By Charlotte Singmin ? November 3rd, 2012 ? 465 Views
Since I began my love affair with yoga over a decade ago, I?ve been fortunate to study with many wonderful teachers in different countries, cities, and studios.? Each person and experience has played a role in shaping both the teacher, and the student that I am now.? But these days, my newest and most influential teacher is motherhood.?
Now more than ever, I am finding resonance in the yamas (yogic ethics), in particular ahimsa?(non-violence).? Ahimsa is easy to understand in concepts such as vegetarianism; choosing to eat a plant-based diet is kind to animals and the planet?s resources.? But becoming a mother has opened my eyes to a more subtle meaning of ahimsa; that of non-judgment.?
As a yoga teacher, I instruct my students to let go of judgment as they move more deeply into their poses, and into their practice.?? So often we focus on the outcome rather than the journey, on getting the forehead to the floor or our heels to the mat in an attempt to ?conquer? the pose.? Most of us have been guilty at one time or another of comparing ourselves to the yogi on the mat next to us, of trying to out-pigeon, or out-down-dog our neighbour.? Sometimes the hardest part of yoga is letting go of this competitive nature, so that we may practice with lovingkindness.
For many of us (but especially moms), the tendency towards self-judgment is strong, even off the mat.? It might begin in pregnancy as we eye other mothers on the street, sizing up their bellies, their baby weight, how tired or equally how energetic they look.? We make judgments and comparisons based on our assumptions, instead of allowing ourselves to be free of arbitrary expectations.
After baby comes, the whispers of judgment can become even stronger.? We might feel pressure to attain and maintain a certain standard of ?perfection?, both in the home and at work; to raise a perfect baby, to be a ?yummy? mummy, to keep a spotless house, to manage a successful career.? We are judging ourselves harshly and unnecessarily, when we regard anything less than this idea of perfection as failure.?
As a new mom I was consumed with the needs of my tiny baby; suddenly my time was no longer my own.? My beauty routine was pared down to a bare minimum--a shower and a swipe of lip-gloss if I...
Tags : Yoga, yoga for moms, yamas and niyamas, Charlotte Singmin, Motherhood: My Newest Yoga Teacher, yoga and motherhood, yoga ethics, practicing ahimsa, being a mom
Source: http://www.myyogaonline.com/about-yoga/learn-about-yoga/motherhood-my-newest-yoga-teacher
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