If you are anything like me there are more balls in the air than you care to admit. From the first moment I open my eyes in the morning to the time I lay my head back down, I am running from one thing to the next with very little down time. Burnout is always just a short-step behind, and the requests keep on coming. So, how do we as parents get out of the "rat race" of work, emails to teachers, shopping trips, drop offs, and Zoom meetings? I can't say I have the answers, but I can ofter a few suggestions. (And maybe even commit to these myself.)

In yoga, the concepts of sthira and sukha provide consideration for the balance of "effort" and "ease" in our practice on the mat, and in life. Sthira which is a derivative for "steel" reflects the effort we put forth. Sukha is the more passive of the two denoting letting go and releasing effort. We can't have one without the other, and a balance of both is in our best interests. I think somewhere on a visceral level we know this. It's putting these principles into practice that proves challenging. As with most things, awareness is the first step to making change. 

Most babies don't just up and walk one day. There is a process of rolling over, creeping, crawling, and pulling up before the final when walking without holding on begins. To think that we can become aware of a problem, then change it instantly doesn't make much sense either. Here are a few steps to get you started. Think of this as gentle guidance from one parent to another.

1. Ask Yourself - Am I out of balance?  If you consider this and realize you spend from 6AM to 9PM working and have little time for your family then chances are you are indeed out of balance. Of course, this is a relative question to you and one to answer honestly.
2. Where am I out of balance?  Physical balance can be affected by the core, feet, hips, proprioception - really all sorts of things. Life balance can also be affected by a number of things. Write down the places in your life that do not feel balanced. Then ask yourself the next question.
3. Do I want to change?  Deep down inside, do you want to change to find better balance? Just like a person who has developed a substance use disorder, often times the answer will be "no", and most of us will not be able to change long term as long as that question is a "no".
4. Why do I want to change? In marketing, the "why" is the most important question of all. Everything else can fall in place if you know your "why". Your answer to "why" in balancing your life can provide you with an intention that keeps you going when things get hard or you need to say "no" to an opportunity or project. Write it down. Post it where you often look - the mirror, dresser, coffee pot. Get to know it well. And change it when things shift.
5. Now what?  Meditate. Yes, seriously. As you get quiet, the mind is going to get very busy. All those thoughts that pop up are keys to the distractions that affect balance. In yoga when we stray from the breath and our visual focus, we are more apt to wobble. Stay the path. Keep meditating and raise your awareness of thought patterns.
6. Practice As you get to know your thought patterns more, practice looking closely into those thought patterns. Perhaps you journal or vlog or blog or draw - whatever helps you visualize and consider what is coming up. This will be the key to unlock the door - and behind that door is your way out of damaging patterns and into more fulfilling patterns of thought.

Need an example? I am a very work-driven individual. In high school, I was an AP student who worked 2 jobs and wrote novels in my free time. Now I am a Mom of 3 with 3 jobs who writes novels in my free time. I don't watch TV. I rarely sit down to rest. And I work so much, I only see my family in passing. On my one day off a week, I clean the house, do laundry, scrub toilets, help with landscaping, and take yoga CE programs. I do.not.stop. How do I balance this out? I burn myself out, have to take emergency time off, spend a day or two in bed, then get right back into it again. My balancing practice would be to sit and meditate, listen to my mind activity, write down what popped up and then further write about these topics to get to the bottom of why I feel I need to work so hard. Get it? 

Start today. Take 5 minutes to meditate and see what comes up. Let me know!

There was a point a few weeks after my youngest child was born where I had gone into a low and dark place. I constantly worried that my baby would get hurt and generally felt immobilized by this fear. My anxiety kept me up at night and left me restless during the day. I decided to head to Google to see if there was any information about what I could do. 

This is when I first came across #imomsohard. At this time the program was offered on YouTube and I watched a video where Kristen and Jen joked about how they felt in the first weeks postpartum. I started to laugh and instantly felt seen and heard. Not only did these ladies get it, they approached the content boldly and with comedy. This became a turning point for me, and I found myself being able to feel stronger and more in control of myself. 

Now a hit a podcast, #imomsohard is a MUST for parents. From vaginal injury to dealing with preteen angst, there is not topic they won't cover. Their banter and ability to see the humor in just about everything has kept me standing as a mom since I came across them. As a yoga teacher who services families, I always recommend this podcast. It may not have the educational content that some families are looking for, but it's a whole lot of fun. Even on my worst of days, I have cracked a smile and laughed out loud while listening to these two, tough moms. 

Give 'em a try, and let me know what you think! 
Listen to #imomsohard

P.S. This is NOT a sponsored blog post. It is my honest opinion about what works from a parent who has seen a lot and wants to support others. 

If you took a look at the title of this blog post and scoffed, "Meditate in one minute? What is that going to do for me?" I'm here to tell you. A lot! It is common that our lives are so full that 10 or 15 minutes uninterrupted time can be a lot to ask of ourselves and those around us. This can be a deterrent to meditation. Even one minute of meditation carved into our busy lives can help us switch gears, calm our nervous systems, and gain some clarity. 

Still don't believe me? Try this. Sit in a comfy spot, close your eyes, and count to 60. Done already? My friend, you just meditated for 1 minute. Meditation can certainly be more sophisticated, but it also doesn't always have to be. There are also a whole host of apps that can provide short, guided meditations or set timers to your desired meditation time. 

My advice to anyone who wants to start to meditate is to start slow and start small. Gradually build over time, and be consistent. Below are a few of the benefits of meditated every day. Good luck and enjoy!

As a prenatal yoga teacher, every so often I get asked how to activate or engage the core during pregnancy. Although not the easier to do, it IS possible to find some core engagement during pregnancy especially if that is important to you. And, no, we are not doing this with deep crunches and sit-ups. Core engagement in pregnancy can be done subtly and with breath. The good news is that when we can find some core stability in pregnancy, this can help with balance while pregnant and support recovery during the postpartum period.  Below is an easy way to engage the core when or if you are interested.

Not pregnant? No worries. This method works for anyone whether you are pregnant or not...and at any age. Even kids can have fun with this one! Enjoy, and let me know how it goes.

1. Find a comfortable seat that allows you to sit upright with shoulders in line with your hips and chin slightly tucked to keep the back of the neck long.
2. Pretend it's your birthday and a cake one single candle is in front of you. 
3. Take a deep breath in, purse your lips so you can blow out the "candle".
4. Slowly breathe out through pursed lips for as long as you can without strain.
5. Take two more breaths just like this, then return to your natural breath.

This type of breathing automatically engages the core and draws your baby (or abdominal wall) in towards you. There is no need to strain, push and pull to get there. Have fun with this one!