Newton Mearns mum Lisa Selman is marking one year since launching Basking Babies in East Renfrewshire, where she has created calm, welcoming spaces for mums and babies to find friendship, reassurance and a moment to breathe.
Lisa, lives in Newton Mearns and runs classes across East Renfrewshire and the south side of Glasgow, launched her first session in June 2025. Since then, she has introduced local families to baby massage, baby yoga and gentle wellbeing sessions, choosing venues that feel warm and relaxed for parents walking through the door.
Her classes are currently centred around Newton Mearns and nearby areas, including local hotel Parklands Hotel & County Club, Grace Health and Fitness and new boutique wellness space Little Luxe Lounge.
For Lisa, finding the right setting has been an important part of helping mums feel comfortable, especially during the early weeks and months with a baby.
Before starting Basking Babies, Lisa worked in finance for 18 years then changed direction to work with children, including positions in children’s residential care, nursery education and supporting children with additional support needs. Lisa is also a qualified Early Years Practitioner, bringing a strong foundation of knowledge and experience in supporting children’s learning and development.
“I wanted to use my early years knowledge to support women as they became mums and create something warm, useful and reassuring” said Lisa. “When your baby is really young, it can feel like such a vulnerable time, so having somewhere calm to go and people to talk to can make such a difference.”
For Lisa, the most rewarding part of her first year in business has been watching friendships form between mums who first arrived not knowing anyone. Many parents have continued from baby massage into yoga sessions, building on what they learned in those early classes while strengthening the friendships they’ve formed.
“Helping them find a group of people they can stay connected with is so important to me” said Lisa. “It’s not just about being someone’s mum, it’s about being seen as a person too. Seeing those friendships grow has been really amazing.”
Alongside her baby massage and yoga classes, Lisa has developed her Mum-to-Be Nurture Circles, which bring pregnant women together in a relaxed setting with guest speakers, gentle wellbeing activities and open conversations about the early stages of motherhood.
She has also created a Mum & Bub Hub, giving mums who have attended previous classes somewhere to come together, enjoy a cuppa and let their babies play in a calm, baby-friendly space. The relaxed sessions offer parents a space to chat while their little ones enjoy sensory toys and playtime.
Looking ahead, Lisa hopes to introduce sessions for young mums, after working with a newly established local group for young mums called Young Mums Southside.
“I want my classes to be accommodating for everyone, because there is no one-size-fits-all experience of motherhood,” said Lisa. “Young mums can sometimes find classes intimidating, so I would love to create a space where they feel comfortable, understood and able to build their own village too.”
As Lisa enters her second year, her focus remains on creating gentle, welcoming spaces where local mums can feel seen, supported and less alone.
For further information about Basking Babies in East Renfrewshire, visit: https://www.baskingbabies.co.uk/clarkston-giffnock-and-newton-mearns
