The first time I tried yoga was in my early twenties. At that time, I was only going to classes with the highest aerobic intensity or centered around weight training. Loud music, sweat, and trying to keep up with the millionth rep of squats was the perfect class for me.
Then I had kids.
Once I was deep in the trenches of motherhood, those same things in an exercise class didn’t feel good. The fast-paced classes didn’t really offer me a break from my current lifestyle of being home with the kids; the pressure to keep up with the exercise instructor and my kids was too much. I was exhausted. I needed my exercise class to pull double duty as a time for me to relax my mind.
I decided to give yoga a new chance, and I noticed a huge difference.
In the beginning, I noticed how nice it was just to breath and catch my breath. I never noticed how often that I take these weak, shallow breaths to power through a long day. However, I’ve been practicing yoga for close to three years now, and I feel the lessons I learn on the mat have actually made me a more patient mother. Continue reading
