I have found that my yoga practice has infiltrated all aspects of my life and has taught me the meaning of balance through the balance of mind, body, and soul. My yoga practice started as a physical act, but quickly turned into an emotional and spiritual act.
As a mom, yoga has given me balance in my everyday life. For example, I was recently stuck in traffic and was late to pick up my daughter from her theater program. Normally I would start to panic, sweat, and become anxious. But instead, I stated to breathe, just like I have learned in yoga. In class, the act of breathing through the moves helps to create a physical flow, manifesting in positions that are new or physically challenging. I found that in my carpool panic, the breathing helped me to ease the anxiety and focus on the reality of the situation which was: there was nothing I could do to affect the time and the speed to pick up my daughter and she would know to wait for me if I were late. As a result, my anxiety was alleviated.
I believe that the physical practice of yoga has given me the opportunity to understand that there is a spiritual and physical synergy, which now allows to better control my spiritual and emotional state.
Strike a pose… with your kids
This year, you can join children and students from across the country and around the world for the first annual Kids’ Yoga Day. On April 8, 2016 at 11 a.m., students will put down their books and join their classmates and teachers for a 5-minute yoga break, lead by ambassadors dedicated to raising worldwide awareness about the benefits of yoga for kids. You can find out how to join them on kidsyogaday.com, as well as on Facebook and Twitter.
Looking for even more to help lead your children in the practice of yoga? Pick up The ABCs of Yoga for Kids: A Guide for Parents and Teachers, which is being released on April 8th in conjunction with Kids’ Yoga Day. Written by Teresa Anne Power, internationally recognized children’s yoga expert and creator of Kids’ Yoga Day, the guide the perfect place to get started with practical, useful techniques in a picture book handbook form that allows parents to easily follow along.
Yoga moves you can use
Please join us on April 8th to strike a pose with your kids. Jessie Migneault of SoleilYoga has demonstrated some basic yoga moves that moms and kids can do together at home or at school with their teachers and classmates. Use this time to relax, relate, and connect for better in-school learning and a balanced lifestyle!
Warrior II
- Stand with your legs comfortably wide apart. Turn your right toes out 90-degrees and your left toes in slightly, aligning your heels.
- On an inhale, raise your arms out to the side at shoulder height. As you exhale, bend your right knee until it’s directly over your ankle.
- Strengthen your back leg and gaze over your right hand. Keep the sides of your torso long and your shoulders directly over the pelvis.
- Hold for 5-10 breaths, then repeat on the other side.
Benefits:
- Strengthens and stretches the legs and ankles
- Stretches the groins, chest, lungs, and shoulders
- Increases stamina
Tree Pose
- Standing in mountain pose with your feet together, begin to shift your weight onto your left foot.
- Bend your right knee, grab your ankle, and place the sole of your foot on your inner left thigh, toes pointing down (you may rest your foot on your shin if you have trouble balancing).
- Keeping your hips even, lengthen your spine up as you bring your palms together at your heart.
- Stretch your arms overhead and strengthen your standing leg.
- Hold for 5-10 breaths and repeat on the other side.
Benefits:
- Improves physical balance
- Calms your nerves
- Strengthens ankles, knees and hips
Comments
Great article Lisa. Love the idea of getting kids started early with yoga.