busy moms need yoga too!

I’m so excited to introduce out guest blogger this week, Akilah Richard from Execumama.

Did you know that yoga is much more than a way to connect with your calm? There’s a myth that yoga is merely a “religion where people do a series of poses and get really flexible.” Yoga isn’t a religion at all, and what’s more, it can be used as an effective tool for weight loss, stress management, and particularly Busy Mommy Syndrome (BMS)!

Think you may be suffering from BMS? Here are some common symptoms:

• You’re chasing your toddler for at least one quarter of your waking hours.
• You keep forgetting appointments because there’s only room in your brain for a limited amount of information, and the kids…well, they take up much of that space.
• You’ve yet to lose those last 10 (or 30) pounds because you’re…well…busy with the kids!
• You demoted your wardrobe to “Frumpy Mama” status because you need “practical” clothes that allow you to chase a rogue child in the grocery store, get tagged in by the coach during kiddie soccer, or catch bubbles with your 3 year old at the park.
• Your evenings are spent cleaning up after your child (and maybe your husband), which leaves you little time to even remotely consider exercising.
• Your alone time consists of scouring the web for kiddie camps, language classes, and anything with the word “princess”.

Any of those sound familiar? Yeah, join the club…then bid the club adieu with these solutions to the undeniable stress that accompanies the bliss of motherhood.

I challenged Tiffany Campbell, certified yoga instructor at Temple Yoga & Wellness Center in Fairburn, Georgia, to help me find some yoga poses that speak to my particular Mommy-based ached, pains, and ailments. I wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into, but I’ve done yoga many times in the past, so I figured if nothing else, I’d get a decent workout.

Ha! What I discovered was not only a good workout, but a series of immediate relief poses for my 4-year old child lifting, occasional back pain suffering, mommy brain having, constant typing in front of my computer ailing body!

Four yoga poses that move us away from the stressors of motherhood,
and on to the blessings!

1. GARUDASANA “Eagle Pose” (Ideal for the post-kid’s bedtime clean up, tackling our tendency for scatterbrained mommy disorder, and a great way to ease back pain.)

KEY BENEFITS:
Strengthens and stretches ankles and calves
Stretches the thighs, hips, shoulders, and upper back Improves concentration
Improves sense of balance
Bring circulation into all of your major joints

2. PURVOTTANASA “Upward Plank Pose” (A “heart-opening” pose for those of us bent over the computer blogging, answering emails, and getting our social media fixes!)

KEY BENEFITS:
Strengthens the arms, wrists and legs
Stretches the shoulders, chest, and front ankles
Opens the heart and counters daily forward motion.

3. FOUR-LEGGED TABLE “Modified Upward Plank Pose”

KEY BENEFITS:
Another great stretch that has the same benefits as upward plank pose but was the modification for those who have a hard time lifting up with the legs extended.

4. UTKATASANA “Chair Pose II” (Sometimes, after pregnancies, our swollen feet never quite go back to their pre-pregnancy size, plus we are less apt to be running around (comfortably) in heels when we’re chasing after toddlers during our day.)

KEY BENEFITS:
Strengthens the ankles, thighs, calves, and spine
Stretches shoulders and chest
Stimulates the abdominal organs, diaphragm, and heart
(With the heels lifted) You are stretching and strengthening the soles of your feet

Now that you’re armed with a bit more information that scratches the surface of the many benefits of yoga, take some time to nourish your body with these terrific poses.

Oh, and if you want to involve your children, check out Yoga for Giggles and make it a family affair.

Namaste!