Yoga as a Family Affair

One of the aspects of my role as yoga teacher that delights me most is seeing families practice together.  The families are varied... I have twin 30 year old sisters in my Friday morning class.  I have a son (military officer, awesome yogi with a very consistent practice) who brought his mom to my 101 class on her 72 birthday... they now practice together twice a week.  I have a mother who has started bringing her young adult son to class, finding a new way to connect to him.  I have cousins who regularly meet up to take a session together.  I have countless husbands and wives in my classes, who often show their connection by holding hands in savasana.  On Sunday, I even have a family of four - husband, wife, and two gorgeous little girls who are about 6 and 8 - take my 101 class together.

Nothing makes me happier than seeing these families doing this activity together -- breathing, stretching, building strength, often laughing, and then ultimately laying down in savasana together.  It's such an amazing site, witnessing these families, whether immediate or extended, large or small, do this together.

I've said before how much I love practicing yoga with my honey.  (And my mom, for that matter!)  Looking forward, I can't wait to have a regular family class be a part of our routine.  I think especially for those families who don't have a traditional religious/faith practice in a formal setting.  I grew up in a protestant household, going to church as a family every Sunday.  While that's not a part of my life now, I certainly see the need for and appreciate the benefits of a weekly family focused activity like this.  Yoga is not a religion, nor does it go against someone's religious believes.  But it can make your family unit part of a larger community, build discipline and hopefully a bit of inner peace and strength.  Much in the way of trying to have family dinners every night, I think a weekly yoga practice will be a nice component of our family as it grows down the line.

My family of four is heading off for Europe for about six weeks, and I'll miss their incredible energy in the room.  As they left this past week, the older daughter asked for some poses she could do on the long flight overseas.  We tried out a modified thread the needle sitting down, a bit of crescent work, and the youngest daughter even said they could do tree/vrksasana while in line for the bathroom!  Absolutely love it!  What a family.