Mothering with Mindfulness Yoga

After the birth of my son, when my daughter was just 22 months old, the days were a mixture of elation and exhaustion. The physical and mental challenges of keeping up with the routine while attempting to adopt “best” practices in diapering, sleep routines, communication, potty training, etc., etc., were overwhelming. Navigating the myriad of choices and philosophies during the first years felt complicated and annoying to me. I yearned for something that felt solid, old, and normal, for something reliable and familiar, something that was the total opposite of the universe that I had entered.

Through the practice of mindfulness, I found huge freedom from the “shoulds” and gained access to a vast reservoir of inner wisdom, intuition, truth and clarity. As a long-time yoga teacher and practitioner, I wanted to share this source of freedom and contentment with other moms and created “Mindful Mama Yoga.”

In the Mothering with Mindfulness Yoga session at Blossom's Mother's Day Celebration on May 7, we explore what it means to cultivate mindfulness and how to open to the wisdom that allows us to deepen our connection to our children, our families, ourselves and our community. The class is a blend of yoga, pranayama (breathing exercises) and meditation focused on opening the energy channels of the body to better access the insight, inspiration and guidance that is available to us in any given moment.
Now my children are 3 and 5 years old and the mindfulness practice continues to be my guiding light. I walk a crooked path; but I have a reliable radar to come back to over and over again. When I start to stray, I remember this lovely quote by Thich Nhat Hahn that grounds me and brings me back to center. He says, “The most precious gift we can offer others is our presence. When mindfulness embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers.”

Grace Kendrick
Mindful Mama Yoga and Ayurveda, Founder
www.mindfulmamayoga.com

Over the coming weeks we are featuring articles about the inspiring, rejuvenating and relaxing offerings at our Mother's Day Pampering Celebration on Saturday, May 7, 9am onwards. Come join us- sign up for a massage with Verde Touch, enjoy a great self portrait by professional photographer Rosalinda, participate in our workshops and celebrate a fun evening of music with Rockin'Moms! It is a double win: all funds from the event support Blossom's work with new and expectant families and you get to have a fun day celebrating being a mom or mom-to-be! RSVP today!