Some toddlers seriously need to move in order to pay attention. Those are the students parents assure me do the yoga poses at home, just never in class. Sometimes those students join in briefly whenever their favorite activities come up and then go back to running in circles. It’s all good.

For Kids or Family Yoga (ages 3-6, or 4+), we do use mats and are beginning to learn to be on the mats for much of the class. Class is still super active, we move off mats for all sorts of games, and we don’t expect stillness from young children.

If your child has special needs, it is helpful to check in ahead of time so the instructor can be prepared and think through lessons and activities with your child’s needs in mind. We are happy to have you enroll and decide after the first class or two if it is the right fit. Again though, check in with the instructor. Parents are typically more worried about possible disruptive behavior than our yoga teachers and will work with you on strategies to help your child succeed in class.

We do expect parent participation. The more yoga you do in class the more your child will do.

While parents should expect to move quite a lot, we will be doing yoga appropriate for the child’s age range, so it’s probably not a workout for the grownups as compared to an adult class.

Poses and activities are designed with toddlers/preschoolers in mind. While your instructor will likely be able to make suggestions, we expect adults to take care of their own bodies during class.

It’s rarely a problem. Pregnant moms often skip or modify belly-down poses and anything else that doesn’t feel right and adults with special conditions adjusting accordingly.

The biggest challenge is probably for adults who have significant difficulty getting up and down from the floor. I’ve had mobility-challenged caregivers, usually older nannies or grandparents, do very few of the poses with no problem. My suggestion is to try it and see how it goes.

Do note that several of our class venues are down a flight of stairs (strollers can be left locked outside). Our Saturday and Sunday class venues are handicap accessible.

Our Tot Yoga (crawling-24 months) and Preschooler Yoga (21 months-4 yrs) have a 3 month age overlap on purpose. Personality, more than physical development, should be the deciding factor between the two classes.

Tot Yoga tends to be a quieter class with more repetition from week to week, so suits more reserved toddlers better.

Preschooler / Little Family Yoga tends to be louder and move move more quickly from activity to activity to suit the energy level of 2-4 yr olds. Little Family Yoga requires more verbal direction following, incorporates more imaginative play, and typically involves less physical helping from parents. Very active almost-2 year olds often do well in this class because the social environment challenges them more than that of the younger group. Younger siblings accustomed to the energy and speed of older toddlers and preschoolers tend to enjoy this class as well, even if they are not able to do every pose.

Toddler Family Yoga (walking-4 yrs) is a crossover class which is very much like Little Family Yoga with some adaptations 12-21 month old students.