I set off a clear intention at the end of year 2018 to myself that I will focus more on the art of S.L.O.W- ing down in year 2019. It was quite a crazy year 2018 for my family to move back from the Netherlands after spending four years there. The dreaded BIG move finally hit us at the beginning of last year. It was not exactly a fun time for me to start decluttering our stuff at our 3 storey townhouse in the cold gloomy winter months. Just the 4 of us alone- one clingy toddler who didn't know what was going on but seemed to be feeling all of sudden a little insecure because stuff (his toys of course!) kept being packed into boxes. I was thankful that my elder preschooler was at an age (4 years old) when he can comprehend things better and he was in a good school environment with caring teachers and fun classmates that he didn't have the chance to feel otherwise.
So we are now back in our home country since last May and things have been quite hygge-lig ever since. The four year of overseas living experiences shaped my perspectives and my values as a person as well as a parent. I had the opportunity to be closely involved with their early childhood scene from their baby programs up to their pre-school programs. I experienced how good it felt to be preparing your own meals, shopping at the farmer's market for the freshest produce. I witnessed how much waste we generated each week while separating your trash into plastic, paper, biological wastes and general waste. I treasured the sunny days and seized every chance to be out there in the sun although there is a huge pile of laundry piled up at home. I looked forward each time I have a meet up with a friend- it is also a time when we have no agenda at all, but just merely enjoying the company of each other. I started to understand a little bit more about the contentment of life. It is not all about achievements or milestones we hit. It is about appreciating every little thing in life. To show gratitude for what we have, to connect with one another at a deeper level, and just merely being present- living in the moment.
In this highly distracted world of smartphones, smart gadgets and smart apps, it is no wonder we all have very little time to be in the "Being" mode. We are constantly on the "Doing" mode. We always can find time to sneak in a little bit of screen time to check on our phones and very often that first thing you planned to check on will lead to several apps opened on your screen.
In my attempt to a S.L.O.W year, I have been working on these two areas since the end of last year- 1. Parent-child Yoga; 2. Creative Nature Walks. I have been developing lesson curriculum for kids yoga classes based on my Rainbow Yoga Teacher training and ongoing pursuit of yoga knowledge; creative nature walks programs are developed based on the forest school concept. All these in the hope of raising mindful kids to better able to deal with the volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) world.
In our first parent-child yoga session last Friday, we joined Maria & her grandpa in her yoga story – Maria explores the ocean. Everyone had a great time exploring the different poses of sea creatures- otter (happy baby pose), crab (reverse table top), whale (bow pose) and so on. We also introduced the poses of the week- Downward Dog and Cobra. We had the mommies forming downward dog tunnel with the little ones as little cobras slithering through the tunnel.
In our next session, we will be co-creating our very own yoga journey with the little ones! We will allow the kids to lead us on this journey under the sea with the help of the plushies and toys. Think— yoga incorporated in drama!? This will help them better relate the yoga poses!
Of course, there will be a practice for quiet time (meditation). We will practice a breathing technique called balloon breath. And if time permits, we can do a little craft activity together- stress ball(oon).
Hope to see some of you on the mats next Friday! (25Jan19)
Join me at Parent-child Yoga (walking-3yo)
2 sessions:
1045am-1130am (welcome to stay on till 12noon) http://meetu.ps/e/Gg4T5/J6S6Y/a
430-515pm (welcome to stay on till 545pm) http://meetu.ps/e/Ggg6m/J6S6Y/a
You may PM me to register or RSVP on the meetup page.