Yoga kid

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Will’s downward dog.

Andrew, my two year old, still naps every day at 1:30.  Will does not.  I used to spend this time cajoling him to sit quietly by himself and look at books or color, activities which at his young age seemed to require my intervention every 2 minutes, making it frustrating to even clean up from lunch.

It’s much more relaxing (for both of us) to go up to the gym together and put on a yoga video.  He’ll stretch with me for about 20 minutes before he gets bored, at which point he wanders off to look at books or play quietly by himself.  Without me there in the same room, he’s less likely to ask me for things every few minutes.  He knows that if he wants to be with me, he can come back to the gym.

After 30 – 40 minutes of yoga and a quick shower, I feel simultaneously relaxed and energized.  He’s had some down time, too.  It’s healthy for him to engage in both movement and independent play, and we still have time left to read stories and do things together where he has my undivided attention.

He even seems to be learning some yoga.  I love seeing him move, and stretch, and learn that it feels good and keeps us healthy.

I love doing this a few times a week – it feels like stolen workout time.  Even as a beginner who isn’t exactly nailing all the poses, I’m getting major benefits from stretching my body to the point that’s right for it.  I feel looser, more limber, less stressed.

I’ve even started doing five minutes here or there in my street clothes to relax my back or shoulders or loosen up in the middle of the day.  It does amazing things for your shoulders and other places where you carry stress and tension.  It’s like a massage… only free 🙂

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Will’s rendition of corpse pose.
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The cat doesn’t seem to be learning as much.

 

 

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