Therapy or Child Abuse?
By Kimberley
@CynergyDiva (805)
Canada
February 7, 2011 9:52pm CST
My Daughter just shared a video with me that depicts a woman who is supposedly performing a type of therapy called baby yoga. Now apparently people come from all over the world with their babies to have these methods taught to them.
I guess promoters of this type of therapy say that babies who go through this develop a lot faster, have no fear, have more physical prowess etc. People who are against it are calling it child abuse. Now, I'm no theraputic expert, so I'm not going to label it child abuse, because who am I to say that it doesn't work? I guess this has been going on for more than half a century. As far as I know these people are not doctors, but I've never heard a story of anyone claiming their child was injured because of this kind of therapy.
I wouldn't be surprised if the ones who are quick to yell child abuse are the same ones that don't mind giving their kids pop, candy and kentucky fried chicken. For me that comes a lot closer to child abuse than this so called baby yoga does. Myself I did quite a bit of tossing my babies in the air and such, but having said that, I admittedly found this one hard to watch through to the end; it just gave me the willies.
What do you all think? http://adf.ly/115253/babyyoga
xoxo
Cyne
1 person likes this
5 responses
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
25 Feb 11
When my son was very young I did a couple of sessions of baby yoga with him and that is nothing like what we did. In fact, I would think that if a baby was treated like this it would quite possibly kill them simply from jarring their little brains around. That is absolutely sick and any parent that would allow something like that to be done to their children should have to spend some time in jail because in my opinion, what was depicted in that video was child abuse.
@CynergyDiva (805)
• Canada
27 Feb 11
Jail time? Really? The woman who was practicing the so called baby yoga says that it's been in successful practice in Russia for over 30 years. Supporters of this type of yoga say that their children are much more fearless, are early readers, walkers, and swimmers. I wonder if we North Americans are just uneasy about it because we're not accustomed to it. Did you have a look at the interview too? She says that these are reflexes that babies have from birth and these moves are based on dynamic gymnastics. She also says the more people find out about it, the calmer they'll become. Maybe it's just a question of educating ourselves.
xoxo
Cyne
@txgrl21 (819)
• United States
9 Feb 11
WOW that has to be the craziest video I have ever seen! I agree with all of the comments posted here and I would like to add that there is really no reason for this 'baby yoga'. There are plenty of ways to stimulate your babies brain and development by doing the simplest things. I really hope that this does not start in the US, you know how people will do the stupidest things just to follow a trend.
@CynergyDiva (805)
• Canada
9 Feb 11
Well, apparently it's a bit more than a trend as it has been practiced for more than 50 yrs. I have no experience with this baby yoga, and while my own personal opinion deems it crazy, it is a purely unqualified opinion, as I am no expert and cannot make a factual statement that it doesn't work any better than any other method.
xoxo
Cyne
@palonghorn (5479)
• United States
8 Feb 11
First off, I couldn't even watch all of it. That is insane! Do that here in the U.S. and see how quickly the child protective services show up! Therapy, no, that is not therapy, that is child abuse. For one that baby isn't even old enough to stand, hold its head up completely on it's own or barely sit up alone. I can see a very huge chance of injury to the child, shoulder sockets, hip sockets, etc. I mean come on, is she a circus act?! Yes, I tossed my little ones, but they were much older than this baby, and I was very careful. And just fyi...my kids ate way more salad and healthy food that candy, cookies, and cold drinks.....that being said, I would label this child abuse!
@CynergyDiva (805)
• Canada
8 Feb 11
Kudos on the salads etc. My comment about the KFC was mainly to point out that most people who jump to criticize that which they don't understand are usually the same types that need to get their own houses in order.
And like you, I couldn't watch the whole thing either. I also freely admit that I don't understand this idea of "therapy". There's no way on earth I would ever engage in that sort of thing or seek out the help of someone who would. Still, as I pointed out, it has apparently been going on for decades, and I've never heard of any baby injuries linked to this so called baby yoga. In fact, I've never even heard of baby yoga until my Daughter shared this video with me.
Like some of the others pointed out in this conversation, It might be okay for some but not for me. I had to chuckle a little when you said, "is she a circus act?" I could almost hear the circus music as I visualized it again. Still, the points you bring up about the sockets were the same concerns I had; that and doing it around all those rocks. I can't however make a judgment about whether or not it is indeed therapy. To me it's not, but I am not qualified to make it a statement of fact; just my own opinion.
xoxo
Cyne
1 person likes this
@pastigger (612)
• United States
8 Feb 11
I have never seen anything so crazy. She could easily drop the baby. Plus the baby is not even old enough to support the weight of its own head. I guess each to their own but this is not something I would have even done with my daughter. There is a real potential for many accidents here.
@CynergyDiva (805)
• Canada
8 Feb 11
Not anything I would have done with any of mine either, and my family raised some eyebrows at how I played with my babies. But I guess people are flocking from all over the world to get this therapy for their babies. I don't know.
xoxo
Cyne
@MsPatriciaDV (636)
• Philippines
8 Feb 11
I have seen it. I can't stand watching it. I fear for the baby. And that's too much for tossing.
@CynergyDiva (805)
• Canada
8 Feb 11
No, like you, I couldn't take watching it; especially around all those rocks and things. Still, I'm not saying she doesn't know what she's doing, as I'm no expert. It just gives me the creeps to see the baby's little arms looking as though they might get pulled right from their sockets. Geez, I'm getting the willies now just writing about it.
xoxo
Cyne
