I had tried an exercise class with baby, and it was a disaster. I was frustrated, baby was cranky, and at the end I was just exhausted and not feeling good at all. Still wanting to do some type of exercise, I heard about Tot Yoga. Thankfully for us, Havona Madama, hadn’t been able to find a yoga video to do with her 2 year old. So, Stoney’s mom, a lawyer and an entrepreneur, got to work. The result is Tot Yoga, an instructive yoga video for parents and toddlers or pre-schoolers to enjoy in concert. It is aimed at toddlers from 10 months to 3 years old; exactly where we (baby and this cool mom) are at: perfect! I was very excited at the thought of doing some good for me and the little one. Despite this, I was still very skeptic about Yoga, of all things, with baby.
Nevertheless, my curiosity took over me when I discovered their benefits:
· Promotes calmness
· Reduces stress
· Increases confidence
· Improves concentration
· Develops a Healthy Body
Additionally, Tot Yoga uses playtime as a wind down to promote serene napping for the child!
When I received the video, it struck me that FINALLY, someone was telling me what every mom knows: toddlers do not give attention to anything for very long, and hardly ever follow directions. I was taken aback by a product relating to real mom’s backdrop issues. This translates into the fact that Tot Yoga was designed in such way, that it understands that your toddler will not pursue a specific practice or routine.
-Following your tot: a creative way to get down to your child’s world and let them lead you into it. Here you get to crawl like and with your kid. By doing so, the video tells us that we are helping prevent possible hip problems, who knew! It is good to behave like a kid sometimes 😉
-Parent led yoga: now it is your turn to engage the toddlers and give them a little more direction on what to do. This part is a little longer than the previous one. It is another opening to put in some subtle education by talking about the animal you are making the pose of, or feeding their creativity and imagination as you change poses, or tell a story related to the yoga you are doing.
-Your yoga: finally it is your turn. This is the longest section. Here you get in a little me time as you strengthen and stretch. The poses you do in this chapter aim at stress reduction and improved flexibility.
We set out to test the Tot Yoga DVD with our panel of moms and their kids. Among our group we had some who had never experienced Yoga, some beginners and a couple intermediate Yoga students. By the way, parents in the video are yoga novices.
The class took place at gym and was loads of fun for moms and children alike. The
Class did not develop at all how I had envisioned it. Actually, their proposal is much more relaxed and fun, like yoga should be, right? Kids were around parents, and came in and out of the exercises with ease for all. There was calm and happiness all around us.
This needs to be emphasized; Tot Yoga effectively conveys peace and tranquility. It melts away the tension parents had before class begun wondering if their kids would follow directions or be disruptive to class.
Instructions and guidance are imparted by Khadi Madama, the host of the TV show “Yours Truly Yoga”
Now, all of the above was too good to be true, so I challenged the DVD once again, and did some Tot Yoga with baby at home. Alone, and with no one else to distract us, it was even more enjoyable! Laughing, relaxing and learning through playful exercise, we bonded further. We imitated animal sounds and made trees together. He got a kick out of watching me following him around as he crawled and walked around. As if on cue, he followed the video’s directions to do the panda pose. He was very amused the entire time. This is definitively a great activity for both of us, so enriching and unique in bringing us closer. All the while, educational for my little one, who was mixing up animals and their sounds, he finally got it right!
I also see how this can contribute to getting kid’s creativity and imagination going as my little one who is learning his first words talked non stop. It sounded like a very interesting story.
This Yoga video program is the perfect activity for a rainy or snow day, too.
Tot Yoga achieves fun, imaginative interactive play, and calmness throughout a good half hour while teaching by example the importance of exercise for a healthy life…. WOW!
It truly delivers the “unwind, fun, chill out” factor this little blog aims at delivering moms with our reviews! What a perfect match!
You know we will be doing plenty of Tot Yoga play-dates from now on, and so can one of you!
Cool Mom Cool Tips readers get ready! Tot Yoga has two important announcements for us:
· Havona has been generous to us, she is offering all of you a price reduction that makes the DVD sell to you affordably at $14.99 which you can take advantage of by using code COOLMOMS at http://totyoga.com
· She is a very giving lady and besides the discount code, she is giving us the opportunity to giveaway Tot Yoga to one of you.
To enter, all you have to do is go to Tot Yoga and under their section “I have no yoga experience, can I do Tot Yoga?” Tell us what you learn from them.
For bonus entries you can:
1- Blog about this giveaway and link back to this post (5 entries)
2-Follow Tot Yoga on Twitter and tweet : RT @coolchillmom #win a Tot Yoga DVD for you & #toddler enter #giveaway http://bit.ly/dm6JUR #kids #yoga #fun (you get an entry for every tweet ; don’t forget to leave a link to your tweet).
3- Follow us on Twitter and tweet : RT @coolchillmom #win a Tot Yoga DVD for you & #toddler enter #giveaway http://bit.ly/dm6JUR #kids #yoga #fun (you get an entry for every tweet ; don’t forget to leave a link to your tweet).
4-Grab our button (3 entries)
5- Follow our blog publicly (3 entries)
6- Add us to your blog roll (2 entries)
7- Enter any of my other current giveaways (2 entries per giveaway).
8- Promote this giveaway, and give us the link of where and what you did. (3 extra entries).
9- Vote for us at the Little Remedies contest for great prizes for both YOU and US http://bit.ly/9JYOBW (4 entries per vote – you can vote daily)
Can’t get enough of Tot Yoga? Join them on Facebook.
Thanks Havona for introducing us to such an exceptional product and for being so generous with Cool Moms Cool Tip readers!
*Open to US and Canada residents.
*Make sure we have a way to reach you, by either enabling your email through blogger, or leaving your email in the comment.
*Winners are chosen by random.org, so make sure you leave individual comments, not all of them in one!
*Rules for each entry must be followed to be valid.
*Giveaway ends on April 15th, midnight EST.
*Winners will be announced on our Facebook fan page, join us there .
*Winners will be contacted via e-mail and will have 48 hours to reply or new winners will be chosen.
Thanks Havona for introducing us to such an exceptional product and for being so generous with Cool Moms Cool Tip readers!
Privacy -Disclosure
I learned that it is a great way to reduce stress in a household containing a child entering the infamous “Terrible Two’s”.
This is where we are and I am excited to learn about tools for this time.
inman@Mobap.edu
I follow Tot yoga on twitter and Tweeted
http://twitter.com/HalleelujahMom/status/9989836682
inman@Mobap.edu
I follow you on Twitter and Tweeted
http://twitter.com/HalleelujahMom/status/9989836682
inman@mobap.edu
I follow
inman@Mobap.edu
I follow
inman@Mobap.edu
I follow
inman@Mobap.edu
I entered your Body care set giveaway
inman@mobap.edu
I entered your Body care set giveaway
inman@mobap.edu
I learned that all the kids are under the age of 3, no actors and both Mothers & Fathers are represented.
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
I follow Tot Yoga on twitter (notimeMom) & tweeted
http://twitter.com/notimeMom/status/10012218478
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
I follow you on twitter (notimeMom) & tweeted
http://twitter.com/notimeMom/status/10012267118
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
I follow your blog
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
entry #1
I follow your blog
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
entry #2
I follow your blog
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
entry #3
daily tweet
http://twitter.com/HalleelujahMom/status/10038613286
inman@Mobap.edu
I have a girlfriend that swears by tot yoga and I have never tried it out. I feel so inspired!
great! Tot Yoga really is incredible to do with toddlers, easy and tension free. A lot of fun. What better than to laugh with your child and instilling good thigs in and for them?
The parents in the video were doing the routine for the first time, to give a good representation of the ease with which it can be done.
katidyd at hotmail dot com
TWeet!
http://twitter.com/notimeMom/status/10109199157
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
Tweet!
http://twitter.com/notimeMom/status/10181300535
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
tweet!
http://twitter.com/notimeMom/status/10245516824
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
Tweet!
http://twitter.com/notimeMom/status/10282099955
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
Tweet!
http://twitter.com/notimeMom/status/10312434595
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
Tweet!
http://twitter.com/notimeMom/status/10332736992
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
Tweet!
http://twitter.com/notimeMom/status/10363394863
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
Tweet!
http://twitter.com/notimeMom/status/10379444262
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
Tweet!
https://twitter.com/notimeMom/status/10394132191
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
I learned that this is a great thing for people with little to no yoga experience. It is nice t o know that all the people in the video have little, or no, yoga experience and that it was shot the first time they were doing it. Gives me a bit of confidence!! 🙂
Katrina
tinymansmom@sbcglobal.net
http://www.proverbs-31-wife.blogspot.com
I am following your blog #1
Katrina
tinymansmom@sbcglobal.net
http://www.proverbs-31-wife.blogspot.com
I am following your blog #2
Katrina
tinymansmom@sbcglobal.net
http://www.proverbs-31-wife.blogspot.com
I am following your blog #3
Katrina
tinymansmom@sbcglobal.net
http://www.proverbs-31-wife.blogspot.com
Tweet!
http://twitter.com/notimeMom/status/10439004158
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
Tweet!
http://twitter.com/notimeMom/status/10443317054
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
TWeet!
http://twitter.com/notimeMom/status/10488391755
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
Tweet!
http://twitter.com/notimeMom/status/10489040627
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
TWeet!
http://twitter.com/notimeMom/status/10507283518
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
Tweet!
http://twitter.com/notimeMom/status/10528576858
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
I learned that this is a good video for beginners. That the parents in the video have very little experience and the kids are all under 3.
I blogged about this giveaway in our Another Mad Monday’s Giveaways post on 3/15/2010.
http://momtobedby8.blogspot.com/2010/03/another-mad-mondays-giveaways.html
1
I blogged about this giveaway in our Another Mad Monday’s Giveaways post on 3/15/2010.
http://momtobedby8.blogspot.com/2010/03/another-mad-mondays-giveaways.html
2
I blogged about this giveaway in our Another Mad Monday’s Giveaways post on 3/15/2010.
http://momtobedby8.blogspot.com/2010/03/another-mad-mondays-giveaways.html
3
I blogged about this giveaway in our Another Mad Monday’s Giveaways post on 3/15/2010.
http://momtobedby8.blogspot.com/2010/03/another-mad-mondays-giveaways.html
4
I blogged about this giveaway in our Another Mad Monday’s Giveaways post on 3/15/2010.
http://momtobedby8.blogspot.com/2010/03/another-mad-mondays-giveaways.html
5
@strawberrykidss follows @TOTYOGA and tweeted:
http://twitter.com/strawberrykidss/status/10528923861
@strawberrykidss follows @coolchillmom on twitter and tweeted:
http://twitter.com/strawberrykidss/status/10528923861
I facebook promoted for you here:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/strawberrykids?ref=mf
1
I facebook promoted for you here:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/strawberrykids?ref=mf
2
I facebook promoted for you here:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/strawberrykids?ref=mf
3
Tweet!
http://twitter.com/notimeMom/status/10576477456
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
Tweet!
http://twitter.com/notimeMom/status/10581419196
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
daily tweet
http://twitter.com/HalleelujahMom/status/10584685297
inman@mobap.edu
I am actually entering this for a friend. I went and read about the site and learned that this was designed for kids even under 3 years old, which would be awesome. My friend’s children are very young.
Daily tweet!
http://twitter.com/notimeMom/status/10611462516
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
daily tweet
http://twitter.com/HalleelujahMom/status/10632141563
inman@mobap.edu
Tweet!
http://twitter.com/notimeMom/status/10641989861
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
daily tweet
http://twitter.com/HalleelujahMom/status/10688410868
inman@mobap.edu
Tweet!
http://twitter.com/notimeMom/status/10690448705
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
Tweeted:
http://twitter.com/strawberrykidss/status/10694577003
Tweet!
http://twitter.com/notimeMom/status/10708760203
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
TWeet!
http://twitter.com/notimeMom/status/10736853556
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
daily tweet
http://twitter.com/HalleelujahMom/status/10740036930
inman@Mobap.edu
Tweet!
http://twitter.com/notimeMom/status/10745684324
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
Tweet:
http://twitter.com/strawberrykidss/status/10752958689
daily tweet
http://twitter.com/HalleelujahMom/status/10781724295
inman@mobap.edu
Tweeted:
http://twitter.com/strawberrykidss/status/10790756641
Tweet!
http://twitter.com/notimeMom/status/10793248688
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
Tweeted:
http://twitter.com/strawberrykidss/status/10827513314
Tweet!
http://twitter.com/notimeMom/status/10852731973
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
Tweet!
http://twitter.com/notimeMom/status/10859479684
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
I learned that tot yoga showcases real parents and real children doing the routines and interacting with each other and the instructor.
zooscapejennifer@rogers.com
i follow tot yoga on twitter and tweeted http://twitter.com/kenziesmum2009/statuses/10879584076
zooscapejennifer@rogers.com
i follow you on twitter and tweeted http://twitter.com/kenziesmum2009/statuses/10879584076
zooscapejennifer@rogers.com
i have your button @ http://www.kenziesgumdropsandlollipops.blogspot.com
#1
zooscapejennifer@rogers.com
i have your button @ http://www.kenziesgumdropsandlollipops.blogspot.com
#2
zooscapejennifer@rogers.com
i have your button @ http://www.kenziesgumdropsandlollipops.blogspot.com
#3
zooscapejennifer@rogers.com
i’m a follower #1
zooscapejennifer@rogers.com
i’m a follower #2
zooscapejennifer@rogers.com
i’m a follower #3
zooscapejennifer@rogers.com
added to my blogroll @ http://kenziesgumdropsandlollipops.blogspot.com
#1
zooscapejennifer@rogers.com
added to my blogroll @ http://kenziesgumdropsandlollipops.blogspot.com
#2
zooscapejennifer@rogers.com
voted #1
zooscapejennifer@rogers.com
voted #2
zooscapejennifer@rogers.com
voted #3
zooscapejennifer@rogers.com
voted #4
zooscapejennifer@rogers.com
blogged #1 http://kenziesgumdropsandlollipops.blogspot.com/2010/03/april-giveaways.html
zooscapejennifer@rogers.com
blogged #2 http://kenziesgumdropsandlollipops.blogspot.com/2010/03/april-giveaways.html
zooscapejennifer@rogers.com
blogged #3 http://kenziesgumdropsandlollipops.blogspot.com/2010/03/april-giveaways.html
zooscapejennifer@rogers.com
blogged #4 http://kenziesgumdropsandlollipops.blogspot.com/2010/03/april-giveaways.html
zooscapejennifer@rogers.com
blogged #5 http://kenziesgumdropsandlollipops.blogspot.com/2010/03/april-giveaways.html
zooscapejennifer@rogers.com
I learned it can help reduce stress and that even the inexperienced can benefit!
pjkmitchell at hotmail dot com
Tweeted:
http://twitter.com/strawberrykidss/status/10893151773
Tweet!
http://twitter.com/notimeMom/status/10893549328
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
Tweet!
http://twitter.com/notimeMom/status/10941014614
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
daily tweet
http://twitter.com/HalleelujahMom/status/10943996814
inman@mobap.edu
I voted
inman@mobap.edu
I voted
inman@mobap.edu
I voted
inman@mobap.edu
I voted
inman@mobap.edu
Tweet!
http://twitter.com/notimeMom/status/10946646812
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
Daily vote!
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
entry #1
Daily vote!
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
entry #2
Daily vote!
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
entry #3
Daily vote!
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
entry #4
Tweeted:
http://twitter.com/strawberrykidss/status/10947826010
Tweeted:
http://twitter.com/strawberrykidss/status/10982790363
Tweet!
https://twitter.com/notimeMom/status/10994947323
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
daily tweet
http://twitter.com/HalleelujahMom/status/10999392114
inman@mobap.edu
voted
inman@mobap.edu
voted
inman@mobap.edu
voted
inman@mobap.edu
voted
inman@mobap.edu
Tweet!
https://twitter.com/notimeMom/status/11001245636
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
Tweeted:
http://twitter.com/strawberrykidss/status/11029190382
Tweet!
http://twitter.com/notimeMom/status/11050430415
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
daily tweet
http://twitter.com/HalleelujahMom/status/11053718298
inman@mobap.edu
I voted
inman@mobap.edu
I voted
inman@mobap.edu
I voted
inman@mobap.edu
I voted
inman@mobap.edu
Tweet!
http://twitter.com/notimeMom/status/11053939593
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
Daily little Remedies vote
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
entry #1
Daily little Remedies vote
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
entry #2
Daily little Remedies vote
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
entry #3
Daily little Remedies vote
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
entry #4
Tweet!
http://twitter.com/notimeMom/status/11106392079
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
daily Little Remedies vote
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
entry #1
daily Little Remedies vote
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
entry #2
daily Little Remedies vote
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
entry #3
daily Little Remedies vote
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
entry #4
daily tweet
http://twitter.com/HalleelujahMom/status/11107369753
inman@Mobap.edu
voted
inman@mobap.edu
voted
inman@mobap.edu
voted
inman@mobap.edu
voted
inman@mobap.edu
daily tweet
http://twitter.com/HalleelujahMom/status/11164637937
inman@Mobap.edu
I voted
inman@mobap.edu
i voted
inman@mobap.edu
i voted
inman@mobap.edu
i voted
inman@mobap.edu
Tweet!
http://twitter.com/notimeMom/status/11181653597
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
Tweet!
http://twitter.com/notimeMom/status/11259811871
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
daily Little Remedies vote
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
entry #1
daily Little Remedies vote
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
entry #2
daily Little Remedies vote
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
entry #3
daily Little Remedies vote
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
entry #4
daily tweet
http://twitter.com/HalleelujahMom/status/11271247880
inman@Mobap.edu
voted
inman@Mobap.edu
voted
inman@Mobap.edu
voted
inman@Mobap.edu
voted
inman@Mobap.edu
Tweet!
http://twitter.com/notimeMom/status/11314039158
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
daily tweet
http://twitter.com/HalleelujahMom/status/11320711368
inman@Mobap.edu
voted
inman@mobap.edu
voted
inman@mobap.edu
voted
inman@mobap.edu
voted
inman@mobap.edu
i grabbed your button!!
limemuffin at yahoo dot c o m
Tweeted:
http://twitter.com/strawberrykidss/status/11329523293
Tweet!
https://twitter.com/notimeMom/status/11373128036
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
daily tweet
http://twitter.com/HalleelujahMom/status/11381250461
inman@mobap.edu
voted
inman@mobap.edu
voted
inman@mobap.edu
voted
inman@mobap.edu
voted
inman@mobap.edu
Tweeted:
http://twitter.com/strawberrykidss/status/11434651292
Tweet!
http://twitter.com/notimeMom/status/11434700894
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
Daily Little Remedies vote
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
entry #1
Daily Little Remedies vote
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
entry #2
Daily Little Remedies vote
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
entry #3
Daily Little Remedies vote
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
entry #4
daily tweet
http://twitter.com/HalleelujahMom/status/11441853289
inman@Mobap.edu
Tweeted:
http://twitter.com/strawberrykidss/status/11493119346
daily tweet
http://twitter.com/HalleelujahMom/status/11554502629
inman@mobap.edu
http://twitter.com/strawberrykidss/status/11556998862
http://twitter.com/strawberrykidss/status/11610141705
daily tweet
http://twitter.com/HalleelujahMom/status/11653691110
inman@mobap.edu
daily tweet
http://twitter.com/HalleelujahMom/status/11717993271
inman@mobap.edu
Tweet!
http://twitter.com/notimeMom/status/11741536676
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
daily little Remedies vote
entry #1
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
daily little Remedies vote
entry #2
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
daily little Remedies vote
entry #3
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
daily little Remedies vote
entry #4
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
http://twitter.com/strawberrykidss/status/11781415272
http://twitter.com/strawberrykidss/status/11901253855
http://twitter.com/strawberrykidss/status/12084391887
I learned that they used parents who had little to no Yoga experience in the video to ensure that everyone could do it.
I’d love to try this out 😀
apominville at hotmail dot com
http://twitter.com/strawberrykidss/status/12164771728
I learned that they used real parents and children to display the moves, instead of yoga instructors.
Dee
dbyrne1[at]gmail[dot]com
I learned it can help reduce stress and that even the inexperienced can benefit!
slim
Yoga for youngsters is supposed to induce good sleep.Thanks for the wonderful giveaway.
dianad8008 AT gmail DOT com
I think Yoga is a Good way to relax and get regular exercise.If you are new and you like to do yoga, the teacher will teach you different Types of Yoga.it depends upon you which type you like to do the most