Sunrise, steaming coffee, Ashtanga magic. That was my life for two glorious years. I devoted myself wholeheartedly to the practice of yoga—sacred mornings with myself on the mat, simple days, and early nights.
Then, bam! Twin tornadoes arrived, and my whole world changed. During the first two months, my steaming coffee turned to cold coffee, my sunrise yoga transformed into in-between nursing sessions yoga, and Ashtanga magic evolved into the beautiful chaos of motherhood.
Ever since my twins graced my life, with all its joy and exhaustion, I’ve come to admire ashtanga mothers in a whole new light. While parenthood may shift our practice, maybe a few asanas take a back seat, but other aspects of the yogic lifestyle take foreground, have their time to blossom. I have a deep respect to all the mothers, who practice in the mornings in the challenging time period of their lives as a parent or just stands on the mat for a few moments until the next time for nursing their babies!
I’m going to be honest. Initially, I didn’t come to my mat every day. I just didn’t have the physical or emotional capacity yet. I went back slowly and gradually adding more postures. The pressure to "get my practice back" was real, whispering doubts like a persistent inner critic. But motherhood taught me a new asana, self-compassion. I learned to celebrate stolen moments on the mat, finding peace in the present, messy bun and all.
Mamas, you are not a bad yogi if your practice looks different now. There's no shame in swapping headstands for bedtime stories, or trading yoga sessions for snuggle sessions. Your dedication to your family is the ultimate yoga practice– an act of love, strength, and unwavering presence. They don’t call it by chance the “seventh series.” the hardest yoga series of them all. It’s the practice of engaging fully in family life, of maintaining and nurturing our relationships, and in my current state, the practice of being a good mother.
On the flip side, you are not a selfish mom for taking time to yourself to get your yoga practice in.
As mothers, we consistently give our all from the moment we wake up until we finally pass out at night. However, we simply aren’t as productive or helpful if we neglect our own well-being. When we're depleted mentally, physically, or spiritually, providing our families with what they deserve becomes a challenge. That's why it's crucial to ask for help, find ways to slow down, prioritize self-care, and nourish our souls. We require breaks, support, and validation. It's essential to soften our edges and be gentle with ourselves.
For me, the practice is a part of my self-care ritual. Finding the balance between showing up for my babies, my duties, and myself is challenging, but it is possible. We just need to stay flexible and improve our time management. When I take the time to cultivate peace and kindness within myself, I'm better able to share it with the world around me.
Yes, I'm currently on my mat every day, usually early in the morning while the babies are still sleeping, and it's such a special time for me!
Yoga allows me to flow through motherhood rather than fight against the current of my new life. It gives me the strength to play with my little ones, the patience to teach them, and the capacity to give them my deep love every day. By devoting ourselves to the discipline of a yoga practice, those little moments in life become deeper, richer, and sweeter.
To all you mothers out there (including myself), I see you. I feel you. Prioritize your happiness, knowing that your family benefits most when you are well. Continue your yoga practice; it's a wonderful postpartum activity for preventing or alleviating symptoms of anxiety or depression. Don't beat yourself up for being different now; you are different, and you're stronger than you give yourself credit for. You are seriously amazing and so, so appreciated.
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