There’s no rest for mothers! New mom or a mom of a teen, it really doesn’t matter—there’s always something to do. Plenty of mothers also juggle their family life and their careers, so they certainly need an activity that will help them vent. Well, yoga might be the right choice! It provides the practitioner with the right balance between mind and body, and it’s also a great activity for getting back in shape, boosting your strength, and managing all kinds of medical conditions. So, if you’re intrigued but know absolutely nothing about yoga, here’s a beginner’s introduction to clear things up.
Find Your Yoga Style
While all yoga styles rest on the same base, they do differ in the way you perform them. If you’re a beginner, you’ll probably butcher any type of yoga, but that doesn’t matter at all. However, you still need to choose a style that resonates with you and your goals. Hatha Yoga is the most classic style that will teach you all the bases. If you need some extra help since you’re a beginner, you can also start with Iyengar Yoga that uses all sorts of aids.
Those who prefer something more active will love Vinyasa Yoga that’s quite dynamic or Ashtanga Yoga that’s energetic (only for extra fit moms with quite a lot of strength, though).
Find a Good Class
If you want to do this the right way, find a class and join it today. There’s no better place to learn the techniques and postures and ensure you’re doing yoga safely. Even though slow and controlled, you can get injured while practicing yoga, and no mother wants that! Plus, yoga is a journey, and you’ll need a guide that will provide you with tips as well as encouragements and motivation.
If you can’t just leave your kids alone to do your class, you can always practice from home. This is 100% free and gives you the freedom to practice whenever you like. However, make sure to do your research before you start with any postures or movements. There are amazing websites out there that can provide you with great advice and video instructions made by certified teachers.
Get your equipment
When it comes to equipment, yoga is super low-maintenance. Every future yoga mom needs only a yoga mat which is the bare minimum. When choosing your model, make sure to pick something that’s not going to slip and has the required length to fit your entire body. Other things you might need are a yoga block and a yoga belt. These help beginners with aligning the positions and make performing them a bit easier.
Comfy clothing is also recommended—think something that gives you good mobility. When you hit the stores, don’t get overwhelmed by choices. It might be best to check out websites like GearWeAre that contain basically everything you need to know (and more) about sporting gear. No matter if a complete beginner or someone with some fitness experience, you’ll find their tips and recommendations more than useful.
Provide Ideal Conditions
Don’t laugh! It’s possible to give yourself (nearly) ideal conditions for practicing yoga even with kids around. It’s best to do your routine on an empty stomach, but if you have your hands full in the morning, ensure you wait at least two hours after your last meal to do your daily practice. Also, if you can, ensure your phone is on silent mode and that you have as few distractions as possible (wait until kids are having their nap).
Don’t Forget to Breathe
Don’t think yoga is always super pleasant—it can be very demanding. However, no matter if you feel pain from stretching or feel uncomfortable in a position, don’t forget to breathe. People often hold their breath doing some physical effort, but yoga is all about breath control, so keep that in mind when practicing. If you find it difficult to breathe, increase your concentration and decrease your effort until you feel comfortable.
Practice With Your Kids
Your kids will undoubtedly see their mom doing yoga or going to practices, so if they show any interest to try it themselves, don’t discourage them. Yoga is a great gift to kids that will provide them with self-awareness, physical activity, breathing exercises, and meditation they need to cope with daily pressures. However, unless you make it fun, they won’t be enjoying it too much, so make sure to introduce yoga to kids in a very specific way.
Every mother can use yoga to relax, get some exercise, or even spend some quality time with the kiddos. Don’t hesitate to give this amazing practice a shot, and you’ll most likely fall in love instantly!
About the Author
Morgan Rose Elliott is an aromatherapist, yoga instructor, animal lover, a happily married mother of two. She enjoys reading biographies and writing poems, sunny days on the beach and any shape and form of vanilla. Crazy about the ’80s, her favorite band is Duran Duran and she is obsessed with the Netflix original Stranger Things.