This story was contributed by Owner and Founder of YESyoga, Erin Cummings. Follow her on Instagram @yesyogastudiotx and head to www.yesyogastudio.com for more lifestyle and wellness tips!
I don’t need to tell you that mom guilt is real, you know it. You and I have both felt those feelings of shame, worry, regret, or thinking like you’re doing it all wrong… you might even be feeling like that right now.
Pause, take a deep breath… take a deep breath again.
Think about it, if we both feel mom guilt (along with a bunch of your friends, probably) who really are we comparing ourselves to anyway? Please do not say that one mom on Instagram, because we know that her life on those squares isn’t real.
Mom guilt is sneaky, and it will be around forever. That’s why it’s so important to create a practice of mindfulness and awareness so that you know when the mom guilt madness starts to take over in your head.
The practice of yoga and mindfulness go hand in hand. As a mom who is also an entrepreneur, practicing self-awareness is a must in keeping the madness from taking over my life. I know, it all sounds so simple, “just find time for yourself,” but I’m too exhausted to make it to the gym or to yoga more than 3x per week. If you’re anything like me, sometimes I just want to watch brainless TV in my little spot on the couch.
But, mindfulness and having the awareness that you just need a minute is truly the place to start. Take it. But do it with purpose.
Here are 3 great yoga poses you can do while watching TV, that will help you tap into your self-awareness and breath!
1. Butterfly with Hand on Heart and Belly: This pose can be done lying down or even seated. I love having the physical points of one hand touching your chest right above your heart and one hand touching your belly. This is a great way to create self-awareness and begin a mindfulness practice.
Take an inhale where your hand on your heart is located, and just notice your hand lifting and lowering with each breath. Do this about 3 to 5 times. Then, notice the hand on your belly and breath into that point. You’ll notice your belly expand and contract. Do this about 3 to 5 times. Lastly, take slower deeper breaths breathing into the hand on your heart, then keep inhaling and move the breath down into the belly, and exhale out. Complete this another 3 to 5 times.
2. Cobra: This pose is great for back extension, which impacts your low back, core, and helps stretch the front of your body. So, if you have a kid on your hip all day….DO THIS!
Lay all the way down on your belly and bring your hands directly under your shoulders or wider. Pull your belly button to your spine, and keep your legs on your mat. Think about squeezing your inner thighs together, and using your back and core lift your chest up and pull your shoulder blades towards your spine. You can hold this for 5 to 10 breaths and then do it again. Just make sure to keep your neck relaxed!
3. Bridge Pose: This pose is generally speaking great all around. Not only does it strengthen your core and legs, but it can bring some relieve to your thoracic spine (middle back). If your sitting and playing, nursing, bottle feeding, cleaning up toys. This is a great way to improve your poster and stretch the front of your body!
Lay on your back, bend your knees so they are about hip distance apart. If you can think about moving your heels underneath your knees so that your knees and ankles are stacked. Do not tuck your tailbone under, leave your pelvis in a neutral position. Arms are by your sides. Think about pressing into your feet, and activate the backs of your legs by lifting your hips up towards the ceiling, but keep your upper body relaxed. Squeeze your gluten and create the muscle action of squeezing your thighs together without bringing them in. Hold 5 to 10 breaths and repeat!
(Photos by K Mamou Photography)
About Erin Cummings & YESyoga
Erin is a mother of two and Owner/Founder of YESyoga, a boutique heated yoga studio conveniently located in Sugar Land Town Square. As a busy mompreneur, she is mindful of incorporating family life into the foundation of her business by offering a number of classes, workshops, kids & teen yoga, along with babysitting services for her members during class! Head to www.yesyogastudio.com or follow her social media pages to learn more!
Special Offer: YESyoga is now offering our 30 Days of Unlimited Yoga for $45 (Regular price $59) just for South Houston Moms! Use the code “southhoustonmoms” in your web browser!
