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Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy and values can translate to children of any age. Here are 3 simple ways kids can help keep his dreams and wisdom alive.
1. Peace. King sought equality and human rights for African Americans and all victims of injustice through peaceful protest. The top principle in yoga is ahimsa which is non-violence. With children, we translate that to kindness.
2. Courage. It takes strength to stand up for and voice what you believe in. In yoga, we Start From The Heart so we can connect within ourselves and with others. This is brave because many of us react impulsively and not always with heartfelt compassion.
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” - Martin Luther King, Jr.
3. Leadership. Lead With Love. Everything is energy. Love is the highest vibration while fear is the lowest frequency. In yoga, we work to bring the energy up the central channel from the root to the highest point at the crown — to be sovereign.
Our values are: Love, Integrity, Growth, Freedom and Joy! We also inspire Generosity, Discipline, Flexibility and Balance. What do you stand for?
- What words capture your deepest values and what matters most?
- What values will you instill in your children? Which of these values are you already living in daily life?
- Which do you aspire to inhabit more fully?
I have a dream that every child has access to yoga. If you’d like to learn more about how yoga can change your life at home and in the world, we begin on January 20.
We have a ritual called Hopes & Dreams where we take time to reflect on what we learned in the prior year and on what we want most in the New Year.
First, the reflections. Answer these 3 questions for 2023:
- What were the top three highlights?
- What were the best decisions you made?
- What were the biggest challenges — what did you learn and how did you grow as a result?
Now, the hopes and dreams for 2024:
- What do I want to make my life better?
- What truth am I avoiding?
- What rules can I break because they just don’t work for me?
- If I don’t change X habit(s), will my life be better or worse?
- What do I need to let go of?
*These questions are adapted from tips by Marie Forleo
Then, we state our wishes as if they’ve already come true! On December 31, 2024, I will confirm the following for myself:
- I experienced a year of excellent health and got into better shape than I EVER imagined.
- I helped more leaders increase their income and impact with children than ever before!
- I understand that taking big risks could have hurt or hindered me, but I had to go for it!
- I became a better listener, responding vs. reacting because “The power is in the pause.”
- I am proud of how I showed up for my family, friends, and my community — everyday.
- I was present with my parents while they are still alert and alive.
- My heart stayed open, compassionate, and trusting in all situations — even when it was HARD!
- I was stable and supportive of a friend who needed love.
- I made a conscious choice moment-to-moment to release thoughts, feel my feelings and let them GO.
- I allowed myself to feel happiness like never before!
I'd love to hear about your Hopes & Dreams. Oh, and you can learn the 3 strategies to make your wishes come true here.
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Wow! I feel like I’m coming out of a holiday vortex. I basically logged off as of December 20 to get the holiday in order for my family because Christmas was coming — and I wasn’t ready!
I was struck by this viral video about what it means to be a mom at the holidays for young children. There is some forever deal about being a mom and taking on the magic of the season. I might like to cancel it, but like many moms, I haven’t figured out how to.
I truly enjoy the season, it’s so festive with lights, decorations and parties, combined with the baking, cooking and gifting it’s A LOT — in a short amount of time. Every year, I try to pace it better and every year, I still end up with at least one minor (or major) meltdown.
We’re moms:
- tired
- overwhelmed
- exhausted
- and by the time your kids are in college…burned out!
It all got done, on time. We enjoyed a lovely Christmas which is what we celebrate. It was sincerely joyful. My daughter really helped with the tree, cookies and cards and I’m so grateful. I’m also mindful of not passing all the holiday magic on to her.
I love this week before the New Year where I can reflect and reset. Next year, we’re soft celebrating. We’re going to discuss what our family loves most and we’re only doing that. We’re going to simplify and share the load so it’s not all on mom.
We're moms. Yoga moms. If you want the skills you and your kids need to success get Warrior training.
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Brahmacharya yama is the principle of moderation in yoga. I’ve lived my life by it. I’m not one for extremes. In my experience, they require too much energy to regulate. The highest highs must come down, the lowest lows must come up. For me, steady upward is best. I discovered that in college.
I sent my daughter her favorite ginger cookies in a college care package. She called to say thank me and shared she felt guilty for eating them all — in one sitting (not really all of them, but more than her typical amount.) My response was, “Sometimes you need to eat all the cookies.” My intention was to say don’t deprave yourself of enjoyment.
Because with over-consumption of anything — food, alcohol or shopping an equal and opposite dynamic pulls towards various modes of deprivation and restriction.
More is not always better. There is a point of diminishing returns: proportionally smaller benefits (or even destructive outcomes) derived from something as more is invested in it. This includes anything we go EXTRA on, even exercise or work. Sometimes less is more and it enables us to savor the item or the moment.
Everything in moderation — including moderation! This irony means sometimes you need to eat all the cookies, or have none. But mostly, you get to enjoy them like Goldilocks getting it “just right.”
The Yoga Sutra describes five different yamas, including ashimsa (non-violence), asteya (non-stealing), satya (truthfulness), aparigraha (non-possessiveness), and brahmacharya (moderation).