Yoga on The Beach - It's so Much More Than Just That!

A past client of mine got 9 of her best women friends together this past Saturday. I got to teach them yoga. There's so much more going on than just that. There's the act of setting up our mats in a semi-circle formation, while able to look at the ocean in front of us. There's the energy created from women in friendship. There's also the blue sky and sun above warming our hearts and our minds, as we shift our energy from the "go, go, go" to a softer, more peaceful place.

During the end of "class" I love guiding these women in partner poses. They pair off and support each other through touch, encouragement, and hold space to take risks and fight through the fear of trying something "new."

There's just so much more going on. I leave feeling so full. So enriched. And so hopeful for where these women then go to spread this powerful energy....

Smiles,
Lisa

"Changing My Mind" Parenting

How often do we change our minds throughout the course of a day? What we eat, where we shop, which road we travel. Why isn't it okay to change our minds when we parent?
I think it is.

One of the biggest issues facing most of us today is whether we receive the H1N1 vaccination. I have been reading so many mommy-blogs where someone will make a case for vaccinating. Another will plead for the opposite.

I know for today my family will not be receiving this vaccine. Who knows what tomorrow will bring. We may change our minds!

The reminds me of my clients who chose to birth in a hospital for their first born and then opted for a home birth for their second child. Or, the ones that opt to have an epidural first time around versus birthing without one the next. Or, the folks that advocate for sleep training, while for the next child they use family bed-sharing in their homes. These people must have changed their minds along the way as to what they thought was best for themselves and their families.

Recently, there was a mom that emailed me. She said that she was answering from a "more enlightened" place in response to some information I wanted from her. How true is that! I know for me I am always trying to become more enlightened! What I may have done with kid #2 may have changed from what I did with kid #1. My hope is that we all stay open instead of operating from hard and fast rules! The scary part for me is when I start using the words, "Always/never". I will be on the look-out for the exception to that disclaimer.

My kids get to see me change my mind and therefore they (and me) can adapt and be all the stronger for it!

Here's to embracing changing of our minds,

Lisa

How Could My Son Call Me a Name?

My soon to be 11 year old son was snuggled up with me on the couch tonight. As we were hugging I was lying there thinking about how much love he had for me and I for him. Now that he's asleep I sit here thinking, "how could this same boy call me a name?" That's just what happened for the first time this summer.

He joined Junior Lifeguards and was with kids older than him. He was most likely exposed to things, words, actions, feelings that I'm sure he never heard/saw or felt before. Maybe that's why I heard him call me the "b" word. And maybe that was the start of what it will look like during his teen years?

I knew that this was an opportunity for growth on both our parts. Which is why I said, "I know you meant to hurt my feelings and you did. I feel hurt." I then told him I needed to to think about how I would respond.

I then weighed my options. I could send him to his room. I could punish him by "taking something away." Nothing felt more right then to surround him with love and come from a place a love in my parenting.

This is what I did:

I told my son that I was sure that he would use this word again in his life. I just hoped that he wouldn't use it towards me. I told him this was a "low vibration" word and that we needed to balance out this energy with doing some "good" for the world. I thought of his gift of piano playing and made a call to a local retirment home. I spoke with the Activities Director and asked if my son could have an opportunity to play some songs.

My son went kicking and screaming on the date of his "performance." When he was done he had the biggest smile on his face and said, "Mom, I want to do this again."

He hasn't called me a name since. In fact, tonight he told me I was the best mom ever and I'm basking in this glory as I write.

I keep learning that sometimes my best parenting moments come when I take time to reflect on what has come before me, instead of parenting from a "knee-jerk reaction" place. I can only hope that I can bring this thoughtfulness to the next time my children need me to bring my best "game face" to the next problem/dilemma/name-calling!

Smiles,
Lisa