Sharing with you a few parents' testimonials...
Love was in the air! 
A huge thank you to Marija for introducing me and my baby to the magical world of sounds, music and touch. Marija's approach is wonderful and gentle. With each new class we discovered new sounds and instruments and the baby was responding by cooing, smiling and joyfully gurgling. We still sing the songs which bring a smile to both our faces. I carry a wonderful experience from working with Marija. She charmed us with her charisma and approach! A wonderful and useful musical program for babies and parents. |
Her little body is a huge exploration territory."Touch brings me back to the present moment, total consciousness and awareness of the little being next to me."
Touch is golden, so simple and so importantThe atmosphere in the group was so beautiful. It was not something that you can see with your eyes. It was something that grew deeper inside of we with each class. I learned how to help my baby!"The course helped me not to be scared of my baby any more. I learned how to relax her and how to relax myself with her."
While learning how to massage my baby boy I started massaging my 4 year old girl. Being so busy with the baby I started loosing touch with her. Now, my daughter and I have a new way of expressing closeness. |
"I love the fact that I was able to break the routine and do something good for my baby and her health."
I would like to recommend to all moms the Musical Baby Bonding program. It is the right way to get to know your baby and to share the journey into the magic of music. I started working with Marija when my baby was five weeks old. I would have never thought that such a young baby could respond to music so beautifully. She is now 4 months old and and my heart melts with every giggle and sound she makes when she hears her favorite songs. I believe that music nurtures our souls, adults and babies alike. Music brings a noble foundation for your everyday interaction with your baby and for the building of your relationship together.
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Communicating with our baby is so much easier now that we are paying attention to what she is telling us.
"I participated in Marija's Loving Song class in Benicia with the expectation of learning a few songs to sing to my 4 month old, and meet a few more moms. The class did just that, but so much more was taught; the class was an opportunity to remind me that everyday objects can be used as one way to enhance babies giving parents their attention. From using multicolored and black and white plush toys for capturing the babies' attention while singing a welcome song to instruments made out of dried fruit seeds, "baby bonding" went beyond singing. Marija emphasized that how we utilize our voices, eyes, touch, movement, and hearing (5 contacts) and slow down our face-to-face interactions with our babies will, in return, improve their focus on one skill, one sound at a time.
Also, research has shown the benefits of babies hearing music and/or participating in songs, but equally important is silence and how it paves the way for more intentional observation on one sound instead of being overstimulated by many sounds. For example, Marija always included meditative walking in her sessions. And the power of simple meditative walking with a baby in tow worked wonders. With relaxed shoulders and taking mindful deep breaths, and holding my son facing out so he can see the room, I could immediately feel calm. In return, his wiggling, fussy body became quieted. Even as a teacher myself, I practice silent mindfulness in the classroom with my students: showing an object or ringing a chime to signal students in the beginning of class to pause, slowly inhale and exhale, rest hands and feet where they lay, and be still. After 5 minutes of mindfulness, the mood in the classroom changes from feeling "overwhelmed" to "calm." The power of mindful silence works whether with a baby in my arms or in a classroom of 35 middle school students.
Lastly, speaking with Marija after class, she reveals that her intention is to provide mothers of all economic levels that space to bond with their babies so content and satisfying relationships can form between mother and child, not just til the next class, but throughout the baby's life. Therefore, the class sessions are structured, but not rigid and there are many opportunities for Q&A and giving/listening to advice. As a teacher in the classroom for nearly 10 years, the most powerful role model is the parent and I have seen what strong effective parent-child relationships look like and when a child has been ignored growing up. Marija hopes to create positive change with her specific skills and knowledge of caring/bonding for mothers and babies in the Bay Area, and I highly recommend in participating in at least one class series to be part of something wonderful in the journey of motherhood."
Maria Rajanna and baby Anaadi