There are certain guidelines that exist for a Mother / Yogini.   Regardless of whether or not we are physically on the mat, these rules are mandatory:

No Phones Allowed: a cell phone ringing in the middle of a Yoga class just plain Sucks.  Ditto in the life of a Mother. If I want anyone/everyone’s attention, all I need to do is pick up the phone. Suddenly, they scramble from every room with an emergency… multiple times… in one 5 minute conversation.  Seriously?!

Breathe Deep: On the mat, we breathe deeply and mindfully.   Off the mat, our 3-Part Breath somehow changes into a continuous “I’m gonna count-to-3 {deep breath}”  If  what we requested is still incomplete,  we get to practice the Breath of Fire!!    I truly am surprised that no Yoga Momma has died of hyperventilation.  just sayin’….

Do No Harm:  I love Jeff Foxworthy.  Soooo in true Redneck Yoga rhetoric… “You know you’re a Yoga-Momma when”… “your sweet child (skilled in the art of eyerolls, sighs, and smart ass comments) reminds you “ahimsa, Mom… ahimsa”.   Really???    ugh…. fine… whatever.

Letting  Go of Expectations:   On the mat: Sometimes we just have those days where our body doesn’t want to do what the mind expects it to…. so we start to beat ourselves up mentally… “I’ve done this pose before, what the hell???”  But when we let go of expectations then we can enjoy the asana as it unfolds… each moment… perfect.  Off the mat:  The family expects dinner to be served at 6:00, once they learn to let go of that assumption,  they will be able to focus on other things like patience and gratitude. 

Flexibility: I don’t care how long you have been practicing Yoga… Mental flexibility is twice as challenging as physical flexibility!  For example:   7:00 AM: “I am going to get all the laundry done today, bathrooms washed and kitchen sparkling!!”   7:00 PM:   “We have one more pair of clean underwear, right?!  no?  crap… sleep commando!! I’ll wash them tomorrow”      Yeah for Flexibility!!

‘Guidelines’ are just that… lines of guidance.  They can be squiggly lines or dashes or lines that flow together, but straight lines are overrated.  When we let go of our expectations and the urge to judge ourselves on and off the mat, we can then become the perfect Yoga-Momma or whatever.
Namaste’!
Carrisa