Zen it Out With Your Toddler!
You’re Never too Young For a Little Namasate and a Whole Lot of Savasanna
What is yoga?
Yoga originated as a meditative practice in India thousands of years ago and had nothing to do with poses to strengthen the body… that came later.
It was a spiritual and deeply meditative practice brought to the U.S. in the 1890’s by Swami Vivekananda; discussed in social circles (mainly those of authors, scholars, and entertainers) and shared through well known writers like Thoreau and Emerson.
By the time it came to the US the physicality we associate with yoga had been around for centuries starting between 800–1700 AD. Just like the meditative practice which was brought later the physical practice came later too (really beginning in the 1930’s or so) and evolved into what we see today… hot yoga, intense yoga, and yoga of every type which looks to emulate the exercises we partake in for stronger, leaner, toner bodies.
Munchkin Pie (MP) was about 3–4 months old when we started our practice. I use that term lightly as I remember gazing into those beautiful blue green eyes, all smiles and joy, and baby delight; feeling the pudgy little fingers embrace me or wiggle exuberantly around my face our “yoga practice” was as much about us connecting as it was about anything else.
And those early yoga classes?
They were not at all what I thought I had signed up for. I wanted them to be all about getting my body back post baby.
I had had an emergency c-section and my first day back I expected to jump right into it like every muscle in my abdomen hadn’t just been sliced through and my baby pulled out.
I was ready. And I scoffed at the instructor who said…
For all of you new moms in here, if you can’t do a sit-up don’t worry. You will get it back. It just takes time.
Ha, what is she talking about. Not do a sit-up.
So I laced my fingers behind my head lifted my head, got my shoulders off the ground and. Nothing. That was it. No sit ups that day. No sit-up for a while.
Thank God for that teacher helping me to feel normal about my lack of ability.
In hindsight, it was ridiculous for me to be all ramped up and ready to go, all mentally geared up in my pre-mom zone, but I am thankful that I was because it kept me coming back week after week. And I am also thankful that the pre-baby body I wanted to get back so terribly took me much longer than expected because it allowed MP and I to reap the benefits of our practice.
Early on our practice resembled a great deal of what I imagine “yoga with a goat” is like but as we grew together MP’s practice grew and went from hanging on me, leaning against me, or wanting to be the center of my yoga practice to a side-by-side practice; doing simple poses from prayer pose (or sitting in my lap while I sat), to happy baby and child’s pose, then downward facing dog, and moving into tree pose and simple back bending poses. Along the way picking up a child sized yoga mat, down time and opportunity for us to connect, and an opportunity to form some really great habits. Body and mind.
As mentioned previously yoga was never meant to be a practice of the body but firstly one of the mind.
I love that it has become a combination of the two.
I think of how I went back to reclaim my abs, get leaner, more toned, and more flexible and that it helped me with was that and so much more.
It benefited not just the outer body but also helped me find my inner stillness, my inner balance, my inner control and my inner grounded self… all things needed when running around after a toddler.
It also brought me a toddler with the capability of finding some inner stillness, balance, and groundedness (as much as a toddler has anyway…).
Research shows yoga helps with a plethora of mental and physical ailments. With everything from lowering stress and anxiety, instilling motivation, executive functioning, attention, and neuroplasticity.
Why not try it with your little one!
It leaves you feeling, refreshed, energized, and relaxed all at once.
And unlike most sports you can do yoga anywhere… unlike running, swimming, basketball, etc. simple yoga positions can even be done on a plane when you are feeling restless or need to relieve tension. Mostly though all you need is a small space indoor or outside and a mat.
And why not do it with friends!
It is a great bonding opportunity…
Get together for a weekly parent/ child yoga experience/playdate in the living room. Especially in today’s world with all of the great basic poses you can find online and in books.
Why not get your older children together with a group of two or three friends and either have a parent lead experience or have the kids take turns leading. Not only will that strengthen their bonds of friendship and help them relieve stress, eliminate tension, and feel more centered, focused and refreshed but it will also help them grow in their confidence if they take turns being in charge.
My two year old could sit at Barnes & Noble mesmerized but a stack of books 3 feet tall or at least a stack of 8–10 for a good hour (or longer) and go home with a favorite (or two). MP focused on games, sat through puzzles and enjoyed play-doh time.
There were other things too though. MP didn’t have temper tantrums, took in new surroundings and experiences relatively easily, and didn’t cling to objects or possessions. Perhaps that was nature over nurture, perhaps it was nurture over nature or perhaps it was a good helping of both.
I remember what I like to call our blissful trip from hell.
Definitely not to hell because we were flying to the Hawaiian Island of Lanai… breathtakingly beautiful which is why we chose it. Toddler in tow wasn’t thoroughly thought through though. There is no direct flight to Lanai and we thought flying with a toddler (MP was around ten months at the time) would be easy and the layover would be fine. It ended up being pretty fine except that our flight was late and when we missed the connector our one hour layover turned into six. I won’t say it was easy; sitting with a toddler who won’t nap at the airport for six hours is not easy but it could have been worse. Although MP was wired tired, giggly and extremely alert there were no tears, there was no crankiness, no whining just a very alert curiosity.
Perhaps it was the yoga or perhaps just a naturally mild temperament, it’s hard to say.
But over the years I believe yoga has helped with stress from school, stress from home, stress from change.
We live in a country where 6.1 million or about 9.4% of children were diagnosed with ADHD in 2016, and of those about 3 million were under the age of 11.
We live in a country where suicide is now the 8th leading cause of death in the US in children ages 5–11. Can you imagine 5–11 year olds who should want to run around and explore their world thinking instead of leaving it.
The first form of treatment suggested for children younger than 6 who have ADHD or behavioral issues and one that should be considered for those under 12 is behavioral.
Before putting children on medication it is suggested we find alternate ways to help them manage their feelings, cope with every day problems, and eliminate or reduce destructive behaviors.
If yoga can help adults with everything from reducing stress, reducing anxiety, motivation, executive functioning, attention, and neuroplasticity then why would we not believe the younger generation can benefit too.
I believe in the health obtained from a long walk, in the joy delivered through quietness and reflection. That there is something greater, more fulfilling, and more bountiful than what the constant noise around us provides. I believe our kids thrive in that too. That they long for the joy found in introspection, that opening doors to peacefulness brings them peace and gives them a journey of love.
So if you want to try something new… or just something you haven’t done with your toddler or your child light a candle put on a special outfit, get out a special mat and sit on the floor together for a little namaste and lie down for a little savasanna after teaching them child’s pose and helping them with downward dog or some tree stance. Tell them the comic names and make them laugh, or laugh with them. You’ll both be ready for another beautiful day!
