Simplicity Parenting

When I became a mother, I had absolutley no idea what it would take to be what my child deserves and/or needs. The consistent requests, high energy, and tantrums are enough to drive any one mad. Even a yoga teacher. When I think about who I want to be as a parent, I can't help but incorprate my meditation and yoga practices to support me in being that parent. Taking the time to practice regularly mindful presence, patience, non-reactivity, unconditional love amongst other yogic qualitites, infallibly filters into my parenting style. Not to say I don't screw up and lose my cool sometimes or make choices that are best for the sanity of the family and not particularly great for my child (ie. plopped down in front of a screen, anyone??), but I know that with this transformative practice in our lives we are all much better off. I'd also like to draw attention to the specific challenges of being a woman who battles anxiety (who doesn't these days?) and how my daily meditation in the morning and often at night to fall asleep works wonders. Creating a daily habit of sitting with myself and my breath is critical for my sense of calm and reboots my constantly opening mental tabs when it comes to living this life. I hope this inspires you to fine-tune who you want to be as a parent and what tools can empower and support you in being just that.

Here are a few more of my faves tips:

1.) Take at least 5 - 10 minutes in the morning to get up, take a breath, brush your teeth, etc. Even a few minutes of self-care to start your day can really boost morale.

2.) Meditate for 1 - 5 minutes if you are just starting out. You wouldn't set out to run a marathon by beginning your training with 10 k so take it slow and build gradually.

3.) Set boundaries with your screen (HUGE one)! I leave my phone downstairs most nights and don't pick it up until after I meditate and have a coffee. It's bliss.

Happy Simplifying!

Megan x

Yoga + Mamahood

When I became a mother, I had already been a regular yoga practitioner for over a decade. It was a part of my daily ritual, my lifeblood, my sanity. Though, something happened to my practice after I gave birth. It changed. MAJORLY. Not to mention the immense changes during pregnancy I had already encountered, this was a whole `nother thang. My body was SO different now. My mind, my breath, everything!

With these changes, I struggled to find who I was in this new role. I felt insecure and lost somehow as I became a human pacifier whose body no longer belonged to her. Thankfully, the yoga continued to keep me sane and give me a breath of fresh air. My practice became less about building confidence through handstands and more about surrendering to my breath during a crying fit. Yoga continues to support me through the ever changing ebb and flow of my life as I keep growing into this mamahood.

During this current stage, connecting to my breath and other like-minded mamas has been the key for me to keep moving forward. It has allowed me to be supported in a way that helps me to love my new practice, my new body, and being a new mom.

Yoga for Mummies: Starts March 9th 

For details:
www.megancrossfield.com

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Welcome to Motherhood.

It's been four months.

Four incredible, sleep deprived, love filled, exhausting months. Being a new mom is definitely the most challenging and even more rewarding gig I’ve ever had. All the cliché’s are just so true. I can’t believe that in such a short time this girl has stolen her dad’s and my hearts so completely. It’s amazing all the change that one little being can bring.

With all this change and newness there is the realisation I’ve taken on a role that I’ve never trained or studied for and am now expected to do 24/7. Mixed in with all the moments of total beauty and bliss, there are these other moments of all consuming fear and doubt. What if something happened to her? Is this the right thing to do? Can I do this thing at all? The insurmountable responsibility is at times, more than I can comprehend: having this kind of influence over a human being’s life.

During these times, breath is an ever-trusty companion. Sometimes it simply escapes my lungs, so finding balance between output and input to maintain sanity can feel elusive. But, in the end, it finds me. The breath, the space, the calm. On days when I meditate I am infinitely more aware of what needs to happen next. I can be in a flurry of panic, stop for ten minutes to be still and then, ahhh.... I can breathe. This “taking time” I’ve found is actually “making time” where there is none. It gives my brain and heart the space it needs to make more intuitive decisions based on my highest good rather than the voice of my ego. In turn, my decision making process is quicker, more succinct, and more effective. This is an incredible gift, particularly as a new mother who is more often than not multi-tasking to “get shit done.”

 As a yoga and meditation teacher it would seem that I would have all this under control. But see, that’s not how human beings work. We are all flawed, have weaknesses, and need support. At the end of the day though, it comes down to choice. Will I take the ten minutes to be a better mom, wife, friend, and daughter? Or will I let it all consume me and take me down in flames. Some days the former, some the latter. But, every day, I have a choice. Every day, we can choose to begin again, and to make space where there is none.

Wow 2016. Just, wow.

Not sure about you, but the past year has brought on some very refining experiences for many. Personally, it's been one of the most challenging but even more rewarding years of my entire life. Putting this emotion into words is proving to be difficult, but I’m going to give it a go.

My last post was back in April when I announced that I was pregnant with my first child. Since then, I’ve gone through the rigors of new mom bootcamp called pregnancy and labor that have significantly changed me from the inside out. I have pushed through the mental, physical, and emotional obstacles that I never new existed and never dreamed I could achieve. But, I did. By breathing through each moment, not always calmly, not always present, but always in it, I grew stronger. I learned that I have more fight and beauty within me than I could have ever imagined. I’m getting teary writing this because I think of all the years I wasted thinking I wasn’t good enough, strong enough, brave enough. But 2016 has shown me that I am. I thought I knew that before through my years of self-study, healing, meditation, and yoga, but now, I’ve been taken to a new level of knowing. To my little angel who has made me a better human all around, I am forever grateful. I have officially learned the art of patience and surrender, though I’m sure I’ll need to learn this lesson again in the future.

Everyone tells you that becoming a parent is the most amazing thing you can experience. It’s the best ‘job’ in the world, and that you never fully understand it until it happens. They are right. Every parenting cliché’ I’ve ever heard is a cliché’ for a reason – it’s true. Looking ahead to the year to come, I feel hopeful. There are many who feel 2016 was ‘horrible’ and can’t wait for it to be over. For me, it was hard. It was gritty. It was raw. And, it was magic.

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Here’s to another magical year, no matter the lessons ahead of us and the challenges to be presented. They are there to cause us to grow and change into a shinier, more beautiful version of ourselves. We can choose to take on the challenge or not. But I urge you, open yourself up to the beauty that comes from being broken. You won’t regret it.

The Secret Diary of a Pregnant Yogi

As some of you know, I have recently discovered that as of January I am expecting a new little human to enter my life! It's very exciting news and we are thrilled and grateful. At first this news is very joyful and exciting but also quite overwhelming. Having not been aware of really what to expect, the last few months have been quite a shock to the system. The first three months of creating a human have proven to be some of the most challenging months of my life. How did I get through it? My ever trusty yoga and meditation, of course!

After first learning of our bun in the oven, we were overjoyed! But, after all the bubbly feel goods faded, I was left with constant nausea, extreme chronic fatique, bloating, and a plethora of other not so pleasasnt symptoms (which I won't go into for your sake). What typically consisted of mostly veggies, my diet was shifting into the abyss of cravings for sugar and fatty foods. Every time I saw a Mcdonald's commercial or someone eating cake, I was overcome with desire for that particular food. What was happening to this energetic and happy yogi? After many moments of anxiety and wondering when it would all be over, I realised very quickly that this is exactly why people don't tell you they are pregnant until after the first trimester is over! No one wants to hear about how miserable you are feeling, and you really don't want to talk about it.

The main reason I want to express the hardship I experienced is becasue I had NO idea it could be as hard as it was. I was totally unprepared mentally for the days ahead, and I hope that I can be that voice for someone else. The bottom line is that it's ALL going to be okay! Even though I found that hard to believe at the time. Meditation and yoga were my daily morning companions. The beauty of it was that no matter how awful I was feeling, I always felt like I was able to come home into my body through my practice. Although this little alien had invaded it, my mind and body could still find connection, stillness, and peace within the discomfort.

Toward the end of a straight 7 week period of this, with many deep breaths, practice, and family support, I was finally able to come to a place of acceptance. Gradually, the symptoms began to ease and today I am feeling more energetic than I have in over 12 weeks! So, it does get better... There is a light at the end of the tunnel of knitting a human in those early months. There are tools to be used that will give you a reprieve from the challenge.

And, this applies to everyone, not just expectant mothers. No matter the issue, conflict, or challenge, you can find rest within your breath. You can come home and find peace at any time, or learn to lean in and breathe.

When a ‘pity party’ feels like the only way.

As someone that has personally suffered for decades with anxiety and depression, I at one time was very familiar with the concept of throwing myself a ‘pity party.’ During my college years it was a regular occurrence that was one of my main coping mechanisms. It seemed to be one of the only things to bring me solace in this new world of independence I felt ill-equipped to handle.

After many years of yoga, meditation, and professional therapy, my parties have nearly come to an end. On the occasional day of hormonal craze or when Im feeling completely depleted, they will sometimes start up again. But, now they are significantly less loud, frequent, and lingering. After a rush of sorrow and ‘woe is me’ I realise what an incredible waste of time it is and decide that I am way to busy for it! I have a life to live. I have people to love. And now, I have the healthy coping mechanisms to make powerful changes in my own life, relationships, and the challenges I face.

Often times, we recognize in others the things that we dislike most about ourselves. I can honestly say that I can spot a pity party a mile away. Why? Because I've been there. The good thing about being somewhere you don’t want to be and having the ability to get out of it, is that you have an invaluable road map to share this ability with others who are struggling.

Don't be a silent sufferer. There are plenty of resources if you or someone you know is suffering. And remember that you are not a stigma. You are a human working through human issues and many times, humans needs each other.

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/

https://www.lifeline.org.au/

http://wearyourlabel.com/