What yoga is really about

"The success of Yoga does not lie in the ability to perform postures but in how it positively changes the way we live our life and our relationships.”

~ T.K.V. Desikachar

Ready to go and share some 

#motherAndLittleOneYoga

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#babywearingYoga

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#yogaLove

Nature III

Today let yourself be surrounded by Nature. Let it's roots ground you... it's winds help you to let go... it's waters heal you... it's fire transform you...

Today be with Mother Nature. 

Why? Cause mothers stick together. We are stronger like this.

Mothers gathering together with #ommmmmmamma #ommmmmmammaMotheringSeries 

Toddler days

Very often, after a session of running around in circles, occasional creaming, changing his mind every minute, asking for lap lap lap (and more lap!)...

... some trowing of toys and a final tantrum explosion #tumtum comes to my breast and just...

Falls 

Asleep 

Yes, most of toddler's "misbehaving" is actually spelled: t.i.r.e.d.n.e.s.s.

Here we go (I also need a nap!)

#ommmmmmamma

#ommmmmmammaMotheringSeries

Traditions - Halloween

Are you joining Halloween celebrations?

What traditions do you follow with your children? 

Have you thought of this? On how the festivals you honor and the celebrations you join shape your child's beliefs and even her or his take on what a "celebration" means?

What does "party" mean to YOU? what about "gathering"; "ritual"; "honoring"; "festival"; "celebration"..?

Do you #createNewFamilyTraditions based on your own cultural background or home country? Do you join traditions from the places you visit when you travel? 

Do you give a context to these events to your child? 

Do you let them "choose" what speaks to them? Or do you just go thru the motions of getting a random Halloween costume; making a Christmas tree; light a Chinese lantern; burn incense to Ganesh... 

Remember what you choose to honor will bring a LIGHT to your life and will brighten what you believe in... This is how real, experience based beliefs and rituals takes root, grow, and bloom... Remember... And happy celebrations.

The Moon II

Big, round, full, what a Moon! 

Is it already shining up in your sky?

Are you a Moon worshiper? (Just like me... ;-))

We women are so connected to the Moon that even if we don't know, we don't care, we don't want to hear about it, every particle of our being celebrates, re-borns, hides away in seclusion and brightly gets out in the open (attracting like a magnet the life filled ones)... with every Moon, and it's cycles.

Yes, just like the tides, the crops and the sky, WE, WILD daughters of the Earth, live with the Moon.

And what do you do? How do you feel? Is it your body giving you the signs that just let you guess "oh must be a full moon tonight"? Are your emotions your sky map? Or do you follow a specific "Moon practice"? Do you join Red tent meetings or meditation circles?

Do you cut your hair on the crescent moon and do you create manifestation rituals on the Dark Moon, or fast during the eclipse?

And what about your children? Do you feel it affects them? Maybe the sleep, the energy? For sure the creativity!

Was your child born on a full Moon? Or did you feel your waters moved by it's powers? 

The Moon and creation, pregnancy, birth, naming ceremonies, initiation rituals... are meaningful partners. And every month we are given an opportunity to honor this Magic.

Moons and babies...

Did you know the Chinese term for full moon also means "full month"? In China it is custom to hold a celebration party when a baby turns one month old. How beautiful! This coincides with the end of the new mum's confinement period, so this is the first time the extended family and friends meet the new baby.

Inspiring traditions!

With the FULL MOON our nervous systems become more sensitive so you might fell like you just want to be with yourself, nourish your soul and spend time alone to go deeper inside. Although being a mum rarely gives us any time by ourselves (no, not even in the bathroom!) bare in mind that the full moon affects us all, so try to engage in family activities (if you must) that can also help your children to connect to their emotions.

Ommmmmmamma activities short list for these days:

WRITE in your #moonjournal (don't have one yet? Start today! Keep one for your child too!)

GROUND yourself (walking barefoot outside is great!)

SELF-CARE (love your day, love your life. Do something you love just for your own pleasure)

CLEANSING (add sea salt to your bath and let it wash away any negativity).

You might feel emotional and restless tonight, and it will not help that your child might be feeling... Just the same way... Yes, I know how overwhelming it can be. Be gentle with yourself, if you can go outside and soak in the full moon rays, and don't forget, the best way to channel the strong emotional times is to Be CREATIVE!

#ommmmmmammaMoonSeries

#ommmmmmamma

My pregnancy - week 12

(Or... Why do I call my son "tumtum")

My body shows hardly any change but I feel very... Pregnant. 

All my energy changed, my mind, my breath, (my tired legs!) all speak of you.

 
Many say this is too soon to feel pregnant but I do not hear them... I feel you... Inside.
It's my first pregnancy, and I dream of you. 
Yesterday I was lying in bed, both my hands resting on my tummy, feeling so excited to feel it grow, to feel you grow. 
Yesterday I was lying in bed and for the first time I am sure I felt you. 
I felt bubbles inside, like butterflies when you fall inlove but... Different.  
I felt movement inside, like if a little fish was swimming around but... Different.
I felt a heartbeat inside, like if I could feel mine but... Different...
I heard your fast, gentle "tumtum" "tumtum" "tumtum" for the first time and even felt it against my hand!

From now on I will be calling you tumtum, cause my Love for your heart... has started.

How about you? How was your 12th week of pregnancy?

(This first image is an old picture of me and my son doing yoga together.

You might not see it, but we are...)

#ommmmmmammaYogaSeries

#ommmmmmammaDoulaSeries

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(This text was first written by #ommmmmmamma for #sacredPregnancy)

Spiritual practice

When we go to temples in Hong Kong my son asks for the money to put in the donations box and immediately looks for the incense sticks to burn. In India he loves to apply tikka (the sacred powder or ashes you get from the poojas) in my third eye. And in Portugal he has spontaneously kneeled at Fatima sanctuary. It is not a surprise, children are more connected to source and more attuned with a... sacred way to see things. 

I never sat to tell my son about any Gods or Spirits. I never taught him how to worship (and believe it requires no teaching at all), but I just allowed him to... Follow what speaks to him. Sometimes he joins me singing Om in my meditations. Most times he does caress the trees and salutes the animals. He is often curious and asks about the little temples or altars we find in our walks and other times he... does it his way.

What about you? What spiritual practices your child loves? Which ones you share with them? And what magic you create together...?

#ommmmmmamma

#ommmmmmammaMotheringSeries