Practicing Parents

[YogaLaura]

What do all of you parents do to fit in your practice? I have a 4 year old and a 6 1/2 year old and I am a homeschooler. I would love to know more tricks on how to fit in my practice when family is ever present. (Yogamum called it "Householder Yoga" which I love!)

[breezeatdawn]

Hilarious! I had a similar experience yesterday afternoon, mine came and stood over me while I did Savasana (!) and asked where the hammer was. I guess I need to be clearer on my yoga practice boundaries.

[hikejmt]

This is too good not to comment. My hub's favorite yoga passtime is making filthy suggestive comments to me when I'm practicing. He can come up with something for any pose. I get back at him by wearing a thong (under my pants) when we go to yoga class together. He has to fight a stiffy the whole time.

[BusyBodyYoga]

HILARIOUS. I get the same thing from yogapapa. I'm so going to take this hint tonight, too, for practice. I love practicing with him but he throws me off with all of the comments and groping attempts. Not that I'm not grateful ;)

[kathy caribe]

Um, yeah, Chris. Jamie does the Exact Same Thing. So far it is mildly annoying no more.

To the OP, I have taken Yoga with me. I've practised at the beach with an eye on them (no drishte there), at the skateboard park, at playgrounds; and then there is always the computer to occupy them. I've also tried to integrate them but right now it is my mildly annoying other half who makes it easier. Now that the oldest are 13 and 11 and the youngest are 8 and 6 it is much much much easier. But I remember days of frustration when the 6yo was 3. :)

[Lyndsey Barnett de Hernandez]

how about doing yoga with your kids?:)

[BusyBodyYoga]

I can't do a long or intense practice with the kids underfoot under down dog. And if I take out my mat I need to make room b/c they want their mats out, too. Which I love. So if I choose to practice while they are around then I make part of the practice accepting them. Not to say it doesn't get frustrating. I put a picture on my profile page a couple of weeks ago that was a complete representation of that practice.

I'm a work from home mom, too, so I'm often juggling the kids and work and a practice. It has it's crap moments but i wouldn't change it.

[(un)relaxeddad]

"Do spouses count as children"? No comment :)

I can't practice seriously with the 4yo around either, though he's stopped trying to climb on top of me if I'm doing cat pose etc. With a new baby in the house he's also understandably jealous of our time which limits yoga opportunities further. Basically, that leaves between 6 and 7 in the morning as the time when I can assume (mostly) to have at least ten minute intervals without interruption (though often with baby for company next to my mat!)

There are numerous blessings for this, mind you - yoga done first thing in the morning really sets me up for the day, it leaves me relaxed and ready to be patient with a frequently boundary-testing toddler (it's that age...)

Supermum and I went through a brief phase of practicing together but that's not going to be happening for a while!