contentment

The other day, I took my first hot yoga class in five years. The last time I practiced in a heated room was when I was ten weeks pregnant with our oldest. At that point, I was a trained yoga teacher and still an avid student, deeply dedicated to my practice. Having to let go of this weekly detoxifying ritual was difficult, and it brought sadness amongst the joy I felt towards my pregnancy.

I joke and tell people my body opened up like a lotus flower, because when I returned after months in India, my husband and I immediately got pregnant.

Still, when big changes happen, we learn to evolve rather than give up. We instill new habits and rituals that feed our needs through certain seasons. During my pregnancies, it was gentle prenatal yoga, nature walks, and hours of bouncing on a yoga ball. These became my new rituals, ones that brought fulfillment and moments of calm. It was exactly what I needed.

My family needs me now. My husband and our sons need me to be present and available as we step into some major adjustments over this summer. There are many blessings in this new season, and I have come to the difficult decision to step away from teaching for the time being.

When I walked out of the hot yoga class on Sunday, it felt euphoric - like I was returning home. Not only will I be stepping into the role of dedicated wife and mother, but I will be re-encompassing the life of a student again, as observer, listener, seeker. There is much to learn and apply to both my marriage and my motherhood.

Yoga philosophy teaches us many things. We practice contentment - accepting life as it is. If we ease into reality, rather than fight against it, beautiful possibilities will arise.