Learning with Yoga

Yoga lover? Yoga is part of the Sacred Beginnings program, inspiring mothers to practice this kind of... Self-Love (yes, more than anything else I believe yoga is about self-love!), and empowering them to start a yoga path with the little ones, sharing postures as an amazing way to CONNECT and gently guide our children's lives, honoring it's #sacredbeginnings . 

Yoga and sharing yoga, fully, mindfully present with your loved ones is truly a #meditationformothers 

"As children learn about their bodies through yoga postures, they learn about their minds through meditation.  They learn that they can control their thought patterns, their emotions and their well-being."

www.yogitimes.com

#meditatingwithchidren

images from Kari's INSPIRING page on #yogimama yoga and motherhood:

https://www.facebook.com/earthandartyoga

#sacredlivingmovement

#sacredpregnancy

Explore more of Sacred Beginnings program:

www.sacred-beginning.com

Yoga is your daily life mama

#yogimama series 

This is my motherhood yoga...

My best yoga moments? 

Being at peace during a tantrum.

I practice yoga for more than ten years and only now I come to know the true nature of this path... The hardest asanas, the more uplifting mantras...

The yogi toes:

To be in perfect balance in a slippery floor; coming out of the shower holding my baby; reaching for the coffee pot while nursing; or jumping on the bus with the baby in the sling - oh this is what the yogi toes are for!

Core muscles:

Getting up and sitting down with no hands (because you are carefully holding a sleeping a baby).

Arm strength:

Picking baby up, putting baby down. Repeating (many times repeating).

Calf muscles strength and flexibility:

For comfortable Malasana, squatting in the playground, to play; 

squatting at home, to pick up books, to put away socks, to collect pieces of food...

Balance asanas:

Motherhood, just like yoga, is all about balance.

Not only how to keep in balance, I learned, but also how not to get attach to it. Because, think about it, embracing your chaos, honoring your motherhood messiness, is also a form of balance, no?

Yes, finding balance, inside and out.

The best yoga world help on the motherhood path? 

I can tell you that the Ommm sound is soothing for a baby; 

the exercise ball is great for rocking kids to sleep; 

yoga mats make great car tracks (great grip); 

mala necklaces are good to play with (and can even help with teething); and the yoga studios... 

Well, are not an option for me anymore... Now I am into babywearing yoga, stroller yoga, playground break yoga...

I can share with you that Vajrasana is good for kneeling in the floor with your little one after a meal (will help to digest your food); 

and that the Virabhadrasana (the warrior) can be done with a baby on your breast.

Viparita Karani (legs up against the wall) will be copied by your child and is rejuvenating for both of you (even if you need it more than he does); 

The dancer can be used for making chai;

And the tree pose practiced while doing the dishes...

 Motherhood for me is yoga in my daily life, and I found it to be nothing but a spiritual path. I even believe that in a way or another every mama is a #yogimama

Maybe it is not the spiritual path that takes me to follow a guru somewhere in a temple in Asia, but it's the one that allows me serenity in the middle of a busy market, so many times balancing baby and groceries on my shoulder; 

helps me to find kindness in the aggressive crowd on a bus, often having to ask for a seat;

slows me down with calmness during toddler's playtime, and all the meltdowns it can involve;

inspires me with beautiful songs in a baby sleepless night; 

grounds me in a city made of nothing but cement and skyscrapers...

This is my daily yoga, and my son is my master;

my routines my asanas, my parenting words my mantras.

Yes, I lay down my mat as often as I can and occasionally my son joins me (mainly climbing on my back, mostly using my hair tied up in a bun as a horn, but yes, joining me) but yoga is, more than ever, my daily life.

With it's sweetness and it's challenges. With it's sticky sweat and it's bliss. Because no, I don't love it all. Just like in yoga class I want to skip the hardest sequences sometimes;

I feel stiff and blame the tiredness for my aches and pains, often...

And some days I just can't manage anything deeper than a shallow breath, forgetting all pranayama techniques...

But I do, wear yoga pants more often than ever ;-)

And I do... Fell motherhood is here to help me evolved and awaken.

I do practice THIS yoga everyday but I also make it a priority to spend some time, everyday, alone with my mat, nourishing myself. 

During my son's nap I do not clean, cook, or work, I lay down my mat and practice MY yoga. I nourish myself while he rests, and sometimes this can mean having a cup of coffee and stare out the window, enjoying the rare moment of silence; it can be talking to a friend on fb; it is often reading something inspiring; appreciate beauty... Or it can be one hour of uninterrupted Ashtanga, it can mean... Taking a nap with him.

Choose your nourishment, mother yourself first, bring yoga to your daily life #yogimama

~ Joana Fartaria

Mother to one

Yoga is fun and we Iove this "kitchen yoga", cause any space is good, for a little bit of bliss.

Namaste

#sacredbeginnings

#sacredlivingmovement

#sacredpregnancy

Explore more of Sacred Beginnings program:

www.sacred-beginning.com

#yogimama poem

It’s OK, Yoga Mama

Baby days, and mama mantra chanting,

Awakes all and triggers the wanting,

Outdoor yoga then, mosquitos breaking-their-fast on me,

Cat under cover, my only companion, and devotee.

Morning moon, such a pleasured sight, 

Me, refreshed, new and light.

A head start on my beautiful family,

Until Lark of a boy joins cat under blanket sleepily.                                                                                       

Solitary time over, adapting now, witnessing meditation,

Nurturing love of sun rise, moon set, lunation,

Seeing resonance with big baby souls,

Kids yoga teacher births, facilitating my roles.

New tangible tools to translate, sing and play,

Letting go should be, come what may, 

Modeling asana, to integrate into Being,

When stardust land feet on Earth, agreeing.

To have more to give, commit to class bliss,

My time, tea, and live, as the Me I miss,

Toddlers energy stores, then blasts into GO!

Creative child making own poses to show.

Deviate from plan, go with flow, and elevate esteem,

Him Golden Son, her Daughter Moon beam.                                     Motherhood, heals, softens, and builds a shrine 

Spiritually growing, symbols, messages, sacred and divine.

Plenty of kids yoga, own practice wanes,

Always returns, human not robot, (although fun games!)

Mother, healer, ally, unconditional, dharma,                                                  In my open heart, forever, I’m Yoga Mama.

Boy and girl practice tree in forest, bridge at riverbank,

Gifts of focus, connect, breathe and relax, to thank,

Memories, piling four family high, sandwiches, sushi rolls,

Giggling, tickling, skin to skin contact imbedded in souls.

 

Transpired to passion outside home,                 

Postpartum yoginis breathe out OM,

Tender, quiet savasana, restores,                                   Her laughter, energizes, wee one explores.

Belly breathe wise one, wonder-full fresh eyes,

School yoga already, how time flies,

Inhale and exhale, I’ll bow to precious birth days

As I glean wisdom of tweens, teens, mid-life ways.

The journey to women’s circles, a hood and a tribe,

Goddesses, mermaids, with whom I hi-vibe,

Dear Yoga Mama, practice, you are free,

To invert, on a paddle board, balance and see.

 Listen to old souls, “You are your past’s future” – profound…

Yoga moments, for us to share, here on the ground,

Ancestors, ant-sisters, ant-brothers, we are One

Unfolding, bending, stretching; only just begun…..

OM Shanti + Namaste

 

I have been practicing yoga for 10 years now and its evolved through couples yoga, pre-natal, postpartum, strict sadhana, Kids Yoga teacher training and today I practice freely. I trust my practice is part of me, forever, until one day perhaps I am Grandma yoga-ing at the lake!

Namaste, may your dreams inspire your life.

 

Charlotte Dewan is a free-lance Children’s Yoga Facilitator (Radiant Child Yoga), is certified to teach Sacred Pregnancy 2 day mini retreats, and is currently working on her Art of Sacred Postpartum and Sacred Doula Certificates. She is so looking forward to taking her Pixie Girl to the Sacred Sweeties Girls Camp this Summer and enjoys many sacred living movement classes…Sacred Year/Sacred Moon/Sacred Ayurveda and now on the cusp of Sacred Medicine Woman and Sacred Scents Aromatherapy for Birthworkers!

BIBI children's yoga

https://www.facebook.com/pages/BIBI-Childrens-Yoga-Fiber-Art/1428549847426272

Sacred Pregnancy Ottawa

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sacred-Pregnancy-Ottawa/492137364217191

Join our yogimama series! Send me your motherhood yogi path.

#sacredbeginnings

#sacredlivingmovement

#sacredpregnancy

Explore more of Sacred Beginnings program:

www.sacred-beginning.com

Mothering yoga

More on our inspiring #yogimama #sacredrituals series! 

Today Kari Edwards, I just love her share on motherhood yoga (and her photos!) these are just a few of the things I learned from her:

Let them choose what feels good:

"Downward dog is one of those poses that all children seem to instinctually do. It's a beautiful beginners inversion that gives you many of the same benefits as more advanced inversions, including improving circulation, boosting immunity, increasing energy and bringing new perspective to our world. With benefits like these it's no wonder that children love being upside down!"

Make time for yourself (and yoga!):

"Take those few moments while your baby sleeps to nurture yourself."

"This morning while the others were still sleepy, Mio and I enjoyed some very fun yoga play together. Mio loves it when I'm upside down, here she was trying her hardest to put her bottom on my head, there were lots of giggles from the both of us."

Let yoga expand your life:

"Through yoga I see my children develop strength and build focus while having so much fun. I love observing our acro yoga practice grow and change as the both get bigger, I hope that they will continue to love practicing with me when they are much, much bigger and that we can continue to use yoga to deepen our connections and explore life together."

Listen to your body when it's time to stop (and a still body can give so much insight to the soul):

"With so much to do in everyday family life, in my creative pursutes and in my life as a yogi I've always struggled to just surrender in the rare times I find myself unwell. After recently having a kidney infection I had no choice but to drop everything (parenting included) and let my body heal. Being unable to do anything I had plenty of time to think about the deeper levels of yoga and to focus on my breath, and to just be at peace with not being able to move my body in the ways that I wanted to in that moment. The infection has healed but I'm still in that weird limbo state of feeling like I can and should be doing something but know that I just need to take it easy. I'm looking forward to exploring asana deeply again but the lesson in surrendering to what is happening now and what I need in this moment has been a very valuable one. Remember to nurture yourselves and appreciate your body that does so many truely amazing things."

Follow your needs as a parent:

"Arm balances are fun and challenging, they build strength, balance and concentration - all of which you can use off the mat and in your daily life as a parent. Definitely something worth exploring in your practice."

Connect:

"I love connecting with my daughter through yoga. She's wonderfully strong willed and feisty and I find that in the times that she's struggling with her emotions yoga helps us both to move gracefully though the challenges."

~ Kari Edwards

Mother to two

So grateful to her, and all mothers that share their path with such light to others.

Grateful there is more Inspiration at her Blog and Facebook page:

littlewhitelotusblog.blogspot.com.au/

facebook.com/earthandartyoga

#sacredbeginnings

#sacredlivingmovement

#sacredpregnancy

And

Explore more of Sacred Beginnings program:

www.sacred-beginning.com

Yoga and motherhood

Yoga.

Do you practice yoga? Do you do it with your children? Does it feel it is part of the past or that you need it now more than ever?

I am looking to share stories of yogi mothers and their tips to inspire US! (yes, sometimes it also looks impossible to me!)

Today Filipa Veiga from Yoga-Me:

"Rita D. wrote me a message that left me with such a tender feeling. 

"Dear Philippa, yesterday I went to the harvest the vines of my grandmother, I came home late but still read your article and today at 6:00 am I was drinking hot water with lemon and after practicing drank my green juice :)» 

the secret of life is in these small things, small changes, step by step. that gives us energy, make us healthy, in the long term, happy. because we feel good. great Rita I am so happy for you and you inspire me to also continue being here! 

this message made me dedicate my post today to mothers. mothers, like me, with small children that require a lot of attention and a lot of us. mothers, like me, struggling a huge list every day of things to deal with, not knowing where time. mothers, like me, who arrive at the end of the day exhausted and often without time to take care of ourselves. 

my secret? it takes discipline and the first thing is my morning yoga practice. i wake up before everyone in the house, 5 am is normal for me (often earlier). that one hour and a half will give me strength and good energy for the rest of the day. I take a shower, drink my water, do my yoga practice (could be taking a walk, doing home exercises, meditation). i take my time. i listen to the sounds of the raising day. when I wake up my daughters, I am strong and prepared for the day that will no doubt have surprises and joys and annoyances. it will always be so.

and my discipline is stronger every day, because every day, every month and year I feel I'm doing the best for myself and those around me. 

Rita also wrote me "when I read your story I confuse your life with mine. Grateful for your sharing. I would like that you share about your routine as a mother. not eating after 19h00, despite imagining how good it would be for me, I see it difficult because my husband always comes home late".

I understand you so well Rita. Here at home we had the same issue. so we have days and we should be flexible (quality that comes with the practice of yoga). 

we started the transformation years ago. slowly. with time my husband realized how important it is for me and girls to eat early. we changed. somedays of the week we wait for him, others not (we love our movie nights the 3 together:). be creative! manage your life with your heart.

with time, i can tell you Rita, your husband will begin to arrive earlier. he will see the good it brings to the family. and will want to join. if not, don't stress. there is a bright side to everything! if he arrives home with all set, he has time to enjoy the kids, play, talk, read them a story. quality kids time. and after putting them to bed, you have him for you. the couple also needs. one day the children will grow up and everything changes again."

~ Filipa Veiga

Share your #yogimama #sacredrituals and how they help you to enjoy all #sacredbeginnings

Text and images found at Yoga-Me, and you can find more of Filipa's inspiring life in Bali here:

filipaveiga.blogspot.com

And

Explore more of Sacred Beginnings program:

www.sacred-beginning.com

#sacredpregnancy

#SLM