Yoga teacher training happens once a month for a whole weekend. From that Friday to Sunday night we’re living, thinking and, of course, breathing yoga. But what happens during the almost four weeks in between? Though you have to return to your life (job, children, responsibilities) you also have to learn to walk the walk.
Me and Piper teaching Boot Camp
While I’ve often tried to intertwine yoga with my daily life, I have to admit, sometimes the meaning of it gets lost. Like when my husband is so late coming home from work and I’ve been taking care of our daughter since 6 am. I then find myself about to be late to teach a class or to hustling last minute to find someone to watch her. It seems the only appropriate response is to rip him a new one. Or when I’m standing in the middle of my toddler’s grocery store mega-meltdown, the kind that is not even funny in a movie, and all eyes are on me. My heart rate is suddenly jacked and my breaths are fast and shallow. Or when I’ve been struggling with nap time for about an hour and a half (currently) and the work I have to do will go unfinished and our evening plans will be cancelled because overtired babies are about as fun as oral surgery.
There is no lack of yoga breathing in my life. From the second I became a parent, I found yoga, or it found me. My parenting journey and my yoga journey are so interconnected I could write a novel about it. Maybe someday I will. But sometimes these moments find me struggling for an appropriate response and I don’t resemble a person with a major yoga influence in my life. Sometimes life is just so much more chaotic than I thought it was supposed to be and the weight is crushing. More than any other reason, it’s why I need yoga. It’s why many of us need yoga.
Keeping the purpose, the mind-body connection, at the forefront of my being will be the most meaningful part of the journey for me. Slowly, slowly I feel the shift happening and I know it will only grow with each passing week. For now, I need to put in the work to create more balance in my life and in my family’s life. Already, it allows me to feel more grateful. Sometimes those moments are fleeting, but in the past week, the gratitude seems to be pouring in. I know it will keep coming, if I can remain open enough to let it in.
Sarah Bregel is a mother, a writer, a women’s personal trainer and the creator of BHealthyBmore.com. She loves yoga, food and wine, and believes “everything in moderation” is the best advice in the world. She lives in Mount Washington with her husband, Marshall and their daughter, Piper.