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A Mama’s Guide to Rocking a Yoga Home Practice

Aaaaahhhh… You know that calm feeling you get at the end of a really good, long yoga practice?…

I’m feeling that right now because I just finished my home practice. I just gave myself a WHOLE hour to move, stretch, breathe, and just be in my body. It was glorious. And you know what? It almost didn’t happen. About five minutes into my practice I hit the pause button (I’m a yoga video kind of girl). I looked at my phone and I thought to myself: I could just knock out ONE more phone call, and then come back to this.

In yoga we call that distracted, unable-to-focus-on-one-thing-for-longer-than-a-few-seconds mind Monkey Mind. The idea is that your mind swings from one idea to the next like a crazed money swings from tree limb to tree limb. My mom friends and I know that it’s also a symptom of being around small children with even smaller attention spans all day long, having a million things to do at any given time, and not getting enough rest… All of that comes together to leave us feeling groggy, distracted, and unlikely to take care of ourselves. (I even put together a little yoga practice to combat the phenomenon known as Mommy Brain. Trust me, it’s a thing.)

Anyhoo. What was I talking about?

Oh yeah, how I ALMOST let myself get distracted instead of doing my yoga practice. (Because we both know damn well that if I had left that video paused and walked away from my yoga mat, I would NOT have gotten my yoga practice today.)

Luckily, this time I caught myself. I pushed Play. I did my practice. And I am still basking in the glow right now.

I don’t know about you, but this is how my yoga practice goes most days. There are SO many times I have cheated myself out of a full practice in a scenario much like the one I just described to you. Sometimes I overcome my Monkey Mind, Mommy Brain. Other times? Well, you know how they say the road to hell (or in this case, stress, burnout, fatigue, and utter exhaustion) is paved with good intentions.

So, how can be sure that we are following through on our intentions to make time for ourselves and our yoga practice no matter what? I think it will always be a struggle for me (It was even a struggle for me before I became a mom!) but there are a few things I do to help me make yoga a part of my super-busy-crazy mom life. And, you can do it, too!

How to Maintain a Yoga Home Practice for Busy Moms | SpoiledYogi.com

Yoga Home Practice Tips for Moms

Make it stupid easy by planning ahead. Leave your yoga mat unrolled and your props out in the middle of the floor. (You might trip every now and then, but it will be worth it.) Leave your browser open to the video or yoga blog you intend to practice along with if that’s your thing. Have your playlist ready to go if you practice with music. Put your yoga clothes out the day before. The easier you can make it on yourself the more likely you will be to follow through with it and establish a lasting habit.

Block out your time on the calendar and make it non-negotiable. My daughter is in preschool three mornings a week right now (woohoo!). When I get home from dropping her off in the morning, I change into my yoga clothes and I do my yoga practice BEFORE I do anything else—no quick phone calls or emails allowed. Before my daughter went to preschool I treated her nap times the same way—yoga first, then whatever else I can squeeze in afterward.

Be sneaky. Maybe you aren’t as lucky as I am with blocks of time built into your schedule where you can do things without your little one attached to your hip. When the only time I had to myself was my daughters 30-minute nap time, I’d often wait until my husband got home from work and beg, plead, and bargain for just a few minutes for whatever yoga practice I had energy for. Of course, when that didn’t work (because my husband also wanted time to himself after a day at the office), I’d simply wait for my daughter to demand his attention and quietly slip away for just a few minutes of yoga. It’s not exactly as good as a full hourlong practice, but it was definitely better than nothing.

See also Why Every Yoga Mama Needs a Secret Savasnana

When all else fails, invite your kid to join you. Maybe your child thinks your Cat/Cow is an invitation to ride you like a horse. Join the club. Repeat after me: Anything is better than nothing. Just a few minutes of stretching your legs while you play with Leggos will be all you can swing some days, and that’s OK! Make it as fun as possible and know that your kids will remember watching you make the effort.

Savasana counts. Don’t feel like you have to do 100 Sun Salutations every time you get on your mat. Know that there are definitely times when you’ll get a lot more benefit from a calm, soothing, grounding Savasana or other restorative yoga posture. You’ve been running around like a chicken with its head cut off all day (in case you’re not from the South, that’s kind of like a more physical version of Monkey Mind). A super active yoga practice would likely just add the the overwhelm anyway. Don’t have the energy to vinyasa? Fine. That’s no excuse to skip your practice. Just skip the vinyasas, and treat yourself to something gentler instead. And don’t you dare feel a bit guilty for doing it—you deserve it!

Remind yourself that your practice is just for you—but it also benefits your family just as much. When you skip your practice, you aren’t going to show up as the best mom, wife, partner, worker, etc. It’s not fair to you or those who need you.

Forgive yourself when it doesn’t happen. This is probably the hardest thing, but also the most important. It’s so easy to get down on ourselves for missing a few sessions, and before long we just stop trying. Don’t go down that path. It’s a challenge to commit to a home practice. And when you’re a busy mama with mouths to feed and boo boos to kiss in addition to all the normal work and life responsibilities it’s at least 100 times harder. Remember that you are strong. You are capable. You are SO worthy. The next time you miss a day (or week or month) of yoga, please simply think to yourself: Silly, mama. You missed your yoga practice again. Be gentle with yourself. Be kind to yourself. Try again tomorrow. You got this!

4 Yoga Poses Moms Do Without Realizing It

Yoga Poses Moms Do on Accident | Warrior Pose, Lunge, Savasana | Yoga Poses for Moms | SpoiledYogi.com

Photo by sunchild123

I’m not going to lie. If I read one more blog post about how motherhood is just a really great opportunity to self-reflect, get comfortable with being uncomfortable, and learn to go with the flow, I might gag. Seriously. I’m gagging a little bit as I type this and I’m just remembering all the poses I’ve read comparing motherhood to yoga.

I’m sorry to burst your bubble, but motherhood is not yoga. Especially when you have a young child under, say, 5. (I’m just guesstimating here because my daughter is just 3 1/2. I’m hoping that when she’s 5 things might get easier—or at least it will not be my problem to the same extent because I’ll be shipping that precocious, sweet, incredibly exhausting girl of mine off to school for a big chunk of time every day then.) Yes, you can draw lots of parallels between the practices of yoga and motherhood: After all both can be really challenging, and many people still underestimate how demanding both practices are. And both can give you glimpses of who you really are by testing your physical and mental strength, stamina, and fortitude. But that’s really where the similarities end.

After a yoga class, most people feel less stressed, less overwhelmed, and more relaxed, right? That’s why we do it. When my child finally goes to sleep at night, on the other hand, I definitely feel relief, but some nights it’s more like the relief you’d feel if you fought in a war all day and survived by the skin of your teeth.

Let me put it another way: No one thinks, Oh, I need to work out some of this tension… I think I’d like to spend 16 hours potty training, cutting the crust off of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and playing with loud toys that light up and play music.

Sure, you can take a mindful approach to motherhood—which will help you enjoy your kids and your life so much more. But let’s not kid ourselves: Yoga and motherhood are two very different things. Both bring immeasurable joy and richness to my life, but they are not one and the same.

There are still some times I’m going about my normal mom business when I realize I totally just busted a yoga move without even meaning to. It doesn’t count as a home practice or anything, but it does make me smile (and that’s worth something).

4 Yoga Poses Moms Do Without Realizing It

The Lunge and Grab Pose
Practice this posture every time you see your child running toward something dangerous—especially oncoming traffic, high cliffs (or, you know, stairs), and the germ-infested toys in the waiting room at the doctor’s office.

Multi-Purpose Squat Pose
Take this position when playing with toys, waiting on a potty training toddler to finish her business, or whenever you have something very important to tell your child so you need to look her in the eye. You might think you’ll only be taking this position for a short period of time, but your child has other plans, so settle in and get comfortable.

Warrior Pose
This one is less of a pose, per say, and more of an attitude. You aren’t going to eat the organic couscous I slaved over, dear child? Then, you will not get another snack again.. EVER! Now, go brush your teeth and get ready for bed! When you have a small child sometimes it seems like everything is a battle. Warrior Pose when you’re actually in yoga class is all about standing in your power while you practice your laser-like focus. Warrior Pose when you’re fighting a battle with your kid is all about exerting your power without losing your cool.

Mommy-Needs-a-Break Pose
It’s like Savasana… only there’s a small child hovering right above your head using his whiniest voice to say, “Mommy, get up!! Play with me!” about 6 million times. If you find the noise disruptive, simply cover your eyes with your arms (this also serves to hide your tears of exhaustion from your offspring).

Have you ever done yoga on accident while you were parenting? What pose did you find yourself in?

How Competition is Zapping Your Energy and Ruining Your Life

How Competition is Robbing Your Energy and Ruining Your Life | SpoiledYogi.com

Comparison is the thief of joy.

I hear this idea constantly in the yoga classes I attend:

Don’t worry about Betty up in the front row. She might have an amazing Handstand, but for all you know, she trained to be an Olympic gymnast from the age of 3.

Sure, she might seem to take the shapes effortlessly on the outside, but you can’t tell from looking at her if her mind is at lease, can you?

As much as the idea of non-competitiveness has been pounded into my head during my yoga studies, I will admit that when I was new at the parenting gig…. it was a BIG challenge for me not to constantly compare myself to see how I stacked up to all the other moms around me.

I was spending so much time watching the mom who managed to spend hours upon hours doting on her kids, grow a thriving business, have a great relationship, keep a neat and tidy home, be an active in her community, and, of course, look fabulous while she was at it. What’s more, when I went to meet them for play dates at the park they were ON TIME and always remembered to bring all the necessities I forgot most of the time.

I felt like a frumpy underachiever in comparison. I mean, I didn’t have it all together at all (I still don’t!). I was always late to play dates. I regularly forgot things my little one needed—especially the snacks. I was exhausted, and I wasn’t even working regularly. How people with multiple children or real jobs managed to do things like shower daily and cook healthy meals was completely beyond me! I didn’t have the energy to do ANY of that.

It could be argued that a big reason for my lack of energy was that I was wasting all of the energy I had on things that didn’t matter—like worrying that I was totally failing at this whole motherhood thing and being upset that others could make it look so damn easy!

As the lovely and wise Elizabeth Gilbert recently wrote: Mike Tyson didn’t go bankrupt because he wasn’t given enough money. He went bankrupt because he bought “10 mansions, 100 luxury cars, a golden bathtub, and THREE ALBINO TIGERS!”

All of this is to say, it’s important to be cautious about what things you’re exerting your energy on, mamas.

Is that Pinterest-worthy birthday party for your child really worth the energy you’re going to use hand making place cards so your toddler guests will know where to sit at the kiddie table (because you know they’re TOTALLY going to sit still!) If you’re doing it because it brings you great joy to create something beautiful, go for it! But that’s the only reason I can think of spend your time this way. If you’re doing it to impress your neighbors… I beg of you, please don’t!

I’m forever grateful that something magical happened for me in the course of the last 3 1/2 years. Somewhere along the way, I stopped giving a flying flip about how anyone else manages their own household and their own children. I realized that spending my time thinking about the “right” or “best” way to do things was completely useless—so many opinions! Ain’t nobody got time for that! Plus, this horrible practice was stealing from those sweet and fleeting moments where I get to just pay attention to the joys of being a mother.

You can’t fully enjoy the way your muscles feel as they’re stretching in a yoga pose when you’re busy gawking at Betty in the front row. And you can’t fully enjoy watching your child play when you’re busy beating yourself up because you forgot to bring the damn Goldfish crackers again.

Comparison not only robbed me of my ability to be present and enjoy life as a mother, but it also created an unnecessary divide between me and other moms—the very women I desperately need to surround myself with for support, connection, and laughter. (Besides, you’re the type to forget snacks, you’re going to need a friend who remembers. Trust me on this one! I write from experience.)

As moms, we all have different strengths, different circumstances, and wildly varying amounts of time to devote to our motherly duties. Some of us work full-time and do what they have to JUST GET IT DONE, while others just really REALLY like making cutesy place cards by hand. Who cares!?

As yoga students, we all come to our yoga mats with different backgrounds, activities, and with skeletons—there is no better or worse, right or wrong, just different.

We all just start where we are with the lives and bodies we’ve been given and go from there, because at the end of the day all that really matters is that your children and YOU are happy, healthy, and able to enjoy the moments that really count. Am I right?

Mindful Mama: An Interview with Liz Vartanian

For this next installment of the Mindful Mama series, I asked my good friend (and maybe one of the most balanced mamas I can think of) to share how she manages to make time and space for your practice in her busy world as the mother of two active boys (one toddler and one baby).

Liz is a yoga teacher and mama who lives in Austin, Texas. (Texas friends, LOOK HER UP!) I have had a crush on Liz’s writing—which you can find on her amazing blog Blissful Betty—for a long time, and I also love following the little bits and pieces of her life she shares on social media. I knew she wouldn’t gloss over how difficult it can be committed to both your family and to mindfulness practices like yoga and meditation—even for someone who makes a living as a yoga teacher! Thanks for keeping it real, Liz!

Keep reading, Mamas, because my friend is about to share some really practical advice for staying sane and staying true to yourself.

Austin, Texas Restorative Yoga teacher Liz Vartanian spills all her best tips for being a mindful mama | SpoiledYogi.com

Photo by Ray Dumas

How has your yoga practice changed since you became a mom?

I practice way less asana and a lot more meditation, pranayama, and focus inwards. There is a lot more samadhi (or bliss) in the little moments and in the moments I can unroll my mat and move my body. There also are A LOT of heart/shoulder openers and slow mindful core work. Really, my practice has become about being as present as I can with my boys, with my family and friends, and most importantly, myself.

I recently wrote what it means to me to be a yoga mama, and I know you’ll have some great insights to share on that topic. What does being a “yoga mama” mean to you?

Well, this yoga mama defines “yoga mama” as a lady who:

Shows her kiddos what a yoga practice looks like by doing her physical practice whether it is nap time or not. Even if that means down dog becomes an instant jungle-gym.

Uses the values from the yamas and the niyamas as morals for the young ones. It’s kinda perfect after all: non-violence, truth, not-stealing, restraint, and not wanting couldn’t be better guidelines for children or adults. Plus keeping cleaning, being happy with what you have, learning self-discipline, starting self-study, and learning about surrendering.

Meditates over her morning cup of coffee because getting up before the rest of the family does is too exhausting.

And, lastly, but most importantly, she knows that yoga is all about being present with your children, with your partner, and with yourself when you need to be.

Tell me how you incorporate the eight limbs of yoga into your life as a mom. Is there one limb that’s harder than others for you? How do you overcome that?

Funny, you should ask! I make it my job to live the eight limbs, so YES my off the mat yoga is more common than on the mat.

As I mentioned before, the yama and niyamas become guides for raising my boys. Asana and pranayama are daily or every other day practices, mostly so I stay able in my body to chase and play. Pranayama is often a means to calm down and even my toddler uses a four part breath when he gets frustrated.

Turning inwards is tougher, as most parents know, getting some quality alone time to connect with myself is low on the totem pole. And focusing my mind takes a lot longer when I’m trying my best to not be in mom brain and thinking of 20 things at once. Mediation is often over my cup of morning coffee and sometimes on the cushion, eyes closed, and chanting. BLISS is everywhere, it is just a matter of noticing it: the little “I love you, mom”s, noticing a beautiful sunrise or sunset, catching a friend at the coffee shop. It is seeing these things instead of focusing on the things I am lacking—like sleep!

Amen to that! So, you recently added a new adorable boy to your family. How are things going as a mom as two? What’s been your biggest challenge?

I knew that this first year would be tough—a baby and a toddler. The needs are different for them and to spilt attention between whose needs are greater in the moment can be tough, but the love is also so much more! I’m lucky enough that the toddler is in a great little pre-school that he loves, so I get to spend time with Kai and bond. The biggest challenge has been taking the time I need for myself. My mantra lately has been presence not perfection. I don’t need to be anyone’s idea of perfect. That is what really challenges me—trying to do it all and taking care of my own needs, which often come last.

Liz Vartanian spills all her best tips for being a mindful mama | Mom and baby yoga, prenatal yoga, restorative yoga, self care | SpoiledYogi.com

Let’s talk about mom guilt. Do you ever feel guilty about taking time for yourself? Has anything helped you with that?

Mom guilt is SO real. With my first, I had a lot of mom guilt any time I went to teach or took time for myself. With the second one, though, I make an effort to get monthly massages, and I don’t feel as bad about getting out of the house. It makes me a better mom when I get to leave. It makes me more focused on the boys. It most definitely makes it easier to play trains for hours or dance to the same song over and over again. I don’t leave for excessive amounts of time, but taking time to just be me is crucial for me to be a great parent!

Do you have any time-saving tips for other busy moms out there trying to juggle everything? What’s one simple thing they can do to make more time for themselves?

Best advice I can give is figure out your priorities. You can’t do it all so you decide is most important. My opinion is that the house can be a mess as long as the kids are happy. For me, happy healthy boys and a happy healthy mama are most important.

The best way to make time for yourself is TAKING IT. Take time for yourself, every day. Even if it is just 10 minutes when the kids go to bed, when it is nap time, whenever. The dishes will get done, so will the laundry, the vacuuming, the chores will get done. Take time for yourself every day.

Liz Vartanian shares all her best tips for being a mindful mama | Mom and baby yoga, prenatal yoga, restorative yoga, self care | SpoiledYogi.com

What yoga pose are you loving right now? Are there any poses you do with your boys?

Puppy Pose! Oh my guru, I love this pose. It helps heal my aching shoulders from rocking baby all day, it helps all the love in my heart move into every part of my body.

My toddler LOVES to climb all over my body when he gets a chance to do yoga with me. He also has a pretty fabulous Three-Legged Down Dog, and he is working on flipping his dog right now. Right now the boys are really too young to be super involved in my practice, but I love doing Goddess Pose with Kai in the sling and of course Aiden will join me for some bed time yoga (we like the book Yawning Yoga by Laurie Jordan).

You teach prenatal yoga and restorative yoga (two of my favorite things!). Tell me what are some of the biggest mistakes you see moms make when trying to do relax and unwind?

Mostly I see mamas who cannot be still. They fidget. They can’t keep their eyes closed, they just struggle with being still and appreciating self care. Mom guilt is real, but restorative practices are not just a luxury of lounging around on bolsters and blankets. Oh no, the challenge of being still and being alone with yourself is actually a gift. That’s right, mamas, alone time. Quietly being with yourself and feeling the aches in our tired and new bodies can be harder than a 100 Sun Salutations, but ultimately it is the best thing a new mama can do for herself.

The other thing would be to only go to yoga once a month or sporadically, even I am guilty of this. While my home practice is daily, the joy of attending a class is irreplaceable. And consistency in your practice will do wonders for reconnecting to this new post baby body. I assure you, it is worth taking a restorative class once a week once activity is approved by a midwife or doctor. The peacefulness alone is worth taking the class.

Do you have a morning ritual? What is it?

I do! While it varies a little bit (especially when someone is sick or my guy is traveling), I sip coffee while scribbling words down quickly while Aiden plays trains or trucks (Kai sleeps in these days) or if I can wake up before everyone else, I meditate over that cup of coffee. There is feeding of the dogs, making of breakfast and eating it, and prepping Aiden for school. Sometime in there, I get dressed and brush my teeth if my coffee is finished. Come 9am, kiddo is in school and I can practice some yoga, write, and just enjoy some time with Kai. Mornings are busy but beautiful times.

You have a whole morning to yourself. How do you spend it?

Oh, my fantasy! Well, I would like to say something fancy like enjoying a spa morning or taking over the yoga world, but honestly a whole morning for myself would probably just be enjoying coffee while it is still hot, taking a yoga class, and getting to read or write for a hour or two. My needs are definitely more simple these days.

What’s one thing you wish you had known before you had your first baby?

I wish I had known how much of myself you really give. It is a beautiful offering of self, but it is exhausting at times and it can lead mamas to martyrdom instead of motherhood. Giving isn’t the problem though—it is giving without having a full cup to begin with. The first baby you want to be there for every little thing. I didn’t want to go get a massage even though my body was aching for worry that my baby would need me. The truth is sure he might have missed me a little bit, but an hour to take care of myself is nothing. As a new mama you give a lot, you receive a lot, too, but it takes more to keep you full. Self care, taking time for yourself is one of the things I wish I had done more of when Aiden was born.

Review: Yogi Surprise Subscription Box

Craving a Simple Life

There are some days that I feel completely overwhelmed with stuff—I have too many clothes, too much plastic, disposable doodads, too many old things just sitting around collecting dust and getting in my way.

Recently, I’ve been much more interested in getting rid of things I don’t need to make space in my life for more ease, more room to stretch out, a more simple way to of life.

So, when I first heard about Yogi Surprise, a care package subscription that sends yoga lifestyle products every month, I was skeptical that a box full of “yoga stuff” every month would be something I’d enjoy much: I don’t want more STUFF to clutter my house!

Why I Love It + The Art of Self Care

Why I Love My Yogi Surprise Subscription Box: Product Review | SpoiledYogi.com

But as much as I’m into simplifying my life by getting rid of the excess, I’m also pretty obsessed with all things self care (maybe you’ve noticed all the posts about yoga and self care on the blog lately). That means I’m spending a lot less time and energy on things that aren’t important, and instead I’m trying to spend more of my time on self care (so I’ll be less stressed and more present for my family and my work).

It’s the simple, little things that have made the biggest impact on my overall happiness and well-being: Restorative yoga poses, meditation, baths, herbal tea. And—Surprise!—the things I’ve gotten in my Yogi Surprise boxes the last two months have been simple, little things that have supported that mission.

Whoever puts together Yogi Surprise boxes really really “gets” me. Every time I’ve gotten a box, I’ve felt like I’ve gotten the most thoughtful care package from a best friend who is into all the same things I’m into. Each time, the box has been filled with things that I want to learn more about, but would probably never have purchased on my own.

A Few of My Favorite Things From Yogi Surprise Box

Ayurvedic Nasya Oil made by Banyan Botanicals to clear and lubricate the nasal passageways (Since learning about and adding more Ayurveda rituals into my routine is one of my self-care goals, I got really excited about this one!)

Banyan Ayurvedic Oils Nasya Oil Review | SpoiledYogi.com

Sea Buckthorn Eye Cream by Sibu Beauty. How did they know I’m a mom who never gets enough sleep and that I’m trying to cut way back on my coffee intake? This stuff has helped me look a little less like a zombie in my pre holiday selfies.

Sibu Beauty Age Defying Eye Cream | SpoiledYogi.com

Breath Perception: A Daily Guide to Stress Relief, Mindfulness, and Inner Peace by Barbara Ann Kipfer. Umm, yes please! I really love this little book full of pranayama and mindfulness exercises and peaceful landscape photography. It’s a great one to keep on your nightstand for a little practice before you go to sleep at night or first thing in the morning.

Breath Perception: A Daily Guide to Stress Relief, Mindfulness, and Inner Peace | SpoiledYogi.com

Chocolate. OK, I definitely DO treat myself with chocolate… a lot. I love chocolate of all kinds, really, but I am so obsessed with Nicobella Organics chocolate now. I’ve been dreaming about this stuff when I sleep at night. It’s THAT good.

Nicobella Organics Review | SpoiledYogi.com

I’ve also loved a necklace with green tree agate, rose quartz, and an Om sign, a sweet lavender scented sachet with an Om sign embroidered on the front (I do love an Om sign… put one on anything, and I’ll swoon… ), a clove bud essential oil, and some amazing herbal tea!

Share the Love

So, while I’ve love practically everything in the boxes, do I NEED it all? Of course not! But that’s part of the beauty (and one of the reasons I love this idea so much). If there’s anything that I don’t particular love or something that I know I won’t use in there, I can pass it on to one of my friends or even gift it to a student who I think would enjoy it.

The practice of giving a thoughtful gift is one that has made me very happy, and the YogiSurprise makes that SO easy. I get a couple little things that remind me to take care of myself and love myself, and I get to share that sentiment with someone I love, too. I’m getting warm and fuzzy just thinking about it!

Yogi Surprise offers two different kinds of subscription boxes. The lifestyle box, which has a hodgepodge of full sized “yoga lifestyle” surprises—think health, wellness, natural beauty, Ayurveda, meditation, aromatherapy, and stuff with Om signs on it (!)—for $44.95 a month. The jewelry box, which is $24.95/month, includes two jewelry items—malas, necklaces, bracelets, crystals, etc.—and one really delicious treat.

I can’t decide which box I like better, though I suspect that since you get a box every month, I’d soon have more malas and bracelets than I could ever wear with the jewelry box. (But that’s kind of awesome if you have a lot of yoga friends you love and want to share with!)

I’ll be keeping the chocolate treats all for myself. (#SorryNotSorry)

Want to learn more or snag a subscription of your own, visit YogiSurprise.com.

5 Things Yoga Taught Me About Money

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, ya’ll!

The time of year we drive around, braving traffic and tons of people, rushing from Point A to Point B to buy gifts, put up decorations, get our fanciest frocks (or ugly sweaters) out of the darkest corners of our closets and prepare food for parties all to celebrate the holiday season. Yes, there are religious reasons we celebrate the holidays.

But I honestly don’t think that’s why we subject ourselves to all the hustle and bustle this time of year. That, I believe, has more to do with letting the people we love know just how much we love them. (And, OK, just a little bit might be about impressing our friends and family, too, because after all, we want them to love us back!) It’s a beautiful thing if you think of it that way. And it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy like the Coca Cola polar bear on the inside.

Well, it does until I open my up my bank account and suddenly feel a little less warmth and a little more PANIC as I think, What the heck happened to all of my money!?

This is especially true for me this year when, aside from the craziness of the holidays, I also had to have a very simple (and very expensive!) outpatient procedure and found out my upstairs toilet has been leaking into the walls underneath (and rotting floors, ceilings, and who knows what else in the process)… You know what they say, when it rains it pours (apparently into my house!).

Remembering to Be Grateful

Even so, I’m also super grateful these days that my yoga practice has helped shape my ideas on money in profound ways. My yoga practice has helped me to find a good balance between spending and saving, brought an attitude of mindfulness toward where my hard-earned dollars are going (and what affect that has on my personal energy as well as its larger impact on the world), and I’ve learned to devote less of my time and energy stressing out about every little cent. Some of this is admittedly due to privilege and I think it’s important to acknowledge that (I’m not rich by any stretch, but I’m comfortable). That said, I still think yoga can help most anyone find a greater ease around money.

Photo by Alex Garcia

5 Things Yoga Taught Me About Money

1. Abundance is a state of mind. I have plenty of food, shelter, warmth, and love in my life. Yoga has taught me I have the choice to savor them all and feel blessed or spend my days pining away for the lifestyle the Joneses put on their credit cards. I think I’d rather be happy and content.

2. Things are less fulfilling than experiences. I love when a yoga teacher asks me to be still for a few minutes after a pose and just observe how my body and mind feels. For me, contentment is that moment of rest after a great chest opening yoga pose like Camel Pose (Ustrasana). I’ve noticed that when I step back to observe how I feel after any heartfelt activity in my life—a yoga class, hike, or visit with a friend—I feel better than I’ve ever felt after a shopping trip, no matter how big or grandiose the purchase. The happiness I feel after a fulfilling experience is also longer lasting and less harmful to myself (and usually the planet) than the high I get from spending money on things I didn’t need in the first place.

3. But some things are worth every cent. I think of living a healthy, yoga lifestyle as an investment in myself and my future. It’s true that I might spend more money on healthy foods, yoga classes, preventive health care, and things that motivate me to be healthy than is always necessary for my daily life. But I truly believe that these choices will save me a lot of money and heartache later on.

4. Seeking stability and flexibility is the key to balance. My body is naturally very flexible, so to avoid injury I have to work harder at building my muscle strength to create stability in my poses. I’ve learned a similar lesson in my financial life. It takes a willingness to use money on things that matter (like my health and experiences with the people I love) and a structure (I’m talking about a budget!) to keep everything in check.

5. Reuse. Recycle. Repeat. Ahimsa (or non-harming) to me means not using more than I need, finding creative ways to give new life to things I’ve already got, and buying things secondhand when it makes sense. This saves tons of money, has made me realize just how many things I already own, and makes me feel good about the way I’ve chosen to live my life.

What lessons has your yoga practice taught you about your financial life (is that even a thing?)? Post a comment below and share your insights!

Read more…
Loving-Kindness Meditation
5 Most Controversial Topics in Yoga
5 Common Meditation Mistakes

So You Wanna Be a Yoga Mama?

What do you think of when you hear the term “yoga mom?” Do you imagine a spandex-clad woman with clear, glowing skin balancing a cherub-like baby on her hip while she effortlessly balances in Tree Pose? And we all know this isn’t the only thing she balances so easily—her own health, her family’s health, the running of her home, her fulfilling work, her charitable selfless service or seva? Maybe you think of a mom who feeds her children eat all-organic, healthy, homemade food and use all-natural non-toxic (probably also homemade) bath products. She’s a woman who adores her children, but she somehow still makes time to meditate and (obviously) do her yoga practice daily (most likely before the sun comes up).

Well, that’s a nice little fantasy isn’t it?

So You Wanna Be a Yoga Mama? | SpoiledYogi.com

When I first had my daughter (and even before, when I was pregnant with her) I tried really hard to make my life look like that picture I had in my head. I was rigid. I tried waking up earlier to make time for my yoga practice only to either fall asleep on my yoga mat or I’d wake up the baby by accident. I’d eat healthy all day long, go for walks, and practice yoga during nap times. But, by the end of the day I would be SO exhausted and ravenous I’d send my husband out for ice cream (you’ve got to get those extra 500 breastfeeding calories in there somehow, right?). I also taught yoga, did lots of freelance writing work, made time for play dates so I could socialize myself and my little one, and you know what? I was completely exhausted, stressed out, and I felt like FAILURE, too. One day I realized, not only was I failing at being the prefect yoga mom, but I wasn’t enjoying any of it either.

I was doing the whole yoga mama thing all wrong—and it really had little to do with how much yoga I was doing or what foods I was putting into my body. I got it wrong because I wasn’t being kind to myself. I was pushing myself too hard, resting too little, and hating myself because I wasn’t doing it all as successfully as I wanted to. It’s OK. I was a new mom and I was learning.

See also Remembering the Newborn Days

Now that I’ve got a little more experience under my belt, I have a very different idea of what a yoga mama is. And it has a lot more to do with how you treat yourself than how many times you get your ass up out of bed before the sun to do Sun Salutations.

A yoga mama gets tired, stressed out, and upset just like anybody else—but she remembers that it’s all temporary, takes a deep breath, and keeps going, one moment at a time.

A yoga mama knows that being a mother is one of the most challenging jobs there is, so she loves herself, treats herself with kindness, and forgives herself for those times when she doesn’t meet her own expectations.

A yoga mama practices yoga whenever she can, but she doesn’t beat herself up if she misses a few sessions because she was busy taking care of herself and her family. It’s all yoga if you’re present.

A yoga mama knows parenting is like an all-levels yoga class. It’s cool if everyone is doing their own best version of a pose. It’s not competitive—if someone next to you is in a more or less “advanced” pose, it’s none of your business, and it doesn’t affect how beautiful and healing your own practice is.

A yoga mama knows how to react to the challenging moments in life as she would a challenging yoga pose—she backs off a bit, breathes a little deeper, and brings her attention and focus inward. (But just because she knows how doesn’t mean she always does it. She’s human, too.)

A yoga mama meditates—sometimes while holding her sleeping child, sometimes while walking through her neighborhood, sometimes while she does the dishes, sometimes just before she drifts off to sleep at night… whenever and however she can find a pocket of peace.

A yoga mama rests when she’s tired, even if that means she lets her little one watch a few YouTube videos so she can put her feet up.

A yoga mama wants her family to be healthy, but she doesn’t sweat it too much when her kid refuses the green stuff because she knows life is all about balance (and she wants her children to learn that, too).

A yoga mama makes time for self-care whenever and however she can.

A yoga mama isn’t afraid to ask for help because she knows we’re all in this together.

Do you agree? What other characteristics do you think yoga mamas share? Comment below!

10 Ways to Make More Time for Yoga

I get it. You’re busy. Between work, family, the kids, social obligations, the dishes piled up in the sink… after you do whatever it is you spend your time doing, there’s not much left over for your yoga practice. And even when there’s time left over there may not much energy. I’ve been there. Heck, I’m there with you right now.

I struggle daily to make time for even just a few poses each day—and, to be sure, there are stretches (pun intended!) of time when I don’t unroll my mat much at all—but I’ve gotten into a rhythm over the past few years where I practice more days than I don’t. It’s not easy, but it’s always worth it. I never regret making my yoga practice a priority. I never wish I’d spent a few more minutes scrolling through my Facebook feed instead. I almost always feel better, not just for the few minutes after I took time to practice, but for practically a whole day after. So, how do I make it happen?

10 Ways to Make More Time for Yoga | SpoiledYogi.com

Clock photo by Fabiola Medeiros

10 Ways to Make More Time for Your Yoga Practice

Here are a few easy things that help me make the most of the time I have so I can get on my mat more often:

1. Identify your WHY. Write down why you want to make time for your yoga practice and put it on a post it note where you’ll see it every day. Take a few minutes to really reflect on why you’ve decided to make your yoga practice a priority in your life. Stumped? I like the idea of writing it as an affirmation. Try one of these: I practice yoga daily because it makes me feel _________ . I practice yoga daily because it gives me __________. I practice yoga daily because it makes me a better ________.

2. Take an inventory of what you spend most of your time on. BE HONEST, when you finally get the kids down for bed at night do you sit and stare at you computer for 2 hours before you hit the hay yourself? (I am totally guilty of this!) Would it really make a huge difference if you limited your nightly screen time to 30 minutes instead?

3. Make a promise to yourself. Once you’ve identified a chunk of time that you can turn into Me Time consistently, it’s time to commit! Get out your calendar, and decide on a time frame that’s doable for you (A week? Two weeks? A month? The amount of time doesn’t really matter as long as you follow through!). You might want to make a mental note of your finish date (I recently wrapped up a personal meditation challenge that wrapped up on Thanksgiving, for example), if it’s a date you might forget write it down on your calendar (or maybe on that Post It note where you wrote your why in #1?).

4. Set an alarm. Most people have the best luck with establishing a home practice if they practice the same time every day, so set an alarm on your phone or computer to remind yourself to get up and move at the same time every day.

5. Stick to the same sequence. Don’t give yourself the extra job of coming up what to practice after you actually get to your mat—it can waste precious time and could be the reason you decide to surf the web or veg out in front of the TV instead of doing your practice. Decide now what you’ll focus on, write down a few poses you’ll practice daily, or find a video online that you’ll practice along with, and stick with it! If you get bored with the sequence, you can always change it up as you go or plan ahead and choose a different focus or video BEFORE it’s time to unroll your mat.

Try this Short and Sweet Side Bend Practice or A Yoga Practice for Confidence + Acceptance.

7. Leave your yoga mat and yoga props out. Make it really, stupid easy to just jump in and get going. That way if you only have a few minutes to practice, you can use every second breathing and moving because you won’t have to set up your space.

8. Organize the rest of your life so you aren’t using excess time or energy making tasks harder than they have to be. Remember when you did an inventory of what you spend the most time doing? Was there anything on that list that could be streamlined with a little more careful planning and organization? Do you spend hours folding laundry when you could cut that down to a few minutes by putting everything on a hanger? Are you wading through hundreds of garments you never wear to get dressed in the morning? Organization can be a struggle for me, but when I really took time to organize my closet, organize Annabelle’s toys, plan my meals every week, etc., I found I had so much more time and energy at the end of the day that I could use for my own self-care and my yoga practice!

If this seems daunting to you, tackle one small space at a time and go from there. Organizing can take a lot of time in the beginning, but I promise you, it’s worth the effort in the long run!

9. Just say NO to anything that doesn’t serve you. For me, sometimes that means opting out of a girls night out to catch a yoga class instead or turning away work assignments that won’t lead me to my end goals. Learning to say no to things that get in the way of my yoga practice (or other self-care practices) has saved me.

10. Forgive yourself. No matter how disciplined you are, there will be times that it doesn’t happen. During those times, it won’t help you to beat yourself up (after all, isn’t the whole goal of this to help yourself feel GOOD!?). When you miss a day, just make a mental note of where things went off track, and pick up where you left off tomorrow.

Now it’s your turn! In the comments section below, tell me what tips or tricks you’ve discovered that help you make time for your yoga practice.

Read more …
15 Things You’re Doing RIGHT in Yoga
Why Every Yoga Mama Needs to Take A Secret Savasana
Mindful Mama: Jennifer Williams-Fields Shares How to Create a Joyful Life

Review: Meet Asana, the World’s First Yoga Doll

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my 3 years as a parent, it’s that there are many MANY things are not in my control. At best, I’m my daughter’s guide and role model, but there are plenty of times when my girl just does her own thing, even if it makes me cringe.

Here are just a few examples:

Despite following all the rules about introducing food to her as a baby, now the only green thing she’ll touch to her lips are freaking dill pickles. (Thank God for green smoothies.)

She would watch YouTube videos all day long if I’d let her—and I’m not talking about educational ones either. She begs to watch grown-ass adults open plastic Easter eggs covered in Play Doh, then pretending to be surprised about the contents. (Oh my goodness! It’s the toy I put in there 5 minutes go! I’m SO surprised!)

Sometimes her taste in toys is a little questionable, too. You’ll never guess what tops her list for Santa this year: Pop the Pig, a game that she discovered on YouTube (where else!?) where you feed a pig hamburgers to make him fatter and fatter. If you’re the one who makes the pig’s belly grow so big he “pops” out of his clothing, you win! What. The. Hell? Who came up with that?

I’m limiting her access to YouTube, and keep hoping she’ll forget about it by Christmas because I don’t want it in my house. While I know I can’t control EVERYTHING my daughter is exposed to, I will do everything I can to guide her to be a healthy, well-rounded, confident girl. I’m sorry, but Pop the Pig just doesn’t fit the bill.

For me, it was yoga that taught me so much about physical, mental, and emotional health, and I’d love to share that with my daughter. But (because she’s a total threenager) I also know I’ll have to introduce it in a way that’s fun, age-appropriate, and maybe seems like it was her own idea.

Enter: Asana Yoga Girl

Meet Asana the Yoga Girl | AZIAM Girlz Yoga Doll Review | SpoiledYogi.com

I couldn’t have been more thrilled when I learned that the Alanna Zabel, the woman behind AZIAM yoga clothing and a yoga teacher to celebrities like Adam Levine, is now making dolls that can move and stretch right along with your child. Zabel, who also founded weeklong summer camps for girls called AZIAM Girlz Yoga Camps, first created characters corresponding with the 8 limbs of yoga (named Yama, Niyama, Asana, etc.) to illustrate the 8 Limbed Path (Ashtanga) of yoga to the girls in a way that they could understand. “My intent has always been to instill a positive and healthy lifestyle in children at an early age,” says Zabel, who also holds a degree in child development.

The first doll, which is available now, is fittingly named Asana because that girl is a very talented yogi—I had so much fun trying to contort her into various poses, and she could do almost all of them! (I think she’s still learning Eagle Pose… but maybe she’ll get it one day if she keeps practicing.) She comes with a yoga mat, which doubles as a slap bracelet, making it my daughter’s favorite thing EVER! The doll also has an adorable yoga ball, hand weights, and flip flops (because what else would she wear to and from the yoga studio?). She’s also outfitted in cute, stretchy AZIAM yoga clothes (obviously). She’s totally adorable, and both my daughter and I have had so much fun playing with her. I would feel really good about buying every one of these dolls for my daughter because it’s such a fun way to get her more interested in yoga. As she grows older, I can’t wait to share with her the 8-Limbed Path, and these dolls would be an awesome way to start that conversation!

See also Find Your Mama Mantra

My only concern about the doll is that she’s SO flexible, I could see some girls feeling a bit bad if they can’t do all of the moves that the doll can. (Though, I do think most girls today understand that dolls don’t always look or move like real people—I’m looking at you, Barbie!). The AZIAM doll is still light years better than most toys available today, and I feel good about letting my little one play with her.

Asana Yoga Girl is available for pre-order now through the AZIAM Girlz website, and there are 7 more dolls, which will be released in the coming months. (If you’re still on the fence, know that 10 percent of the sales goes toward The Alliance for a Healthier Generation, an organization dedicated to reduce childhood obesity and help kids create healthy habits.)

How do you pass on yoga to the little ones in your life?

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