The Realities of an Actual Yoga Practice as a Parent

Is it a reality to have a useful yoga practice when you have children, or should you just wait until they grow up to start your practice back? Sometimes it feels like the answer is no; it is not possible. I know for me at one time, I felt like why even try. After my first child, I actually gave up, and he was the calm – more ideal child to have a yoga practice with. I do regret it. My “baby fat” stayed on, and years later, I have been playing catch up. 

Now with my second – the least ideal child to have a practice with, I have been determined to get my yoga practice back. It has been one challenge after another. Even with both of my children, the first thing they want to do is jump on mommy when I’m going into postures like a downward-facing dog. I swear, even if they are in the middle of doing something else, toddlers’ attention quickly focuses on the “jungle gym” that is mommy or daddy. 

As daunting as this may seem (especially if you are a serious yogi), don’t let this deter you. You can do some beneficial things to make sure you have a worthwhile yoga practice, even when you have children.

Develop a consistent time for your practice

Just like nap time, lunchtime, and snack time, when children have a routine, they will more likely go with the flow. Once you establish your yoga time, they will expect it and even look forward to it. Of course, you can consider their nap time to get your practice in. The only thing with this option is if you work, and the best time to do a practice is after you get home. By that time, your child(ren) is up and running wild. If you have a similar situation as me, no nap time, you need to be creative. 

Breastfeeding may be another challenge to consider if you have smaller babies or are still breastfeeding your young toddler. However, these moments are the perfect time for a focused internal practice. When breastfeeding, take this time to get your pranayama in. You can also do positive mantras and meditation. 

As a matter of fact, do a little experiment. If you typically have a fussy baby, intentionally do a pranayama (Dirga Breath) paired with a meditation; and watch your little one’s demeanor. See if his or her energy shifts. If it does, in a positive way, then you know this is one of your “go to” practices for this particular challenge.

The Power of Calm Energy

For me, my son always had a hard time going to bed at night. We would put him in his crib, and he would pop right back up. During this time, I was training in Reiki and doing my personal energy flow. The thing that caught my attention was, all of a sudden, the room was very quiet. I looked over, and my son was knocked out asleep. 

I thought maybe it was a coincidence, so I did the next few nights. He would always start out fussy and refusing to go to sleep. I started my practice. The intention was to create a calming within myself and the overall environment. He connected with that and was able to let go, relax, and accept his moment to rest. This can be the same with a dedicated yoga practice, mainly when you include a centering and meditation in your practice.

Find a yoga practice that looks fun for them but is useful to you

There are so many resources out there for Mommy (or Parent) & Me yoga classes. Many parents who had a yoga practice or became yoga instructors before having children realized the value of that practice. Some yogis have figured out specific flows that include their little ones – from small babies to toddler age to preteen. There are so many varieties out there if you cannot come up with a flow yourself. 

Find a fun yoga flow for your toddlers, which will help with their general learning of topics. As an example, themes like making shapes with yoga postures, animals, nature, etc. Then think about what you may need as a fulfillment to your practice. Do you respond better to stretches, fluid movement, more meditation, or additional relaxation? Chose [or come up with] a yoga flow theme that balances your and your little one’s needs.

Keep going 

You may have to start with a shortened practice then build up to extended sessions. The goal is to not give up. It is very tempting to feel like, “this is not going to work”, but don’t let that thought overwhelm you. Find creative ways to keep going. You may have to do a 10 to 15-minute practice. You may have to do your quiet time, breathwork, or mantras in the shower, bath, or while cooking. 

If you could not get your time in on one day, then try the next day. Either way, be determined. That’s why yoga is the best practice to have. It is a constant practice of building patience. You are learning how to curb your frustrations. Make this challenge a part of your process. 

Adjust your postures that accommodate you both

Adjust your postures that can include your children. If you have an infant, you can do postures that incorporate him/her and enhance your benefits. For example, if you do 5 pointed star and do a forward bend. Your baby can be just under you. Once you do the bend over, pick your baby up, and use the baby’s weight to deepen your stretch.

Another example is with navasana or supine boat. You can hold your baby close and twist side to side. They will like the movement, and your abs will like it too.

Toddlers can be fun little teachers

With toddlers, you can have them come up with what posture you will do. They love doing postures that are named after animals or nature. Good ones that can serve both you and your child are Downward Facing & Upward Dog, Pigeon, Crow, to name just a few. You can introduce them to postures named after or resemble shapes (5 pointed star & triangle).

Tell a fun story

You can even create a story with the postures, which will help you with a useful flow. For example, you may tell the story about:

(Yoga terms used here are from the Kripalu Yoga tradition)

Share your experience and let us know any creative things you do to make sure you get your yoga practice in with toddlers. If you are looking for creative ideas, we offer yoga classes online to get you started. Follow our Yoga & Me classes.