Most parents have a story well-nigh their toddler that concludes with an emergency room visit, but not everyone can say they were worldly-wise to remain (mostly) wifely throughout the experience.
I 100 percent credit my yoga practice for staying (mostly) wifely when my toddler stuck a stratify hanger through his eyelid (!), Sarah Ezrin writes in her new book, The Yoga of Parenting.
And although her yoga practice looked very variegated surpassing she was a mother of two what was once a two-hour vinyasa practice maybe now looks increasingly like a few minutes on a bolster Sarah, a world-renowned yoga teacher, assures us, it’s ok.
If we can remind ourselves that yoga is not well-nigh the poses but how we work with our mind, then perhaps we can be a lot kinder and increasingly realistic well-nigh what our practice looks like these days,” she writes.
The Benefits of Yoga in Parenting
Yoga is an ancient practice that combines physical postures, breathwork, and meditation to create a holistic approach to health and well-being. It originated in India and has been passed down through generations, offering numerous benefits to those who embrace it. The root of yoga is really well-nigh connection (the root word, yuj, ways ‘to connect’),” Sarah explains. “That ways that anything we do with a focused mind and whole heart is yoga.
The Yoga of Parenting is not a handbook on parenting, but rather an well-healed well of resources. It’s a tightly personal reflection of Sarah’s wits as a parent and longtime yoga teacher, and a must-read for parents and future parents alike.
Each installment examines a yoga-based concept and includes a pose, showing how both the yogic principles and postures wield to parenting. Sarah weaves in breathwork, meditations, and exercises, and forms a full Yoga of Parenting sequence from Tadasana to Savasana. Sarah asks her readers: How can we fill our children’s cups if we cannot fill our own?
Cultivating Presence and Mindfulness
Parenting is often a whirlwind of responsibilities, from managing schedules and chores to handling emotional moments with our children. The practice of yoga can help us cultivate presence and mindfulness, allowing us to fully engage with our children in each moment. By being fully present, we can tune in to their needs, emotions, and joys, nurturing a deeper connection.
Managing Stress and Finding Balance
Parenthood can be demanding and stressful, leaving us feeling overwhelmed and drained. Yoga provides a sanctuary where we can release tension and find balance. Through asanas (physical postures) and pranayama (breathwork), we can calm our nervous system, reduce stress levels, and regain a sense of equilibrium. By taking care of our own well-being, we are better able to care for our children.
Developing Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence is a vital skill for both children and parents. Yoga offers a space for self-reflection and introspection, enabling us to explore our own emotions and thought patterns. By understanding and managing our own emotional landscape, we can model and guide our children in developing their emotional intelligence. With yoga as a tool, we can teach them how to recognize, express, and regulate their emotions.
Parenthood is a yoga practice and maybe plane a spiritual experience. Considering just like an inhale and an exhale, we learn to hold space for our children while simultaneously learning to let go. Yoga reminds us as parents that everything is temporary.
As our children change, we are asked to change, too,” Sarah said. “Watching our children grow up asks us to embrace the trundling of life and death over and over then while moreover letting go of resistance virtually those changes.”
Cameron Joy Machell is a writer and journalist tent yoga, travel, and wellness. Always planning her next adventure, she has chased the Northern Lights wideness Iceland, camped under the stars in the Sahara Desert, and sipped kava with chiefs in Fiji. When she’s not traveling, you can find her at home in New England, in the garden or on her mat.
Conclusion
The practice of yoga offers a beautiful framework for navigating the joys and challenges of parenthood. By incorporating elements of yoga into our parenting journey, we can cultivate presence, manage stress, and foster emotional intelligence. As we nurture our own well-being, we create a supportive environment for our children to thrive. Embrace "The Yoga of Parenting" and discover the transformative power it holds for both you and your child.