Kris Hughes

If you're a mom, most likely you are juggling caring for your child or children, your home, perhaps a spouse and as if this isn’t enough you may also be holding down a job outside of this work. And this is the short list! 

One question: where in this list is there time for taking care of yourself? Mamas, can you relate? What if I told you you can have it all including the time it takes to put yourself first on this list, allowing for more ease, peace, and joy in all the other areas? Now do I have your attention?  

I started meditating before I had children and I needed a lot of stuff for inspiration.

You name it, I had it: candles, incense, music, yoga mat, and the outfit. Had to have the outfit! 

I tried every suggestion and followed the latest trends and eventually found my groove, but to be honest it wasn’t until a decade and half and 4 children later that I began feeling the benefits of the practice. The whole point was for me to be able to find my heart center and quiet the chatter in my head: I wanted to access my own inner guidance and intuition. 

One morning, when I was lying in bed with my newborn at 4am after nursing her, I felt the urge to get up and meditate. I knew leaving her would wake her and that there would be no practice at all plus a crying babe. It wasn’t worth it. I decided in that moment to surrender all the expectations of what others defined as meditation and just do what worked for me in the moment.

It was truly the most magical and inspired practice I had experienced so here it is for you in all its simplicity:

Upon waking:

    (Make sure you make a pee stop before your practice- moms, you know what I mean)

1. Lay on your back and place your hands over your heart. Indicating to your body where your attention is wanting to go.

2. Begin to breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth. 

3. Notice thoughts coming and simply use them as a reminder to go back to noticing your breath and breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth.

Do this until you feel a deep sense of calm and inner peace.

Trust yourself! You will know when the time comes.

There is no time limit. Each one of us is different, so let yourself be the guide to what brings you to a place of inner quiet.

Now don’t get me wrong I still love the music, (Nirinjan Kaur owns my heart) the candles, incense, my yoga mat and still have a pulse on the latest meditation clothes because they are the most comfortable! But as I’ve come to know myself I’ve come to love myself regardless of those outer objects... so really, it seems the practice has done its purpose! 

As you begin to cultivate your practice and put yourself at the top of your “to do list” you will experience for yourself the qualities of peace, joy and ease becoming more easily obtainable which will inspire you to continue!

Namaste beauties and as always I leave you...

In joy,

Kris