My last baby just turned 1, and I am officially done breastfeeding. I would like to say I had been exercising that entire year, but nope. It was just too much. Three kids and feeding/pumping every so many hours was just what I could successfully manage. So, this past month has been a refreshing taste of freedom for me.
The first thing I did was sign up for yoga classes.
I’ve been able to get to one or two a week since then. And, people, it has changed my life. I have done yoga before, but I’ve never had this amount of stress in my life. Don’t get me wrong, for the most part, it’s all good stress, but it’s still stress.
When I step (or lay) on that mat, the world melts away and I get one glorious hour to not think. Although it is definitely a form of self-care, I don’t really see it as an hour to “focus on me.” It’s an hour to just BE. My mind runs about 700 mph every single day and, try as I may, it almost never slows down. But in yoga, my only job is to breathe. And guess what? Your body does that on its own. Score.
It’s a great workout, I sweat buckets, and I feel amazing after. Not to mention, I dropped a pant size, but that’s not why I do it. I am a better person because of yoga. Yes, I realize that sounds incredibly cheesy but it’s true. We all know what a long day with kids can feel like. Crying, whining, booboos, illness, homework, or finding something they will flipping eat can really wear a person down! I can literally feel my battery draining to empty. Yoga is a time to recharge. No lie, when I come home after a class it’s like my patience and WILL TO BE A GOOD PERSON has been refilled.
If you’ve ever considered it, please do yourself a favor and go for it.
You do NOT have to be skilled in this. Trust me, I am terrible. I can only imagine how hilariously ridiculous I look trying to bend and twist like a pretzel, but no one cares. No one is watching. It’s just you and your mat. Everyone there is just trying to do what we all wish to do, be a better person. Give it a try!
