If you didn’t already know, in addition to all of the other things I do, I am also a stay-at-home mom. I wear many hats at one time. Some days they come together as a beautifully coordinated ensemble. Other days … well … not so much. Today was a mixed bag and I found myself with the perfect opportunity to practice what I teach.
After coaching my son through some of his frustrations (all stemming from a desire to make overly complicated Lego creations) and being a sounding board for my hubby, I was tapped out. At one point, all I could do was laugh. I looked … dare I say … slightly deranged. Here’s where the yoga comes in.
I put myself on a mommy time out.
I could have had a meltdown myself. I was definitely close. Instead, I decided to head into a quiet space to breath. I flopped onto my bed to get that initial release of energy. With my forehead resting on my hands, I closed my eyes and began to slow my breath – inhaling for a count of 5 and exhaling for a count of 8. I didn’t count cycles or set a timer – I just let myself slow down and be with the moment. Thoughts moved in and out of focus. I listened to the sounds of our house (which included my son explaining to my husband that I was on a time out) and … before I knew it … I was surrounded by refreshed energy. My little dude had come to terms with the impossibility of the task he had set out to complete and my hubby took a break from his irritations to regroup. We all had a giggle and were able to move on with the day.
This, as basic as it may seem, is how we move yoga from our mats to our daily lives. We use the practice to fill our proverbial backpacks with a host of tools that will help us manage stress, cultivate energy and strength, and move through our days with grace. It doesn’t have to be complicated. It doesn’t need to fit a certain mold. Just dig and do the work. The end result is certainly worth it.