Householder yoga series is a set of practical tools rooted in yogic tradition to help moms build up their daily practice amidst their new role, busy schedules and limited time for themselves. Each tool is integrated in the regular daily activities you are already doing with your baby, in a way that it builds on and expands the mom-baby relationship to directly serve your growth and development. The aim of this practice is to cultivate more awareness, enhance your wellbeing and integrate the power of motherhood; as well as to collect precious moments and have some fun with your baby.
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.
Aristotle
Morning practice is – as every good yogi or meditator knows – absolute essential and a core foundation to our path of growth and development. However, there is something that precedes the morning practice – and it happens in first couple of minutes just after we open our eyes. This is the most crucial timeframe in which, whatever we do, sets up our awareness for rest of the day.
Hence as a first tool in the householder yoga series, I invite you to spend the very first moments of your day immersed in one of the most powerful feelings that instantly raise your vibration – gratitude.
You can do this by connecting with your heart and your baby and acknowledging the appreciation for this little miracle of life. I usually sleep with my baby so it comes very naturally – the very first thing I see when I open my eyes is her. It fills my heart with joy every single morning and brings a smile upon my face instantly. In case you don’t sleep together, I invite you to go get your baby as the very first thing you do after you wake up, in order to build a short practice of immersing into gratitude, joy and happiness.
What turns this seemingly regular mom-baby morning interactions into a powerful daily practice for rising your vibration is intention and awareness – we must have the intention of consciously experiencing these moments and purposely connecting to gratitude. Here is how:
- This practice must be the very first thing you do in the morning, especially before you check your phone (which is not recommended to do within 1 hour after you wake up).
- If you sleep with your baby – and she or he is the very first thing you see when you open your eyes – then all we need to do is to bring intention and awareness.
- If you don’t sleep with your baby – I invite you to go get your baby as the very first thing you do
- Once you have your baby next to you, first connect to you heart. Remember how blessed you are to be chosen as her or his mother. Remember how, even in the most difficult times, your baby is your biggest blessing.
- Repeat a little prayer of gratefulness, be it in your thoughts or out load. You can use any of the prayers you already know and are connected to – or simply create a new one. Start by expressing gratitude to your baby for choosing you as her or his mother and deciding to become a part of your life. Then express your gratitude towards yourself for being such an amazing woman.
- Close your eyes for a second and feel this gratitude deep in your bones, Feel every cell of your body whispering “thank you”. Take a deep breath and as you exhale, whisper “thank you” to the God or to the Universe for the miracle of life. Gently open your eyes.
- You can continue by expressing gratitude for everything else you feel grateful for that day (e.g. your family, friends, pets, Mother Nature, food, creativity, work, etc.); or simply stay focused on the connection with your baby.
- Observe the pure being, the pure essence of life that so naturally shines through our babies. Open your heart to their innocence and their intrinsic goodness. Let them wake up the same pureness that resides in your self, in your own inner child. Keep the attention focused in your heart area and connect to the gentle, warm kindness that resides there, intrinsic to every human being.
- Stay couple of more minutes for some cuddles or ticklish laughs with your baby before you get up and start your day.
- It helps to commit to doing this short practice daily for 21 days, in order to make it a habit. During this period, try to observe what else changed in your day as a consequence and write it down in your journal.
Unravel Ninja 