I am almost eight months pregnant. As with my previous pregnancy, yoga is a central part of taking care of myself and the baby I am creating. A lot has changed since my last pregnancy, though, and so has my yoga practice.
The biggest difference with this pregnancy is that I am not only nurturing the life growing inside of me, I am also nurturing the life that we created almost two and a half years ago. I have precious little time to focus on taking care of myself when I am trying to keep up with a toddler.
I simply don't have time to practice yoga when I am home with Josias. I know however, that I MUST practice yoga. So, yet again, I made a change in how, when and where I practice. One of the things I loved about my home yoga practice was the silence and the stillness. It was the only place that I found the kind of space where I could slow down, reflect and try to connect with my True Self.
Even though that is what I loved most about my home practice, in order to keep practicing, I had to give that part up. My new "home" practice is at the gym located in the basement of my office building. About 3 times a week, during my lunch break, I head down there for a twenty to thirty minute practice.
The gym is not set up for yoga. It is set up for sweaty runners and weight lifters who like to watch obnoxious television programs while they are exercising. Great for them, not ideal for yoga.
My alternative, however, is no yoga. So, I decided to try to be flexible with what it means to practice yoga and what I hope to get out of it. With my new practice, I do not experience the silence and stillness that I once enjoyed. I do experience the beauty of opening up my shoulders and hips; gently bending and twisting my back; and gratitude for feeling good in my current body, which happens to be rather large and cumbersome.
What I know now is that my home yoga practice will always change. Nothing stays the same, but if I can ride the tide of change, adjust my expectations and go with the flow, it will always be possible to feel the peace and gratitude that comes with my yoga practice. Namaste. Thank you.
How has your home yoga practice changed over time?
Showing posts with label home practice. Show all posts
Showing posts with label home practice. Show all posts
Monday, September 10, 2012
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Things change, yoga remains
Things have changed around my house. My eighteen month old son, Josias, has started to sleep through the night. With a bit of gentle encouragement on my part, he now sleeps from about 8pm until four or five in the morning. This represents a HUGE change for us. Previously, he had been waking up four to six times per night to breastfeed. Obviously, that meant Mama was up four to six times per night and not getting a heck of a lot of sleep.
Eight o'clock is also a later bedtime for Josias. He used to go down at 7pm. By the time I got him breastfed and asleep it was usually about 7:45 and I had time to get in a short yoga practice before collapsing into bed. Now, though, he's not done breastfeeding until about 8:30, and since I have to get up at 4am, when he gets up, I just can't stay awake any longer to practice yoga.
I've been experimenting. Sometimes I get in 20 minutes before Josias goes to bed, while Papa spends time with him, or if Josias goes back to sleep after his 4am breastfeed, I'll try to get up and practice for a little while. BUT, I'm only able to practice about three times per week, whereas I used to fit it in five or six times a week.
I am so thankful that Josias is sleeping longer, for our whole family's sake. It is just a temporary downside that I can't practice yoga as much as I'd like. I know how important yoga is to my well-being and to my life. So, I am grateful if I get to practice three times per week. This also gives me the opportunity to reflect more on the other seven limbs of yoga (asanas or poses being only one limb), and to know that I have the opportunity to practice yoga every day of every week of every precious moment of my life.
It has also been an opportunity for me to examine my samskaras or negative patterns. I am a person who likes a schedule and a fixed way of doing things. Some might even call me a tad rigid. Josias' change in sleeping schedule has allowed me to reflect upon my commitment to a home yoga practice. Can I be flexible enough to change when I practice and for how long? So far the answer has been, yes, sometimes!
Has anything in your life required you to change your schedule or examine your commitment to yoga or anything else that is important to you? How did it go?
Eight o'clock is also a later bedtime for Josias. He used to go down at 7pm. By the time I got him breastfed and asleep it was usually about 7:45 and I had time to get in a short yoga practice before collapsing into bed. Now, though, he's not done breastfeeding until about 8:30, and since I have to get up at 4am, when he gets up, I just can't stay awake any longer to practice yoga.
I've been experimenting. Sometimes I get in 20 minutes before Josias goes to bed, while Papa spends time with him, or if Josias goes back to sleep after his 4am breastfeed, I'll try to get up and practice for a little while. BUT, I'm only able to practice about three times per week, whereas I used to fit it in five or six times a week.
I am so thankful that Josias is sleeping longer, for our whole family's sake. It is just a temporary downside that I can't practice yoga as much as I'd like. I know how important yoga is to my well-being and to my life. So, I am grateful if I get to practice three times per week. This also gives me the opportunity to reflect more on the other seven limbs of yoga (asanas or poses being only one limb), and to know that I have the opportunity to practice yoga every day of every week of every precious moment of my life.
It has also been an opportunity for me to examine my samskaras or negative patterns. I am a person who likes a schedule and a fixed way of doing things. Some might even call me a tad rigid. Josias' change in sleeping schedule has allowed me to reflect upon my commitment to a home yoga practice. Can I be flexible enough to change when I practice and for how long? So far the answer has been, yes, sometimes!
Has anything in your life required you to change your schedule or examine your commitment to yoga or anything else that is important to you? How did it go?
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Mama's home yoga practice II
After returning to work from maternity leave, my yoga practice was irregular. On a good week, I was able to practice once or twice for half hour. I was becoming frustrated at my inability to practice regularly and my sleep and my body were starting to suffer. There were also the issues that are harder to quantify: my stress level, how I looked at the world, my happiness. Yes, all those things were affected when I wasn't practicing yoga on a regular basis! And if mama is stressed, baby doesn't get what he needs.
I attributed not practicing to lack of time. What's a mama to do? Ten hour work days, time with baby jammed into the two hours that he is awake and I am home, household chores to be done, food to be made, etc., etc. Not to mention lack of sleep with baby breastfeeding throughout the night.
Looking back on it though, there were two deeper reasons that I was not practicing. One is that I practice yoga in the morning. Period. I'm just that kind of yogi. After having a baby, though, my schedule made it impossible to practice in the morning. And, even if I can't do it first thing in the morning, I would never do it at night for fear it would keep me from sleeping. Yes, this is the true reason I wasn't practicing: fear of practicing yoga at night. And yet, I had free time at night. I am a creature of habit who feels safe and comforted with routines.
The other reason I wasn't practicing, is that although I called it a "home" yoga practice, I was really following a dvd. The dvd required a half hour's time and as a mama, I just couldn't manage a half hour. And, I thought, if I can't do the dvd, I can't do anything. So, my real fear was developing an authentic home practice, where I turned off the TV, listened to my body and did as my intuition guided me, not what a dvd instructed.
I was growing more and more frustrated with not practicing, when a few months ago, I received an email from Yoga Journal inviting me to join the 21 day challenge. Essentially, they would provide instruction for 21 days of yoga and ask me to commit to practicing everyday. Many of the practices were 20 minutes or less, so it seemed doable. I got myself excited and decided to do it. I didn't even make it through the first day. I began watching the video and it didn't do anything for me. But, I was able to step back and appreciate the gift that had arrived in my inbox: the idea that I could make a commitment to practice yoga everyday and that it need not be a prescribed amount of time. If I could find 15 minutes for yoga, I knew I would feel good, body and soul.
So, I did it! I told myself that I would take those 21 days to see what I could do with a home practice. I finally realized that I didn't have to lay out a perfect routine of poses, in which one beautifully built upon the other. I could just do what felt good. I also convinced myself that morning wasn't the only time I could practice. After 21 days, I could take stock and see if if was working.
Boy, did it. I've been practicing regularly, before bed for about three months now. At first I told myself that I would practice for a minimum of 15 minutes since it's pretty hard to come up with an excuse not to practice for 15 minutes. On the other hand, if I REALLY can't find 15 minutes, I don't beat myself up for it. On average, I practice for about 20-30 minutes most nights. I am a better mama and a better person for my practice. I truly think it has moved me beyond the idea of just making it through everyday to being present in my life and with my son and enjoying both as much as I can.
My practice is not perfect. I still struggle with knowing what poses to do in the "right" order. I get stuck in patterns of thinking I "have" to do certain poses every night in a logical order. At the beginning of my practice, I often find myself mapping out the poses for the night, instead of focusing on the present pose.
The important thing is that I am practicing and enjoying the fruits of my commitment, imperfections and all. Now, if I could just find time to meditate.....
I attributed not practicing to lack of time. What's a mama to do? Ten hour work days, time with baby jammed into the two hours that he is awake and I am home, household chores to be done, food to be made, etc., etc. Not to mention lack of sleep with baby breastfeeding throughout the night.
Looking back on it though, there were two deeper reasons that I was not practicing. One is that I practice yoga in the morning. Period. I'm just that kind of yogi. After having a baby, though, my schedule made it impossible to practice in the morning. And, even if I can't do it first thing in the morning, I would never do it at night for fear it would keep me from sleeping. Yes, this is the true reason I wasn't practicing: fear of practicing yoga at night. And yet, I had free time at night. I am a creature of habit who feels safe and comforted with routines.
The other reason I wasn't practicing, is that although I called it a "home" yoga practice, I was really following a dvd. The dvd required a half hour's time and as a mama, I just couldn't manage a half hour. And, I thought, if I can't do the dvd, I can't do anything. So, my real fear was developing an authentic home practice, where I turned off the TV, listened to my body and did as my intuition guided me, not what a dvd instructed.
I was growing more and more frustrated with not practicing, when a few months ago, I received an email from Yoga Journal inviting me to join the 21 day challenge. Essentially, they would provide instruction for 21 days of yoga and ask me to commit to practicing everyday. Many of the practices were 20 minutes or less, so it seemed doable. I got myself excited and decided to do it. I didn't even make it through the first day. I began watching the video and it didn't do anything for me. But, I was able to step back and appreciate the gift that had arrived in my inbox: the idea that I could make a commitment to practice yoga everyday and that it need not be a prescribed amount of time. If I could find 15 minutes for yoga, I knew I would feel good, body and soul.
So, I did it! I told myself that I would take those 21 days to see what I could do with a home practice. I finally realized that I didn't have to lay out a perfect routine of poses, in which one beautifully built upon the other. I could just do what felt good. I also convinced myself that morning wasn't the only time I could practice. After 21 days, I could take stock and see if if was working.
Boy, did it. I've been practicing regularly, before bed for about three months now. At first I told myself that I would practice for a minimum of 15 minutes since it's pretty hard to come up with an excuse not to practice for 15 minutes. On the other hand, if I REALLY can't find 15 minutes, I don't beat myself up for it. On average, I practice for about 20-30 minutes most nights. I am a better mama and a better person for my practice. I truly think it has moved me beyond the idea of just making it through everyday to being present in my life and with my son and enjoying both as much as I can.
My practice is not perfect. I still struggle with knowing what poses to do in the "right" order. I get stuck in patterns of thinking I "have" to do certain poses every night in a logical order. At the beginning of my practice, I often find myself mapping out the poses for the night, instead of focusing on the present pose.
The important thing is that I am practicing and enjoying the fruits of my commitment, imperfections and all. Now, if I could just find time to meditate.....
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Mama's home yoga practice (is awesome!)
Since the birth of my son, I have struggled to find time to practice yoga at home.
And, although I would love to attend a yoga class at least once a week, I made the decision shortly after he was born, that while he is an infant and needs me so intensely, I would not spend what precious free time I have away from him at a yoga class. I know this won't be forever, so I look forward to the day when I will return to class, but for now I am happy to spend that time with my sweet baby.
About four weeks after his birth, I stepped back onto the mat. I was eager to find out how my body would feel after nearly ten months of pregnancy and the birth of my son. I also wanted to stretch out some of the aches that breastfeeding was causing.
I took it slowly at first and did a few poses for only a few minutes at a time. It felt wonderful! I was amazed, though, at my lack of strength and the changes in my body. Although it did seem that my hips were much more flexible than before pregnancy.
After a few weeks, I felt ready to dive back in to my old yoga routine, which was a DVD with five days worth of practices. I loved this DVD and the teacher. During my three month maternity leave, I was able to do a thirty minute practice with this DVD about four times a week. It was always rushed, though. As soon as my husband would get home from work, I would run to the basement and pop in the DVD. Rarely could I completely focus on my practice. I was always listening for Josias' cry or alert for indications that he needed to eat. BUT, I was practicing and it felt good.
After I went back to work, this daily routine went out the window. My day goes like this: wake up at five to pump, get Josias ready for daycare, get me ready for work, eat breakfast, breastfeed Josias and head out the door. After dropping Josias off at daycare, I have an hour commute. At the end of the eight hour workday, I have an hour commute back home. My husband picks Josias up from daycare, so when I arrive home at 5:45, I breastfeed him. If the stars align that night, as a family we take the dog for a half hour walk. That usually leaves less than a half hour to make dinner, eat dinner, bathe Josias, and get time ready for bed by 7ish.
By 7:45, Josias is asleep and I have about an hour (I try to get in bed before nine, since I have to be up at five and will need to feed Josias about four times throughout the night) to prepare everything for the next day and practice yoga. Now, we probably all know, having the time and actually doing it are two different things, especially when exhaustion has set in. For about two months now, I have established a 20-30 minutes practice almost every night, without the DVD.
In the next post, I will share how I established my regular, home practice.
And, although I would love to attend a yoga class at least once a week, I made the decision shortly after he was born, that while he is an infant and needs me so intensely, I would not spend what precious free time I have away from him at a yoga class. I know this won't be forever, so I look forward to the day when I will return to class, but for now I am happy to spend that time with my sweet baby.
About four weeks after his birth, I stepped back onto the mat. I was eager to find out how my body would feel after nearly ten months of pregnancy and the birth of my son. I also wanted to stretch out some of the aches that breastfeeding was causing.
I took it slowly at first and did a few poses for only a few minutes at a time. It felt wonderful! I was amazed, though, at my lack of strength and the changes in my body. Although it did seem that my hips were much more flexible than before pregnancy.
After a few weeks, I felt ready to dive back in to my old yoga routine, which was a DVD with five days worth of practices. I loved this DVD and the teacher. During my three month maternity leave, I was able to do a thirty minute practice with this DVD about four times a week. It was always rushed, though. As soon as my husband would get home from work, I would run to the basement and pop in the DVD. Rarely could I completely focus on my practice. I was always listening for Josias' cry or alert for indications that he needed to eat. BUT, I was practicing and it felt good.
After I went back to work, this daily routine went out the window. My day goes like this: wake up at five to pump, get Josias ready for daycare, get me ready for work, eat breakfast, breastfeed Josias and head out the door. After dropping Josias off at daycare, I have an hour commute. At the end of the eight hour workday, I have an hour commute back home. My husband picks Josias up from daycare, so when I arrive home at 5:45, I breastfeed him. If the stars align that night, as a family we take the dog for a half hour walk. That usually leaves less than a half hour to make dinner, eat dinner, bathe Josias, and get time ready for bed by 7ish.
By 7:45, Josias is asleep and I have about an hour (I try to get in bed before nine, since I have to be up at five and will need to feed Josias about four times throughout the night) to prepare everything for the next day and practice yoga. Now, we probably all know, having the time and actually doing it are two different things, especially when exhaustion has set in. For about two months now, I have established a 20-30 minutes practice almost every night, without the DVD.
In the next post, I will share how I established my regular, home practice.
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