KY and Motherhood/Wifehood

[Guest guest]

I would love to hear how other mothers and wives fit a healthy practice of KY

into their days. Right now, I am practicing around noon to 1 while my 19 month

old sleeps. I am pretty exhausted from being a stay at home mom, and swimming

in a sea of housework that I never seem to get a handle on. I love being home

with my girls. I know that is the place for me. I have considered waking

before everyone else to practice, but that usually also wakes my children, if

they hear me awake. Then, I'm so tired, neither of my girls are good sleepers.

I can't get into bed any earlier than 10pm and most of the time later, so that I

have a few hours sans children with my husband.

 

I would love to hear how KY has helped you with acceptance of stages in your

life, helped you with patience, how you work it into your schedule, just

anything on the post title.

 

Sat Nam!

Kelli

[Guest guest]

Hello,I don't have mother experience but I have heard this complaint from mothers, where they feel they do all this housework and it feels like they never accomplish much. I think that these mothers need not be so hard on themselves and learn to accept having a home that isn't perfect and embracing some messiness and embracing that which may not get completed and finished.

As well, get your husband involved. Being a mother is more then 40 hours a week and men need to start pulling their weight, and not just having a job. They need and should do more! And go out with your girlfriends and take a break from the monotony of raising children. Have fun!

All work and no play is no way to live!PaulaOn Mon, Nov 23, 2009 at 12:57 PM, hillfolkmama <kudzumountain wrote:

 

 

 

 

 

 

I would love to hear how other mothers and wives fit a healthy practice of KY into their days. Right now, I am practicing around noon to 1 while my 19 month old sleeps. I am pretty exhausted from being a stay at home mom, and swimming in a sea of housework that I never seem to get a handle on. I love being home with my girls. I know that is the place for me. I have considered waking before everyone else to practice, but that usually also wakes my children, if they hear me awake. Then, I'm so tired, neither of my girls are good sleepers. I can't get into bed any earlier than 10pm and most of the time later, so that I have a few hours sans children with my husband.

 

I would love to hear how KY has helped you with acceptance of stages in your life, helped you with patience, how you work it into your schedule, just anything on the post title.

 

Sat Nam!

Kelli

[Guest guest]

Dear Kelli, Sat NamAs you probably already know, Kundalini Yoga

is known as the ‘yoga of the householder’ - it is not about retreating

from daily life to meditate in a cave, but about using short (even just

three minutes!) yoga techniques to uplift you to be the best you can in

all your daily doings, including your relationships with partners and

children.

I really appreciate your question, and I hope other mothers will find the time to answer as well.As

children get older (mine are now 4 and 7), you will have more and more

time to dedicate to your daily practice. For now, do what you can,

share your practice with your girls, read what Yogi Bhajan says about

parenthood, and experience all aspects of the yogic lifestyle: from

cold showers to trinity roots, from turmeric to wearing a turban when

you feel you are losing your head

I've gone from " trying to fit a healthy practice of KY in my life " to

treating every moment of the day as healthy practice of KY :)This

is what works for me at the moment: I start each day reciting the Japji

and end it with Kirtan Sohila. If things are rushed in the morning and

I can't vibrate the Japji before, I chant it walking home after the

school run.

All housework is done chanting mantras - I especially love chanting while cooking, it adds the secret ingredient!Do your shopping, cleaning, gardening and cooking consciously, so that every action becomes a meditation.

Let mantras vibrate through your house even when you are out or asleep.Sing to your children while nursing them or at bedtime: my kids like singing Guru Ram Das Lullaby when we switch the lights off.They

are also experiencing the power of each mantra and meditation along

with me, for example when they are sick, they ask me to sing the

healing mantra Ra Ma Da Sa to them.

Sometimes, when the boys are happy playing, I'll say " I'm going to

meditate in the other room " , and after a few minutes they'll come and

lay their head on my lap. Other times I'll start with them, and they

will do the postures/meditation for a couple of minutes then they'll

wander off and leave me to it.

As sadhana, there are stages when I manage to dedicate 2

and a half hours to it, there are times when I commit to 11 minute meditations

and, in super busy times, I accept

with gratitude even just keeping up a 3 minute meditation.I usually do a meditation or

set in the morning, after having taken the boys to school, and one in

the evening when they are asleep.

I remember you saying there aren't any KY classes in your area - it's

wonderful that you are keeping your practice up alone, well done! Maybe

you could think about attending 3HO Solstice celebrations or yoga

festivals - there are always kids camps and they are simply wonderful.

You said before that you use DVDs - try looking on YouTube for sets you

can practice and see other people practice. My absolute favourite one

is the challenging Radiant Body Set video posted by Gurumustuk from

Summer Solstice:

Also, it helps to keep a sacred place in your home, an altar or

even just a shelf with a candle on it, some flowers or crystals, a

picture.Most of all, sleep is essential. It's hard to relate to your higher self when you are sleep deprived.

As Siri-Gian Kaur said just a few weeks back, Soul says " Relax! " :)Whatever you manage to do, go through it as gracefully as a humble human being can.

love,Uttamjit, mother of two, in Rome, Italy

[Guest guest]

Sat Nam!

Thank you to the 4 of you who have replied. I appreciate your kind words and

encouragement. I am looking into getting connected with other women who are

practicing. I know it will be awhile before I get that chance in real life. I

am isolated in many ways right now, and sometimes that can make difficulties or

lack of communication with like-minded people all the more consuming. However,

I am experiencing a great time of renewal in my life. I am trying hard to

listen to God and quiet my always racing, planning, thinking mind. That is the

hardest part of this whole thing. So, I thank you.

 

Are there any for KY mothers?

 

Be blessed,

Kelli

[Guest guest]

Sat Nam Kelli and All!

 

Sorry for such late reply - busy mama as usual.

 

Yes, I found it very difficult to find similar-minded yogi-mamas and there is

very little support out there for people with kids. Even in Austin that has a

fantastic Kundalini Yoga community it's still pretty difficult. I'm taking a

teacher training class and out of 50+ students only a few of us have kids, and

only 2 of us have very young children (mine is 20 months). And yes, it does get

a little lonely out there, but looks like you are doing a great job keeping up

the practice, it's the best isn't it!?!

 

I don't know of any KY mama community, maybe we should start one???? I would

love to join and get/give some support.

 

Sat Nam,

Santjeet Kaur (aka Elena)

 

 

 

Kundalini-Yoga , " hillfolkmama " <kudzumountain wrote:

>

> Sat Nam!

> Thank you to the 4 of you who have replied. I appreciate your kind words and

encouragement. I am looking into getting connected with other women who are

practicing. I know it will be awhile before I get that chance in real life. I

am isolated in many ways right now, and sometimes that can make difficulties or

lack of communication with like-minded people all the more consuming. However,

I am experiencing a great time of renewal in my life. I am trying hard to

listen to God and quiet my always racing, planning, thinking mind. That is the

hardest part of this whole thing. So, I thank you.

>

> Are there any for KY mothers?

>

> Be blessed,

> Kelli

>