This week I am launching Karma classes, meaning I am switching my once a week online options to pay what you can. I want to remove as many barriers as I can for people trying yoga or having their kids try yoga. To me, yoga is so beneficial for social emotional learning, which encompasses:
- self regulation – impulse control and managing emotions
- developing a growth mindset
- stress management
- effective problem solving
- self discipline
Having these skills not only benefits kids (and adults) on a personal level, it enables success in social, academic, and workplace settings. Everybody wins!
Why yoga for kids?
We know the earlier kids are exposed to things the more normal it becomes to them as they grow. Instilling theses practices and skills at an early age will normalize things like:
- recognizing, feeling, and examining our emotions
- taking the time to de-stress
- being true to ourselves
As adults we know all too well the realities of life wearing down and shaping that beautiful, pure, soul you once were as a child. Thankfully yoga can help us find our way back, but having the skills to be conscious of this as a child, adolescent, and teen navigating the world is so powerful. It can make it easier for kids to stay true to themselves, make thoughtful choices, and lead happy lives into adulthood.
If you want to read more about Karma and why I started these classes, read on! If you just want to sign up for a class, click here!
Your Vibe Attracts Your Tribe
When you start a new business you are thinking about so many things – like ALLLL the things. One of the major things you have to sit down and do is think about marketing and your “Ideal Client”. This is the person who actually needs, wants, and will buy your product, rather than just a random follower on instagram. Although those are also nice to have – shoutout to the randos!
boyyyy do I wish it was!
In doing this I started to worry that I’m a bit of a narcissist because I realizes that my ideal client is me! Ok so not actually because a whole group of me would be a little much…
As I was answering what my ideal client’s wants or whats keeping them up at night I realized I was really just answering my own fears, hopes, and desires for my kids, because I am a parent. I have the same hopes and fears for my children that most parents do, and am just trying to find the best way to navigate them, and support my kids while also teaching them to be autonomous.
In my dream world, my clients would be a diverse group of parents that are kind and open people who adore their children, but are also a little salty and realistic about the highs and lows of navigating parenthood. Basically the people in my inner circle – most of my friends are way cooler than me!
I want to create a community of beautiful humans that are supportive and fun to be around.
Parenting is Hard
Parenting is so F’ing hard! In addition to the day to day bullshit, you also spend your time constantly worrying about your kids’ wellbeing!
Are they happy? How can I help them be happy?
How are they doing socially? Do they have enough friends? Is that friend the best influence? I wish they had no friends and just wanted to hang out with me (but not really)
Is school challenging them academically? Is the school environment too challenging and sucking the joy from their little souls?
How can I help them find their path? How can I push them to be successful while still nurturing their dreams?
How can I get them to behave? Is that thing I said while angry going to scar them for life?? Am I a bad parent?
How can I be a good parent and give all I can and still have some left for myself? My partner?
The list goes ON and ON… I wish I could tell you that yoga can take away your parent neurosis, but that would be a lie.
What it can do is help you find balance, clarity, and perspective in these moments. Yoga helps adults self-regulate and de-stress in the same ways it does for kids. That is why I like to teach yoga to kids AND their grown folks! When you pair more socially, emotionally aware kids with less stressed and balanced parents – that is family M-A-G-I-C!
That’s nice Meg, but what does that have to do with Karma?
Oh, right, Karma! Contrary to popular belief, karma is not about retribution or getting back what you put in (in this life anyway). It’s connected to re-incarnation and the idea if you give selflessly, following your Dharma, eventually you will be enlightened and no longer be re-incarnated (re-incarnaton is basically you trying over and over again until you get it right)
Yes, I know that is an extremely watered down summary but a real discussion of karma needs its own post I think.
WTF is a Dharma?
The idea of Dharma is that we all have a path for which we are predestined. Of course life happens and we are shaped by the people who raise us, friends, and other people in our lives, causing us to stray from that path. Each person has their own “gifts” that they are expected to share with the world as part of Karma.
Although I can’t be sure (I’ll let you know in the next life ????) I feel my Dharma, or my “gift” is the ability to form connections with people, empathize, encourage, and bring people together – with a healthy dose of humour.
I have worked in a variety of different jobs (ASD camp counsellor, wool washer, sales, support worker, substitute teacher, bartender) Despite the different requirements, skill sets, clientele, etc. I have always been able to connect with people regardless of background or personality. I would then connect them with other people I know to create these wonderful little mini communities.
One of my jobs was literally to create social gatherings for teens with ASD, get to know them and help them connect with others in order to forge friendships. Eventually they even started to embrace my dark, sarcastic humour – if you know about ASD, then you know!
Hey Babe, what’s your Dharma?
I was a server and bartender for a long-ass time, and I was good at it. You might not think that is much of an accomplishment, but if you have spent time working in that industry, you know it’s a bit of an art.
Some of my best life skills were developed through the service industry. No joke, it is a highly underrated profession. You need to be able to:
- multitask
- prioritize
- asses and anticipate peoples needs
- work under pressure
- navigate difficult social situations and difficult personalities
You need to be able to do all that while also building relationships and facilitating peoples’ good time. Because the thing is, people can go anywhere to get great food and drinks. You need to give them a reason to get them from you. That’s the part I was good at.
I was never a perfect server technically speaking, I made mistakes all the time, there were always co-workers that were WAYYY better than me, but people liked my personality. I don’t know why, I guess I got it from my Dhamma…(???? yogi jokes, am I right?)
I’m an easy going, empathetic, open person, who is always up for a laugh and I think that makes people feel good about themselves, and puts them at ease. I mean, who doesn’t like to laugh? Sociopaths, thats who.
What do your bartending and socially awkward teen skills have to do with yoga?
Right. Yoga. Well, part of yoga (kind of a big part) is that we are all connected, equal, made up of the same parts of the universe. On a smaller scale, we are all part of a community. My goal is to build a broader community of like minded people and families.
I love, love LOVE, teaching in person and connecting with kids and their families. However, you are only able to reach a relatively small group of people that happen to live in the same place as you. My goal with Karma Classes is to provide an online community for kids and their families, regardless of location or financial situation. I don’t want people to miss out just because they don’t live near me or there isn’t a kids/family yoga program in their area.
My goal with Karma Classes is to provide an online community for kids and their families, regardless of location or financial situation.
If this sounds like something you’d like to be a part of – click here!
Wanna learn more about Karma (or Yoga)?
Claire @ Yoga Truly has started a monthly discussion group on yoga philosophy called Lemon Karma. The first discussion is on, you guessed it, Karma! It’s awesome. I find the more you continue to immerse yourself or study yoga concepts, the easier it is to incorporate them into your daily life. You can watch previous videos if you miss them. It’s free and I’m a member so it’s obviously awesome! Go sign up now so we can see each other at the next meeting!
One thing Claire mentioned that I loved and want to pass on about Dharma – but applies even if you don’t believe in Dharma- is to sit with your thoughts in order to find your path. If you’re not sure about a decision, or how you really feel about something in your life, sit with it.
Think about it, but notice the sensations that arise in your body. Do they match what your head is saying? Often the head doesn’t want to admit what the heart already knows. If you really sit and listen, as well as pay attention to how you really feel, the answer that is part of your true self becomes clear. Doing this helps us be true to ourselves and stay on the path of our Dharma – or the path to happiness if you prefer.
So take the time to rediscover your true self and own it. Be a good human. Share your unique gifts with the world in whatever way you’re able, and as always,
Stay Salty &Wild!
Meg
P.S. I would LOVE to hear what you feel your gifts or talents are! I admit I struggle with this because I feel like just being myself is not a talent or gift BUT we have to remember that the act of being ourselves and sharing our gifts can be what inspires someone else to be themselves and share their gifts!
All the freaky people make the beauty of the world.
Michael Franti