A 5-pose yoga routine for busy Moms

 A perfect sequence of 5 yoga poses you can do even if you're a super busy Mom.
Guest Post by Nicola Smith

When you're a busy Mom, fitting in a workout every day can feel like an ambitious goal. And while you may hear that you, 'need to fill up your own cup first,' when life gets busy, looking after your own health can quickly be forgotten. Enter, yoga — a workout for your mind, body and soul. Yoga is perfect for calming the nervous system and strengthening and stretching all the muscles in your body.

Yoginiology Yoga Mat Cleaner Spray Review

We love to do yoga here!  So much so, that we incorporate it into our Daycare Day when the weather doesn't allow for outside play!  Sometimes we take it outside, but mostly we do our Yoga inside.  This is great, but all these little toes can carry some interesting smells with them.  Kids are both sticky and contagious so cleaning the yoga mats is a must to keep everyone healthy.

Lazy Lizards Yoga DVD and Mat Review

We love to do yoga! The kids love to try new poses and to do better at poses they already know.  They randomly show off their skills to friends and family.  So, we are always looking for new yoga journeys to go on and tools to help us find moments of calm in our little bodies and full of life minds.  So, for this Christmas we have some products we tested out that are perfect for your little yogi's!

Warrior 3 Pose/Virabhadrasana 3 Pose

This weeks’ yoga pose is Warrior 3/Virabhadrasana 3. When doing Warrior 3/Virabhadrasana 3 with kids remember to never push them past their abilities and be very careful with this pose as it’s easy to get hurt! Each week, 2-3 days, we do a 15 minute yoga work out in my home daycare. Kids from 1 1/2 to 4 do this and while each does as much as they are able and in a way they are capable of they all get a nice stretch, a scheduled work out time, and some fun new body movements. We do the sun salutations and then add a few jumps, hops, new yoga pose, and teacher assisted somersaults at the end.

Eagle Pose or Garudasana

This weeks’ yoga pose is Eagle Pose/Garudasana. When doing Eagle Pose with kids remember to never push them past their abilities and be very careful with this pose as it’s easy to get hurt! Each week, 2-3 days, we do a 15 minute yoga work out in my home daycare. Kids from 1 1/2 to 4 do this and while each does as much as they are able and in a way they are capable of they all get a nice stretch, a scheduled work out time, and some fun new body movements. We do the somersaults, and then add a few jumps, hops, new yoga pose, and teacher assisted somersaults at the end.

Zen180 Meditation Review

The holidays are coming and my brain already hurts.  All the yoga in the world sometimes can't calm the Chitta Vritti in this head during the holidays.  Who visits when, where do they sleep, what do we do, what do we eat, is the house decorated, is the house clean, are the kids ready, are we ready, what random celebration with the hubbies job decide that the employees have to bring for and will it be randomly themed, and a ton of other questions that don't stop coming!  All need answers and as mom it's my job to figure them out.  Sometimes, though I just need a few minutes of piece.  

Movement Story/Kids Yoga DVD and Flashcard Reviews

We love to do yoga at my daycare.  I'm always looking for new tools to use with the kids to help in their yoga journeys.  We usually do our yoga on days where the weather prohibits us from getting out outside play in, little bodies need to release that energy somehow!  Check out the latest yoga tool I'm adding to my collection!

The Magic Path of Yoga Game Review

We love to do yoga at the daycare.  It is great for the mind and body.  Having it be in a game is a great way to make every yoga journey different and to test the mind.

Naturade Pea Protein Review

Protein is huge for brain growth and muscle growth.  I've been trying to eat better and to start lifting weights more.  Because my brain and my body need protein for functioning and growth I've been looking for a protein shake.  My husbands is too much for me, being as it's geared to his more intense power-lifting work out and harder on my stomach.  

Using Yoga to Battle Breast Cancer

Two decades ago, yoga felt like a fad in American society. After more and more have given it a shot, most have begun to recognize the tangible health benefits to doing yoga. Stretching, in general, can loosen the muscles and improve overall physical fitness, and yoga can also have significant psychological benefits.

Best Selling Women’s Yoga Gear at Under Armour

Whether you are wearing it to the gym or lounging around the house, yoga gear has been one of the hottest styles to rock in the year 2013. Now you can get your hands on some of the greatest yoga attire possible by shopping at Under Armour. They have it all- from hot yoga pants to sexy bras to keep everything in order during strenuous exercises. Plus, when you use Under Armour promo code UAGEAR, you can save big on your purchase with this Under Armour free shipping coupon. Just spend over $45 and you’ll be on your way to free shipping!

Villa Sumaya is your next yoga-tion

Organize your own Yoga Retreat

If you are a yoga instructor, run a yoga school, or are involved in yoga marketing, the Villa Sumaya on Lago de Atitlan Guatemala may have an incredible opportunity for you and your students or followers. Villa Sumaya is a yoga retreat center which allows yoga instructors from around the world to organize groups to enjoy a wellness or yoga retreat in one of the world’s most scenic environments.  

Cat-Cows Pose or Marjariasana

Each week, 2-3 days, we do a 15 minute yoga work out in my home daycare. Kids from 1 1/2 to 5 do this and while each does as much as they are able and in a way they are capable of they all get a nice stretch, a scheduled work out time, and some fun new body movements. We do the sun salutations and then add a few jumps, hops, new yoga pose, and teacher assisted somersaults at the end. In doing these poses always consult a doctor first, only attempt what is in your child’s ability level, and do what is comfortable for your and their body.  Today we worked on Cat-Cows Pose or Marjariasana.

These are only suggestions and like any exercise you and your children try them at your own risk, I am not there to show you and see what your body is saying so I can only offer these on a very basic level. Make sure to wear comfortable clothing that is easy to move in, have a yoga mat to work on, and do not wear socks because of the risk of slipping!  Lastly, always remember to smile and never go past what your capable of and don't push a kid to go past what they are capable.  

I suggest starting with other poses before doing this one, forward folds, warrior, and cobra are a few good postures to try before starting.  Make sure your kids are warmed up before doing this pose.  Start by having the kids stand with their feet slightly apart.  Have them reach up to the sky, pretending to gather the sun rays to keep for winter, now ride a breeze and dive down to your toes!  Bend your knees until your bottom hangs just off the ground, rib-bit and hop a few times like a frog. Now, with your hands flat on the ground put one knee back then the other to make a flat table top!  With out bending your arms or moving your legs try to touch your belly to the floor and give a moo like a cow!  Bring the air in and arch your back to the ceiling with a hiss like a cat!  Repeat again a few more time's before coming back to the table top!  Now straighten your legs and give a breath, step each foot to your hands and tickle your toes for a good laugh.  Now, reach up for a few more sun rays bringing you to a stand.  Exhale your hands down the middle slowly pushing the air out one last time. Then thank you for your practice because politeness is key and we should be thankful of the movement our bodies provide us!
Namaste!

Pyramid Pose or Parsvottonasana

Each week, 2-3 days, we do a 15 minute yoga work out in my home daycare. Kids from 1 1/2 to 5 do this and while each does as much as they are able and in a way they are capable of they all get a nice stretch, a scheduled work out time, and some fun new body movements. We do the sun salutations and then add a few jumps, hops, new yoga pose, and teacher assisted summersaults at the end. In doing these poses always consult a doctor first, only attempt what is in your child’s ability level, and do what is comfortable for your and their body.  Today we worked on Pyramid Pose or Parsovottonasana.

Forward Fold or Uttanasana

Each week, 2-3 days, we do a 15 minute yoga work out in my home daycare. Kids from 1 1/2 to 5 do this, while each does as much as they are able and in a way they are capable of they all get a nice stretch, a scheduled work out time, and some fun new body movements. We do the sun salutations and then add a few jumps, hops, new yoga pose, and teacher assisted summersaults at the end. In doing these poses always consult a doctor first, only attempt what is in your child’s ability level, and do what is comfortable for your and their body.  Today, we worked on Forward Fold or Uttanasana.

Stories that Come Alive through Yoga! Book Review

Do you like yoga or wish you can do it at home with your kids.  You can with a little product help.  I needed some fresh ideas to keep our little yogi's on the mat. So, I asked Renee Sherkness for her help and she sent me her awesome book. Check it out:

Storyland Kids Yoga DVD

 I love doing kids yoga.  I make a point to do it with the kids 2-3 days a week and they seem to love it.  I was very excited when asked to do a kid's yoga review.  I post so much about the yoga poses the kids and I do, it's about time I offer up a review of Storyland Kids Yoga DVD.
Here is my review:

Power Yoga for Moms by Kristin Wells

As everyone knows, motherhood is a full-time job. Moms describe it as the most wonderful job in the world. But it leaves very little time to exercise, de-stress, and rid all the tension that normally builds during the day. 

Some women address this need with an early-morning run, a weekend gym class, or a basement treadmill. But motivation is often lacking during the wee hours of the morning, and weekend classes are usually drenched in mommy guilt. Treadmills are, as they say, so yesterday.

Kristin Wells Bio!!!!!!

I've been lucky to have met some great writers in my time as a blogger and with me being out from surgery I've asked a few to help me out with a Guest Post!  Let me introduce my first Guest Blogger of the weekend Kristin Wells.  She has agreed to share her knowledge of Yoga with us which will post Saturday!  Her ability to take potential obstacles in life and discover new paths for herself in them is inspirational and truly within the teachings of the yoga practice.  Let me introduce to you, Guest Blogger: Kristin Wells!!!!

Virasana or Kneeling Pose

Each week, 2-3 days, we do a 15 minute yoga work out in my home daycare. Kids from 1 1/2 to 4 do this and each does as much as they are able and in a way they are capable of giving them all get a nice stretch, a scheduled work out time, and some fun new body movements. We do thesun salutations and then add a few jumps, hops, new yoga pose, and teacher assisted summersaults at the end. In doing these poses always consult a doctor first, only attempt what is in your child’s ability level, and do what is comfortable for your and their body. These are only suggestions and like any exercise you and your children try them at your own risk.