Carlee Benear is a yoga practitioner and mother from Texas whose photos of nursing her toddler while holding demanding yoga poses went viral in early 2018. She posted them on her Instagram account, @carleebyoga, and British, Australian and US outlets soon picked them up. At the time she had three children, reported as six, four and 18 months old.
Benear has said that yoga helped her through postpartum depression after the birth of her second child, and that combining practice with feeding let her keep a routine when a nursing toddler needed her around the clock. In her words, parents must make time for themselves because "we can not pour from an empty cup."
The response was split. Many mothers called the pictures joyful and empowering. Critics called them a stunt or questioned nursing an 18-month-old at all. Below you will find the photos grouped by type of pose, with notes on what each pose involves, followed by what health bodies actually say about breastfeeding, exercise and postpartum mood. Some frames in this widely shared collection appear to show other mothers who post similar images, so the captions describe the poses rather than naming each person.
Why the photos spread so quickly
The pictures landed at a moment when "brelfies" (breastfeeding selfies) were already a talking point on social media, and when platforms were still arguing about whether nursing photos broke nudity rules. Instagram had clarified in 2015 that breastfeeding images were allowed, which meant posts like Benear's could stay up and keep circulating.
They also combine two things that people rarely see together. Advanced yoga is usually presented in calm, child-free studios, while breastfeeding is often treated as something private and still. Seeing a toddler latched on while a parent holds a forearm stand surprises people, and surprise is what makes images travel.
Benear framed the photos as a record of her own recovery and family life, not as advice. That distinction matters, because several of these poses take years of training and would be unsafe for most people to try while holding or feeding a child.
Inversions: headstands, forearm stands and handstands
Two frames side by side: on the left a forearm balance with the legs folded into the air, on the right a twisting inversion inside a child's play tent. Inversions like these rely on shoulder strength and core control far more than on flexibility. The colourful tent in the background is a reminder that these were shot at home, not in a studio.
A forearm stand with the legs split wide, while a seated toddler on a yoga block nurses from below. The block raises the child to the right height, a small practical trick that makes the shot possible. The painted anatomical heart on the wall reappears in later photos from the same home.
Here the mother holds a scorpion-style forearm stand, knees bent so the feet arc toward the head. Scorpion variations are considered advanced because they combine an inversion with a deep backbend. The baby sits on the mat beside her, close enough to feed.
An outdoor shoulder-supported pose in which the legs fold over toward the ground behind the head, close to the classic plough family of poses. The toddler lies tucked against her chest on the grass. Yoga teachers usually advise extra care with neck-loaded poses like this one.
A headstand variation with the legs bent in a wide diamond shape while a standing toddler nurses. Because the child is upright and the parent is upside down, the angle of feeding is completely reversed from the usual cradle hold. This is one of the images most often shared in news coverage.
A black-and-white scorpion pose in which only the toddler's green outfit is left in colour. The edit draws the eye to the child, who leans in to feed while the parent balances on her forearms. A decorative mandala tapestry fills the background.
A chin-supported inversion with the legs folded down toward the head, a pose that asks for strong shoulders and an extremely flexible spine. These deep backbending inversions are usually taught only after years of steady practice. The plain wall and grey mat keep the focus on the shape itself.
A forearm-supported inversion with the feet resting on a cardboard box, while a baby sits a little way off, laughing. Not every photo in the set shows nursing; some simply show a child keeping the parent company during practice. Using a box or wall for the feet is a common way to build up to a free-standing pose.
Back in front of the painted heart mural, this time decorated with flowers, the mother holds a headstand with her legs folded while a seated toddler feeds from a block. The repeated backdrop suggests a regular home practice space. It also shows how the same idea can be refined over many sessions.
A handstand with the legs split, one forward and one back, while a baby is carried in a front wrap. Holding a full handstand with extra weight on the front of the body changes the balance point considerably. Images like this drew the most concern from commenters worried about falls.
A handstand with the legs scissored apart as a toddler stands beside the mother's shoulders to nurse. The child is on its own feet, so the parent is not supporting its weight. Bright patterned leggings and a hallway doorway frame the scene.
Arm balances close to the mat
A low arm balance with one leg stretched long behind, hovering just above a baby lying on the mat. Arm balances like this keep the body only a few inches off the floor, which limits the distance anything could drop. The four-poster bed and white netting are a recurring backdrop in this set.
Photographed outdoors on grass, the mother folds into a twisting, arm-supported position with one leg extended to the side while a toddler feeds underneath her. Twisting arm balances need the hips to open and the core to rotate at the same time. A photographer's watermark is visible at the left edge.
A playful near-floor balance in which the mother lifts her legs behind her while kissing the baby below. Warm, faded colours give the shot a vintage feel. It is less about the pose and more about the eye contact between parent and child.
A twisting arm balance with both legs lifted to one side, while a baby rests on a fluffy blanket beneath. Side-crow variations rely on the upper arm acting as a shelf for the hip. The parent's relaxed smile suggests a moment of play rather than performance.
A long plank-style balance with one leg lifted and the chest lowered over a baby lying on a small cushion. Holding a plank near the floor builds the wrist, shoulder and core strength that the bigger balances in this gallery depend on. The empty room keeps the composition simple.
A twisting arm balance with both legs looped around one upper arm, sometimes called a flying-pigeon or eight-angle variation, held above a baby on a pink cushion. The headband and the low camera angle make the pose look even more dramatic. These shapes are usually taught in advanced classes only.
A crow-style balance in which the knees rest on the upper arms while a toddler nurses underneath, surrounded by toy blocks. Crow is often the first arm balance students learn, though few practise it with a child in this position. The green wall and scattered toys make this one of the most homely frames.
Backbends and heart-opening poses
A deep kneeling backbend in the camel family, with a toddler hugged to the chest and feeding. Backbends of this depth require warm, mobile shoulders and a supported lower back. Patterned leggings with hedgehogs add a light touch to an intense shape.
Outdoors in a field, the mother sits in a pigeon-style backbend, reaching back to hold one foot while the baby rests against her chest. King pigeon variations stretch the front of the hips and open the shoulders at the same time. The soft evening light is a hallmark of several outdoor shots in the set.
A low cobra-style backbend with the baby carried on the back in a soft yellow carrier. Babywearing frees both hands, which is why it appears in so many of these photos. The teal shag rug and four-poster bed tie this image to a group taken in the same bedroom.
A full wheel, the backbend in which hands and feet press into the floor while the hips rise, with a toddler draped over the mother's chest to nurse. Wheel is a strong, whole-body pose and adding a child's weight increases the load on the wrists. The bright red mat and white sofa give it a clean, almost studio look.
A kneeling lunge with the back foot drawn toward the head, a mermaid or pigeon-style variation, while a baby sits on the front hip to feed. The pose combines hip opening with a strong backbend. A framed map on the wall and a red mat set the scene.
Standing balances and babywearing
A standing balance that leans the upper body back while one leg extends forward, with a toddler cradled on the chest. The long dreadlocks and rug pattern make this one of the more striking indoor compositions. Standing backbends ask a lot of the supporting ankle and hip.
A wide-legged goddess squat with the hands in a meditative gesture while a baby nurses in a wrap. Goddess pose builds leg strength and is one of the more accessible shapes in the gallery. The backlit curtains give the frame a calm, almost ceremonial mood.
A deep outdoor lunge in fishnet-style leggings, the mother lifting her chin while the toddler feeds. Lunges like this stretch the hip flexors, which often tighten during pregnancy. The shaded woodland setting softens the strength of the pose.
A wide-legged forward fold with a baby held in a red cloth, close to the mother's chest. Forward folds let the head hang below the heart, which some practitioners find calming. The low camera position emphasises the arch of the legs around the child.
A standing split in which one leg rises almost vertically while the mother holds a nursing baby against her side. It is a striking demonstration of hamstring flexibility. The bright room, wooden desk and fish prints on the wall make it feel like an everyday moment.
Outdoors in a park, the mother stands on one leg and lifts the other high, holding the foot with one hand while the child feeds. Long shadows suggest early morning or late afternoon light. The wide framing shows how open the space is, with trees and a pavilion behind.
A dancer-style balance with a baby secured in a red wrap, the mother's flowing blue trousers caught in the light from the window. Fabric carriers spread the child's weight across the back and shoulders. Strong backlighting turns the shape almost into a silhouette.
Dancer pose, or natarajasana, with the back foot held high and the baby nursing at the chest. Dancer trains balance, focus and shoulder mobility. Hot pink sports leggings stand out against the white bedding.
A lunge in which the mother holds hands with an older child, who copies her stretch, while the baby feeds on her hip. This frame shows more than one of her children joining in. It captures the family element that Benear described as central to her practice.
Three frames show a tree pose and a dancer-style balance with a baby in a mustard ring sling. Ring slings are adjustable fabric carriers that hold the baby high on the chest. The triptych format lets viewers follow the sequence from stillness to movement.
Another three-frame sequence, this time with purple leggings and a yellow sling: tree pose, a knee lift, then the leg raised high beside the body. The consistent background suggests it was filmed as a short routine and split into stills. The baby stays secure throughout.
A three-part sequence moving from tree pose into a standing split and a reclining dancer, with an older baby carried on the back. Back carries are usually used for heavier children. The teal rug places this image with the other bedroom shots in the set.
Seated, reclining and grounded poses
A deep squat, often called garland pose or malasana, with one arm raised and the other cradling a nursing toddler on the lap. Squatting poses are widely used before and after pregnancy because they open the hips. The white clapboard wall appears in several outdoor frames from the same home.
A reclining twist with both hands in a mudra, a symbolic hand gesture, while the baby lies alongside to feed. Twists are among the gentler poses in the set and are often used for relaxation. Sunlight streams through a large window behind.
Lying on her side, the mother draws one leg back toward her head while a baby nurses on a cushion in front. Side-lying positions are a common, comfortable way to breastfeed, and here a stretch is simply added on top. Plants and a red lamp give the corner a homely feel.
A reverse tabletop or reclined position, hands behind, with a blonde toddler on the mother's lap to feed. The white clapboard house and a hanging flower basket are visible again. It is one of the calmer shapes in the set.
A boat pose variation, legs lifted and the body balanced on the sit bones, with a baby held in both arms. Boat pose is a core-strength exercise. The child appears to be a young infant, held close in a cradle position.
A high boat pose with long blue leggings and the baby tucked into the crook of one arm. The free hand rests in a mudra. The cool blue light gives the image an unusually quiet tone.
Sitting cross-legged in front of large white decorative wings, the mother nurses a toddler in an easy seated position. The props turn the shot into something closer to a styled portrait than a yoga demonstration. Sukhasana, or easy pose, is the classic starting position for meditation.
A kneeling stretch on all fours with the hips raised, while the baby lies on the mat beneath her chest. It resembles cat-cow or puppy pose, shapes often recommended for back relief. The teal rug and four-poster bed appear again.
A reclining side stretch with the mother lying on her back, a pacifier playfully held in her mouth, while the baby feeds alongside. The touch of humour is typical of the account's tone. Reclining poses use the floor for support and are among the safest to combine with feeding.
Seated in a cow-face leg position, gomukhasana, with the hands pressed together in front of the heart while the baby nurses. This is the most meditative image in the gallery. The plain wall puts all attention on the stillness of the pose.
A reclined bind with one foot drawn toward the head, the baby feeding beside her, and crystals, cards and oil bottles laid out on the floor. The props reflect the spiritual side of practice that many yoga accounts share. The bright pink leggings echo the baby's outfit.
Seated on a mat, the mother lifts both legs and holds the toes in a balancing pose while a standing toddler feeds. Pastel walls and a cork mat give it a soft palette. The child stands on its own, with the parent simply steady beside it.
Yoga, exercise and breastfeeding: what the evidence says
Benear credits yoga with helping her through postpartum depression. That is her personal experience and worth respecting, but it is not proof that yoga treats the condition. Postpartum depression affects roughly 10 to 20 percent of women after birth and is different from the short-lived "baby blues." Talking therapies and, where needed, medication are the established treatments, and light exercise is considered a useful addition for mild and moderate cases. Anyone who feels persistently low after having a baby should talk to a doctor or midwife.
On breastfeeding itself, the World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for about six months, followed by continued breastfeeding alongside other foods up to two years or beyond. The American Academy of Pediatrics also supports continuing for as long as mother and child wish. Nursing an 18-month-old, one of the criticisms aimed at Benear, is therefore well within mainstream guidance.
Guidance on exercise after birth generally says that people with an uncomplicated delivery can start gently when they feel ready, avoid high-impact work until the pelvic floor has healed (often six to eight weeks), and talk to their provider first after a caesarean or complications. Feeding or pumping before a workout and wearing a supportive bra can make exercise more comfortable.
The poses in this gallery come from years of practice. Inversions and arm balances with a child underneath carry a real risk of falls, so they are best admired rather than copied. A simple seated or side-lying stretch while feeding captures the same idea with far less risk.
Sources: Carlee Benear on Instagram (@carleebyoga); GoodTo: Mum divides opinion with video of her breastfeeding while doing yoga; Now To Love: Carlee Benear breastfeeding yoga; Wikipedia: Postpartum depression; Wikipedia: Breastfeeding; CMQCC: Exercise After Pregnancy. Photos: Carlee Benear and other parents via Instagram.
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