Vinyasa means to place in a special way to create an effect. When we practise Vinyasa in yoga, we choose carefully how we sequence postures to create the effect we are looking for. If we have back pain, we can create a sequence of postures to alleviate the pain. If we are doing yoga first thing in the morning we want a sequence that will give us the energy we need to face the day ahead, or if practising last thing at night, to draw our body and mind into a restful place before sleeping.
We can take this principle of Vinyasa into our daily lives, by considering how we sequence our activities, whether its getting out of bed in the morning, making our way to work, making dinner, or preparing for sleep.
Natures cycles of the seasons, sun and moon, day and night provide a steady guidance for activity and rest. We are fortunate to live off grid on a south facing mountain where there is very little interference in hearing the sounds and being guided by the light of the day. People who visit to stay in our yurt often comment on how they sleep more deeply.
Our daughter Thalia who is 15 months old, sleeps best when she’s had a steady routine throughout the day. This includes some key ingredients such as time outside playing in the fresh air, regular meal times with more fruits during the day and more veggies at lunch and early evening.
At the end of her active day the warmth of a bath or massage before bedtime is very soothing and a perfect ritual towards sleep. It can be helpful for her skin to occasionally use olive oil or coconut oil massage before a warm bath rather than afterwards, the warm water helps skin to absorb more of the nutrients and leaves her warm ready for cosy cuddles and sleep.
Throughout the evening we put on relaxing music to accompany her bath time, we find using music to signify nap times can also work wonders. This way there can still be activity in the house with plenty going on but the vibe is mellow and Thalia can sleep through almost anything.
This bedtime Vinyasa allows Thalia to use up active energy throughout the day, and gives her body and mind plenty of signals to let her know that bedtime is on its way, so that by the time she gets to bed she’s already asleep or about to be. Of course, it doesn’t work this smoothly every time, but most nights it does.
Where we place nap times, meal times and activities is key for all of us, not just our children. Yoga can help us find a steady flow of energy, by good preparation, clear direction and careful sequencing we can reach our own bed times ready to rest in quality, nourishing sleep.
Still it’s important too not to become a military mama and get stuck in a routine that’s not feeling fun. There’s no one size fits all recipe for everyone, this is a serving suggestion which you can use to inspire you towards your own family Vinyasas, whatever they may be.
By creating and refining Vinyasa flows in the direction of flourishing, we can live a fulfilled life that holds us in good quality connection with our loved ones, allowing contentment in life and joy in the bright-eyed connection with our children, family and friends. There are so many rituals and sequences of daily life, from cleaning our teeth to putting on socks, to sweeping the floor. Probably every one of these can be made more enjoyable with just a little attention.
