A drive through Holiday Park (with the wrong camera setting- oops!)
SANTA ICECREAM CAKE! / (Following belly ache not pictured)
Christmas cutie
I hope you all are enjoying lots of holiday cheer! This last week has been beautiful and hectic and lovely. Long car rides, visiting with family, and an overwhelming amount of toys have us a bit tired and run down. We are resting with grateful hearts, enjoying the abundance.
We are taking in the quiet, enjoying the lull, and remembering how nice unscheduled days (just the three of us) feel.
We've had a pretty lovely (and yet inexplicably exhausting) week on the homestead. It looks as though poor Ezra's great teething saga is coming to a hault and it is so wonderful to him happy and smiling and playing without all that pain. It's rough when there's little you can do to ease your child's suffering, but thank bejeezus I think it's passed...for now.
Things have been pretty upbeat this week and work is going very well. I am getting more sleep than I have since he was born, but yet somehow I am just drained. Maybe now that I'm paying off my sleep debt my body is holding me accountable. I'm sure a combination of rainy weather and chasing my adventurous little guy around has just taken it out of me these last few days. All is want to do is lay around and nap, but of course with a little one that's a non-option. I've been pushing through trying to enjoy our daily trips to the park and stealing some rest where I can get it. As always I am refueled by our silly songs and his laughter and hopefully energy will find me again soon. Hopefully.
We've got some perfectly low key plans for this weekend and I am very much looking forward to getting some good r&r with the family. I want to kiss and cuddle my boys and enjoy everything just as it is.
So I'm sure you have been missing the yoga in Joyful Yoga (I know I have)! So it's time to bring it back! I've been able to get into the beginnings of a groove with my practice and it feels awesome. Now to share some of that awesomeness with you...
I have been taking a very relaxed approach to my practice lately. Slowly reintegrating my body into certain movements, careful not to push to hard or place undo pressure on myself. My practice is there to help me, center me, guide me, not to lose that baby weight (although it definitely helps) or rush me back into the physicality I was used to pre-pregnancy. I have to remember that it is a tool of self growth and that it is okay to be gentle with myself right now.
Lunar series are really working for me right now. Hatha yoga translates as "ha" meaning sun and "tha" meaning moon. It is the balance of both elements. In a great deal of Western yoga the emphasis is placed on sun movements, which are more intense and invigorating, but we have to remember to allow ourselves the calmer, more restorative lunar poses to balance our practice. While a sun series warms and energizes the system, a moon series cools the body and quiets the mind. Slower, gentler postures are great when you are hot, tired, or simply feeling like a change of pace. For women in particular a lunar series is great when you are pregnant, hot flashing or menstruating.
Moon Saltutations developed by Megha-Nancy Buttenheim
First off, thank you all for your kind words. My fears about sharing the struggles I have been facing were completely calmed and your insight has helped me immensely. You are officially the best.
With the whirlwind of emotion I have been in lately I have been seeking the care and advice of a few good ladies. A couple days ago I found some time to talk to a great "mama friend" (and all around amazing gal) about all this hullaballoo. She is one of those friends who always gives you so much insight and wisdom that you almost hate how in tune she is, but then you remember that you love it. Ha! So of course when stuff started to get crazy in the old noggin' I gave her a ring and of course she was loving and patient and gave me some uber awesome advice. One of the things she said has really been resonating with me the last couple of days. Basically the gist is to allow yourself sacred space and time just for you every..single...day. Whether it's five minutes of calming meditation or an hour to take a walk, whatever brings you ease and peace of mind (and works with your schedule).
The concept is so simple and I have spoken before about making time for yourself so I completely understand how important that can be. The idea of ritualizing it though is very attractive to me. Every single day doing the same thing at the same time just for you. Obviously we can't all be that rigid with our schedules and flexibility is a virtue, but prioritizing yourself in that way I think is quite amazing. To be our best selves for the people we care about we must take care and be gentle with ourselves. We all deserve a little "me" time to regroup, refocus and sometimes just to rest.
I am trying to put this concept into action with my long baths in the morning followed by the best thing ever, the NAP. Nothing unwinds me like a nice, calming bath. I mean seriously, is there anything better than a good bath? Maybe I'm a little overzealous about the awesomeness of bathtime- friends have definitely laughed and joked about my love for them. What can I say? It makes me super happy. I allow myself time to think, relax, and soothe from whatever the day has presented. It is my mindful meditation, helping me become present and accepting. And now with the little one's arrival it also helps me heal physically. Taking some time in the water eases the tense muscles (as well as a tense mind) brought on by the physical strain of having a newborn. Follow that greatness up with a nap and you are fresh as new, with a present heart and rested body.
My dream tub. I mean c'mon, how rad is this?
Allowing myself the time and freedom to do these things, to create "sacred space" for myself, is what will allow me to be my highest self. I am fortunate enough to have a truly amazing partner that acknowledges my needs and gives me that time and space completely guilt-free. In fact it is very much encouraged. (I think he sees how much of a difference it makes and wants to keep the mean, sleep deprived lady I become far, far away!) I am filled with gratitude for this time and hope that I will continue to take advantage of it.
We all need the time and space to engage in things that bring us peace. We all need that time just for ourselves to be our best selves. Make the time I guarantee you will reap the benefits. You deserve it.
In making my birth playlist I have been revisiting a lot of music that I haven't listened to in some time. It has been quite the trip down memory lane to look back and sift through the songs that have been the soundtrack to the last several years of my life. In making this playlist I wanted to make sure that every song was hand-chosen, calming, and had personal meaning. Music has the ability to transport me to a very specific place and time, so I wanted to be assured that I would be recalling sweet and loving memories when listening.
Obviously I'm not sure what emotional state I will be in during labor or if I'll even want music. Some women during the laboring process find music incredibly helpful, giving their mind something to focus on, easing the tension and pain while some only find it a distraction. So my plan is that when the time comes I want to give myself a some good listening options if I so desire. Call it a present to my future self.
Many of the songs that made the final cut hold strong personal significance (our first date/ Valentine's Day mixtapes/ what we were listening to the weekend we eloped) and as it turns out a lot of Sigur Ros is in the mix. I have used quite a bit of their music in my yoga classes since I began teaching as well as my personal practice. During my teacher training program I listened to Ágætis byrjun almost every night and am instantly taken back to the excitedness of that time upon hearing it. Those songs bring to me a place of anticipation and peace, a place that I hope to be as we introduce our little one to the world.
We've all been there, 3 AM after tossing and turning, your mind unable to calm down and let the day fade away, replaying past events and conversations on repeat, finding the the glaring light of the clock adding to vicious cycle of restlessness.
Sleep is important, I mean crazy important, in cultivating emotional and physical balance. Often times we don't notice its gravity until we're without. Insomnia and sleep problems can reek havoc on our lives, making us more susceptible to illness and mental instability.
I have suffered intermittently throughout my life from sleep issues that have returned with my pregnancy. I know how much bigger the problem can become than a bad night's sleep. In my case my lack of sleep coincided with bouts of depression, anger, and a weakened physical state. Thankfully this time when insomnia began rearing it's ugly head I had so much more information to help me handle the problem before it became one.
After years of anguish, many sleepless nights, and a compromised immune system, I have found several natural ways to help drift off to peaceful and substantial rest. These methods are pretty simple and straightforward, but have worked wonders for me. Everyone's bodies are different and it might take some experimenting to find what works for you, but so very worthwhile. Only when we are fully rested can we begin to approach clarity and build our strength.
Lifestyle Basics
Get to bed as early as is comfortable (10 PM is a great time for most people)
Exercise regularly (about 4 hours before sleep is ideal, but not directly before bed)
Meditate or enjoy light reading 15-30 minutes before bed
Only go to bed when you feel drowsy
Remove strong external stimuli an hour before bed (turn down lights, turn off the tv)
Establish a sleep routine (and stick with it as much as possible)
Diet
Eat a large breakfast, medium-sized lunch, a small dinner (avoid heavy meals prior to bed)
Increase your intake of Vitamin B rich foods (bananas, potatoes, avocados, legumes, kefir)
Increase your intake of Magnesium rich foods (seeds, dark leafy greens, wheat bran)
Drink a cup of hot tea before bed (chamomile*, marjoram, lemon balm, passionflower)
Limit your intake on chocolates, colas or foods containing caffeine prior to bedtime
Drinks lots of water throughout the day
Supplements
Calcium
Magnesium
Valerian (30-45 minutes prior to bedtime)
Melatonin (do not take long term, but can be very effective if used sporadically)**
Additional Sleep Aids
Use relaxation techniques in bed (visualization, progressive muscle relaxation)
Aromatherapy (lavender, chamomile, ylang ylang)
A warm bath prior to bed (not too long or too hot)
Eye masks to block the light
Avoid illuminated bedroom clocks
Don't sleep in (if you can help it)
Play calming music or soothing sounds
*Avoid chamomile if you have a ragweed allergy
** Melatonin is contraindicated during pregnancy
Sometimes a calming tune is all you need to hit the hay. Here are a few of my favorite "lull you to sleep" tracks.
Writing about samana vayu last week got me thinking about the way we process our experiences and how much influence that has over our future experiences. What aids us in really dealing with the events of our lives and if we are unable to properly and clearly deal with what is happening in our lives, how will we continue to move forward making good choices for ourselves? If we can't get some clarity and perspective on the now, how can we expect to fully enjoy and appreciate our future?
Heavy stuff, I know.
Whether a short conversation with an acquaintance or a life-altering occurrence, it all has to be dealt with and dealt with honestly if we hope to healthily assimilate the experience and continue feeling balanced. That's a long winded way of saying we have to deal with our lives to remain healthy.
Catching up with an old friend can be a great way to excite samana
There are many ways to encourage samana vayu. Obviously asana practice can work to encourage this assimilation and balance (here is a good practice to aid samana), but there are many other ways to excite this process. Writing, meditation, baths, talking to a good friend, etc... whatever helps create that mental space and openness to work through our days is beneficial to us in the long run. Often we don't allow for enough time or freedom from obligations to really think through what we're doing or what is happening in our lives. It's easy to get wrapped up in our routines, but what if we made this time for ourselves a part of those routines? This time will look different for each person, depending on what provides you mental clarity and calm. For some it might be listening to music, drawing, letter-writing, crafting, painting, journaling, walking, dancing, or simply creating a quiet space for yourself a few minutes a day and the list could go on and on.
Journaling and writing can also encourage balance
Long baths and journaling have always been my go to calming actions. The journaling began when I was a kid, writing about the boy I liked or what happened at school that week and continued to the present, documenting the minutiae and the milestones of my life. I love having a record of my adventures, the boring as well as the life-altering. Maybe it's a fear of forgetting, but the act of committing it all to paper helps me process. As I grew older I discovered the wonderfulness of a nice, long, relaxing bath gave me a similar feeling. I wasn't always writing it all down anymore, but that calm that comes with working through your experiences was the same.
I always feel better and more balanced having giving myself some time to just relax and think. That quiet and mental calm is invaluable and I notice that I begin to feel a bit off or tense when I'm not giving myself that time. We all need to process our lives in whatever form that takes and making the time is the first step.
Once you know what works for you, make it a priority for yourself. It's so important that you give yourself this time and space. Do something that you really enjoy and in the process help create balance within yourself. Have fun with it and enjoy the relaxation and calm!
