18/11/2023
In 3 and a half months I've practised yoga for a grand total of 60 minutes, I haven't meditated even once and I've barely noticed my breath. I am a mum of a nearly 3 year old boy and a nearly 4 month old girl. The picture is of Jasper and Georgia when they were both around 15 weeks old; like butter wouldn't melt!
As I complained, ungratefully, to an elder about how weak and stiff my body was and how my spirituality was a distant memory she simply said; raising children is your spiritual practice Anna.
I don't feel patient, I certainly don't feel connected to nature, I am not present with my breath and I'm very far from calm most of the time. In essence I don't feel yogic at all.
These two wonderful creatures test every resolve I might have. They push my sanity to breaking point. They challenge my mental and physical limits every day. They consume all that I have and all that I am because that's what they need.
This is life at its hardest, so far anyway. I'm not practising typical yoga; I haven't done a sun salutation for months, I haven't practised with my breath at all, I haven't even laid down in savasana and I certainly haven't floated along the pavement planning an act of generosity and kindness to the next stranger I meet.
But, I do do a physical marathon of bouncing and rocking every night and day and I do maintain my cool (most of the time, well truthfully, if we're being yogic about things, just some of the time!) under life's most trying circumstances.
It's easy to 'be spiritual' when you have the freedom to eat, sleep and exercise when you want. It's easy to 'be yogic' when you don't have a toddler and a baby hanging off your arms howling at the same time when you haven't had any sleep or food. The real, most invaluable and epic practice for parents is nurturing and raising children to thrive and to one day have the potential to be yogis themselves.
To all the parents out there: you can do 'it' and 'it' is your spiritual practice and 'it' is extraordinary. I wholeheartedly applaud you.
With so much love and peace (or what's left of it!) from me, between 2 and 5am on 3 consecutive nights, with a snotty Georgia on my b**b!! 💜
