How can Meditation help You and your Child?

Being a mother is a time of immense change; adjusting to life with not much sleep, hormonal and relationship changes, changes in body shape and image - on top of learning how to care for a tiny new person who doesn't come with a manual and whose main communication method in the beginning is to cry, sometimes lots.

Your role in life now is to provide and protect; to give and to nurture - more than you ever thought you were capable of. As mothers, we are expected to go beyond the normal realms of tiredness, and it’s important we look after our own health too by making time for quietness and rest. ​

Meditation and the yoga practice of Pratyahara (of going within, moving away from external goings on) is crucial for new mothers (dads too). It’s easy to feel lost and forgotten on this journey, so spending time to just sit and stop will help you reset physically, emotionally and energetically - whether you're running on adrenaline or exhaustion.

Motherhood has been the most stressful and difficult journey of my life (but oh so filled with love, kisses and a heart that just keeps growing). Meditation helps us to notice (and change) our reactions to stressful or difficult situations and can bring us internal peace and calm even though externally the s**t may still be flying.

But wait .. there's more.

As your child's brain continues to develop after they are born, this stage of critical development means they learn how to relate to this world directly from their interactions with you (and the other people around them). Quite simply, babies and young children are extremely receptive to the signals you send - just as they were when they were in the womb.

We, as parents, have a responsibility to make conscious changes in our behaviour and our actions in order to raise our children to feel safe so they can adapt to the big wide world and approach difficult situations calmly and in control.

As well as many benefits to you, when you and/or your partner meditate, these benefits are also received by your child. Whatever you are feeling, your child picks up on. During times of stress our breath changes.  Notice this in your day. Slow Down. Try and take time to pause more in your day, breathe slowly and deeply - give your growing child (a member of the future generation of adults) an example to follow. 

Enjoy the body and mind that you are in. It's beautiful and perfect in it's own unique way. Take many moments out to care for yourself, and your babies and children will absorb this experience of you undertaking this self care. Slow Down. They will learn from you, just as you are learning from them. Just as you read your baby's signals, so will baby read your signals. This new relationship is an ever-expanding connection.

You can be a wonderful role model to your children and help them to grow into well balanced young adults - who may also end up enjoying meditation and taking time out for quietness and peace. ​

Blessings to you all wonderful women!!

Carrie xx

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