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Yoga for the Whole Family
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by Marsha T Metzger, M.ed, RYT, KYTA
Yoga, a physical and spiritual practice which is thousands of years
old, has exploded on to the American scene. Every one is doing yoga from Hollywood
movie stars to your local fireman. Yoga studios are popping up everywhere. Physical
fitness, stamina, strength , flexibility, youthfulness, weight loss, stress reduction
are all reasons people are flocking to yoga. Once a student finds a yoga class,
there is an overwhelming array of traditions to choose from, including specialized
fields of yoga practice- such as yoga for women, and yoga for children.
What is it about yoga that keeps people coming back? The benefits are amazing
on many levels: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. What may have begun
as a quest for flexibility turns in to a life transformation with job changes,
relationship changes and lifestyle changes.
Yoga is that time to regroup and call your own. And best of all , while you are
nurturing all your vital systems of the body and soothing the soul you are getting
a great workout. I don’t know about you, but that seems like multi-task
heaven!
If time is truly a constraint, why not incorporate yoga in to the family routine?
Set aside 15-20 minutes per day to do yoga with your family. Create a sacred space
in your home with candles, soft music, soft light and make it your daily yoga
space.. Children are equally as stressed these days as adults and many are not
nearly as flexible as we think they are. Children are also very open and curious,
responding easily to both yogic breathing, yoga postures, and meditation.. Their
refreshing perspective can only encourage our own growth and mind/body/spirit
awareness. Husbands/fathers, too, may become more open to their own emotions as
they honor their inward journey through yoga.
Being present is a gift that you can give yourself and your family at any age.
When you are present , you are timeless and ageless. Life is meant to be lived
fully .What that means is that we are here with each breath, each moment, BEING
ourselves. So why not give yoga a try?
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