Just breathe
Sometimes when parenting gets a little chaotic, I like to tell my children to play quietly in their rooms while I close the door, light a candle and cross my legs on my yoga mat.
Yeah, right.
Any parent with small children knows that scenario is a pipe dream. Kids hardly ever really “play quietly,” and if you get 30 seconds of freedom during the day, I’m not spending it doing Downward-Facing Dog.
So I was interested to see an article today about a new trend in parenting that incorporates yoga techniques into everyday mommy life. Instead of carving out hours for alone time at yoga classes, moms are encouraged to instill three yoga techniques into stressful moments.
- Breathe
- Take a step back
- Focus
If you read my last blog about middle-of-the-night tantrums (by both me and my daughter), then you know that I’ve been searching for just such permission to step back, collect myself and then re-enter my life with some semblance of serenity.
So while I may not be pulling on those yoga pants anytime soon, I will be trying to bring a little Zen calm to my house this week.
What do you think of using these yoga techniques in everyday parenting? What do you do to stay calm in the chaos of parenthood?
Erin Stewart is a regular blogger for Deseret News. From stretch marks to the latest news for moms, Stewart discusses it all while her 4-year-old daughter crams Mr. Potato Head pieces in her little sister’s nose.