So here in British Columbia, the summer has already begun. The teachers are on strike and the kids are all at home, in daycares, etc. If you don’t live in BC, summer will be starting in a week and a half anyway, as we near the end of June.
For those of you who have a regular yoga practice that does NOT involve your children, this may prove to be challenging if they are home with you. HOW can you keep your sanity when your children, who would normally be at school during the daytime, are all of a sudden under your feet?
Well, we have some suggestions for you, so read on…
(1) Find an outdoor yoga class – This could mean taking your kids with you. Maybe there is a park next to where yoga happens. If your kids are a bit older, they could play while you do yoga. Or, they could sit and read a book, color, etc. If your kids are a bit younger, this may not be an option. Could your partner stay with the kids while you head out for an hour? Could you hire a sitter? The options are plentiful here.
(2) Head out to a local studio – Yoga studios don’t normally have childcare, so unless yours is one of the lucky ones, you’ll need to arrange for childcare while you’re out. Maybe you can trade with a friend – you watch their kids, next time they watch yours. OR have your partner help you out.
(3) Do yoga WITH your kids! – Pick up a yoga mat for each of your kids and get them to do yoga with you. This might mean your practice doesn’t quite go the way you’d like it to, but it’s fun and rewarding for them. Pop in a video and maybe you can do your own practice while they do the video. Even kids as young as 1 or 2 can pick up the simpler poses very quickly. There’s even a lot of partner yoga you can do with them that kids find ridiculously fun!
(4) Get up early and do yoga – This one is my favorite. This is the best time of day to do yoga, before the day gets away on you, as it inevitably will. And unless your children get up really early, you’re guaranteed some peace and quiet while you get your practice in. It’s also free and there is no commute.
(5) Arrange for Corporate Yoga at your workplace – It’s cheap, it’s convenient, and if you do yoga at work during the lunch hour (or right after work), you can come home and still spend lots of time with your family. Most Corporate Yoga classes start at $4-$5 a class. Give us a shout if you’d like some help setting up a program.
Happy Summer, and remember to stay balanced with your own yoga practice a few times a week, despite the kids now being home with you (if they’re not in daycare).