It's time for YOU...
Press Pause Mini-Practice
There’s mother the noun; then there’s mother the verb.
Mother* = v. to treat someone with kindness and affection and try to protect that person from danger or difficulty.
Mother as a verb – what an understatement. For all the worrying, preparing, planning, tidying, comforting, counseling, and caring (and so much more!), being a mother is truly an action word. With all that action it’s easy to find yourself overwhelmed, over-extended and spent.
Females aren’t the only ones that can fall into the cycle of constant doing & providing. We all can tap into our ability to nurture; do everything in our power to help someone or something grow. But can we as human beings strike a balance between giving and receiving? How can we extend the same love and care for ourselves as we give to others? Can we focus on showing more affection, and less striving for perfection? Let us balance all that action with mindful inaction.
I put together this string of restorative poses as a mini-retreat for anytime you need some “mothering.” Do it before bed, sneak it in just after work, or before breakfast.
Can you carve out 10 minutes, to clear some space for you? Yes, please. I hope it leaves you feeling centered, replenished and more spacious inside.
 CLICK HERE
to BEGIN
Here’s what we’ll cover:
Waterfall Breath with
Legs up the Wall Pose
It’s time to literally put your feet up. This pose drains tension and fluid from the legs and feet, and helps recirculate new blood and energy throughout the body. Refill your cup by soaking in the ease of this pose.
Happy Baby Pose & Supine Twist
Connect with your inner child while releasing tension in your hips and lower back.
Please be lovin’ on yourself. Enjoy this Mother’s Day in a way that best serves YOU.
Share with me at april@soulshinelife.com how you feel afterwards – I could use more describing words for what it means to be “mothered".
Please "pass the pause" and share this with others.
photo credit: blog_yogabenefits
*from the Cambridge English Dictionary
Need a mindful distraction for the kids?
Be sure to check out my youtube playlist for free kids yoga videos.
Peace,
April
www.soulshinelife.com
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A SoulShine Shoutout to My Mom:
 “Mama was my greatest teacher,
a teacher of compassion,
love and fearlessness.
If love is sweet as a flower,
then my mother
is that sweet flower of love.” - Stevie Wonder
My mom: the nurse, the devotee, the explorer, the life-long learner. She follows her curiosity. She is my beacon and greatest champion. Always reflecting back to me the things I don’t easily see in myself.
I remember one adventure in particular, while on a trip visiting family in the Philippines. Our guide tells us there is a secluded swimming hole at the end of dark tunnel which has been carved by water into the coral and rock formation. Staring into the gaping darkness with just a faint light beckoning from within, no one makes a move to test this claim.
Except my mom. “Come on, then,” she says with a twinkle in her eye. “Let’s see what’s at the end.”
Not letting her go at it alone, but also emboldened by her enthusiasm and disregard for perceived dangers, we follow on hands and knees over the rocky terrain - did I mention that the tunnel was only as tall as a crawlspace? Feeling our way in the dark, knees scraping over sharp textures, the light gets wider and brighter until we emerge into a stunning, enclosed pocket of the ocean. Waves rolling in from an archway in the rock wall, sunlight beaming through the water casting a turquoise filter over our delighted faces. This was our reward for facing our fears.
This experience sums up my mom’s enduring message to me: follow your curiosity and you will be rewarded. Equally important is to pursue Light even when things get scary, or dark. Whether it be navigating motherhood or stumbling through different evolutions of myself I hear her voice cheering me on. “You’ve got this. I believe in you. Have faith that all will work out fine in the end.”
THANK YOU, Mom, for all you are and do.
And to all you moms out there: You got this!
"Life doesn't come with a manual, it comes with a mother."
- Unknown
Please help spread the word and feel free to pass this on to friends, families, schools. Thanks for taking the time in your busy lives to read this.
www.soulshinelife.com
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