By: Royah Loie CD(DONA), LCCE, CLEC, RYT 200
Sticking to a daily yoga practice at home with kids, isn’t always easy. As soon as you roll out your mat and begin your practice. You often find your child has climbed on you or has decided to sit on the mat, not wanting to move anywhere else. In a nutshell it can be challenging to practice yoga with kids at home.
Over the years I’ve tried many strategies for practicing yoga with my daughter at home and I found that each day was a little different. But being flexible with the amount of time I practiced, definitely helped.
Starting out with a 5 minute practice is a great way to get into a groove:
When my daughter was a toddler, sometimes I could only get 5 minutes to practice, but I stuck with it on the days I could. She would see me practicing and sometimes imitate the poses too. As she’s grown older she’s developed an appreciation for yoga and on occasion she even asks to do yoga with me. In this article I will be sharing how to build a yoga practice with kids at home.
It’s also a really calming practice that I love being able to do from home. It relaxes my body and is one of the best forms of self-care.
HOW TO: Practicing Yoga With Kids at Home
So, the question is how do you practice daily and make it a habit, even with kiddos at home? In the post How To Start A Daily Yoga Practice I outline ways you can do this and have included some of them here, plus a few additional tips for practicing yoga when your kids are at home:
- Create a space in your home where you can practice daily. For me, since my family and I live in an apartment, our living room is where I practice, so instead of a coffee table, I’ve left the space open to practice. Depending on the space you have, you can create an area that is primarily for doing yoga. Note: You want to make sure there isn’t too much furniture or items you have to move in that area, so you can easily roll out your mat and begin when you feel like it.
- Involve your kids. If they are old enough they might want to practice with you. It’s a great way to encourage them to learn a healthy habit too. Just note, they might not have the same attention span and might stop after a few minutes, that’s totally okay. Either way, it’s a good idea to have an extra mat for them too.
- Use an online program or video for yourself and a kids yoga video for your child. A video will help both you and your child stick to a longer practice.
- Organize an activity to keep your kid(s) busy while you practice. When my daughter was a toddler, I purchased a kids art desk for her which she loves. Still to this day, she sits at it doing arts and crafts. If you would rather not have your child sitting in front of a screen. This is a great option and it cultivates creative thinking. However, for those days where you’re really stressed and just need some time for a yoga practice. Putting on an educational cartoon can allow you to practice while your child is also learning.
- Ask your partner for help. For those days you might want to practice longer. Ask your partner to support you and watch the kids so you can practice for 30 minutes or more.
It’s ok to prioritize your self-care :
These days, when families are at home most of the time and when it seems there is so much to do. It can be easy to put self-care habits on the back burner. But in fact, it’s so crucial stick with them and even make them a priority. Activities that reduce stress levels are necessary for moms and parents. Practicing yoga daily not only leaves your body and mind feeling great. It is also a wonderful way to model a positive habit that your kids will enjoy too.
About the Author :
Royah Loie is a certified doula, lactation education counsellor and yoga instructor. She’s also the creator of Insider Mom and Yoga for Busy Moms. If you’re interested in developing a daily yoga practice and making it a habit. You can sign up for the free week long series here: https://www.insidermom.com/yoga-for-busy-moms/
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If you like this post check out last weeks feature . With Sarah Grant and her tips on how to organize your beauty products: https://simplyshira.ca/how-to-organize-beauty-products/
Have a great weekend !
Shira xo
