This might be an unpopular thing to say, but I don’t really like summer that much. I recently moved from cold, foggy summers in San Francisco to San Jose where the sumers are much hotter. By the end of August, I am ready to wear scarves and sweaters again. I look forward to eating soup and doing some baking. Luckily, when the going gets hot, it’s just a matter of time before the season changes. I used to live in Maine, where they often say, “If you don’t like the weather, wait 5 minutes.” That could be good yogic advice, too, applied in almost any mothering context. Like when my daughter is throwing a tantrum. I always remind myself that: a. It’s normal, and b. It won’t last forever.
One thing about being a mom is that you feel the passage of time in a whole new way. Suddenly your kid needs a new wardrobe because they’ve outgrown their clothes, or they are saying new words or protesting things that didn’t used to bother them. Some people are amazed when they hear that I still breastfeed my daughter, who turned 2-years-old a few months ago, but I almost can’t imagine not nursing her! I know that the time will come for her to wean and luckily I’ve enjoyed this aspect of nurturing so much that I’ve been willing to continue with it into toddlerhood. Kids change and at the same time, parents change along with them. That’s right, we’re not totally stuck in our ways if we don’t want to be.
Just last week I had a little bout of insomnia and that got me to thinking about change. The autumnal equinox is right around the corner and while I love the cooler air and festivity of fall, I also admit that I have a hard time with making changes in my own life. One of the biggest changes to my yoga practice after my daughter was born was the length and frequency of my practice on the mat. I could find dozens of moments during the day for mindfulness, deep breathing, and improving my posture during ordinary activities. But the actual formal practice became less frequent if only because I failed to schedule it into the week.
For me, it’s hard to justify staying up late or getting up early to squeeze in my practice. With a toddler who still wakes up during the night, I need to make sure I get enough shuteye. But what’s 5-15 minutes of practice after my daughter goes to bed or before she wakes up? That’s not much lost sleep when you factor in the benefits of a daily practice.
What does it really take to get that 5-15 minutes daily? Creativity, devotion, and most of all, Self love. You have to care about yourself as much as you care about your family to make that time for your self (with a lower case s) and Self (with a capital S). Here’s an article on a yogic perspective on the Self.
It’s easy to get lost in the role of mother and forget that you might also be a wife or partner, sister, daughter, cousin, aunt, friend, neighbor. You might be a teacher, engineer, business owner, doctor, lawyer, landscaper...you get the idea. But I hope you join me in the practice of allowing you to just be purely you, be your Self on the yoga mat for at least 5-15 minutes daily. More to come on this.