My friend Rebecca over at A Little Bit of Momsense asked me to write a guest post this summer for her blog. Her blog is full of fun ideas for cooking, crafts and travel. Please check out her blog and her facebook page.
Here is the post I wrote for her.
Finding My New OM, MOM Style
Yoga has been a part of my life for over 14 years now and as I look back my practice has greatly changed. What used to be 3-4 times a week for a 90 minute practice at a local yoga studio followed by tea and yoga philosophical discussions has turned into grabbing some home practice time throughout my days of work, changing diapers and making meals and making it to at least one group class per week.
The moment I became a mother my life was turned around and I love the new path I am on. I wouldn’t trade the dirty diapers and snot covered smiling faces for extra time on my mat. What I have learned through my journey of motherhood is how to make the most out of my personal practice time and to have fun introducing yoga to my children.
I quite often practice my pranayama and meditation while I am breastfeeding my small babe. Watching babe quiet and still as my mind and body do the same. She feels my calming energy, warmth and love.
I take moments at the park and when playing outside to play a game of freeze tag and use yoga postures as we “freeze” with my preschooler. It allows me to have time to ground myself and challenge my balance in tree pose, decompress and release my spine in standing forward bends and build strength and stamina in warrior 2. It also invites my son to discover yoga in a playful and fun manner where the whole family can be involved. The next time you are at the park and running around with your tot (don’t we all run them around so they can nap longer?!) challenge them to a few “freeze” yoga postures and watch the smiles and giggles start.
We share in the yoga fun at night to quiet down before bedtime and spend quality time together as a family. My 3 year old loves getting out all of our mats but he is still waiting for his 1 year old sister to learn the art of sitting for more then 20 seconds.
So if you are looking to start a yoga practice or expand your current practice take the little moments you find throughout your day and make it happen. Whether it’s quiet time on the mat in a studio or doing down dogs in the park as your little one crawls underneath you just do it. Breathe, move and share in the joy of yoga.
From one yoga mama to another…..Namaste xo
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