Obviously, anything you spend time doing you will see improvement. Having a daily yoga practice will enhance your ability to reach goals in yoga. Challenging yourself through longer or more difficult poses will benefit you greatly. Related the longer you homeschool, experiencing the day in and day out challenges, the better you will be at it. When you achieve a higher level of ability in one area such as elementary the focus will change to middle school or when you master focusing on one child's education another will be added to the mix. This is also like yoga. Once you are proficient in one pose you can take it a step further or try a different type of practice. One child might excel with unschooling while the next needs a more Charlotte Mason approach of short lessons.
Next, breath. Yoga works on at a breath pace. Inhaling and exhaling as you move through poses. Homeschooling involves breath as well but more of a figurative breath. Stepping back taking a breath when things get difficult. Breathing and noticing your thoughts as you begin the day with your kids. Breath is key to a homeschool mom's sanity.
Yoga is known for its flexibility. Many people will say they cannot do yoga because they are not flexible. This is exactly why you should do yoga. You are able to improve your flexibility. Homeschooling works the same way. Moms tell me they cannot homeschool their kids because they do not have patience. Well, by homeschooling you grow in patience. You also build a flexible mindset on how things need to be done and what things are of most importance. Your patience and flexibility increase as you perform both yoga and homeschooling.
Strength is a component that builds in yoga. Poses help you develop strong muscles throughout your body. Homeschooling strengthens your family relationships. The daily interactions with each other, the shared books, games played, and experiences that take place all invigorate that relationship between parents and children as well as sibling bonds.
Creating a mindset of dedication helps in both yoga and homeschooling. When you commit to a yoga practice the benefits are seen. The same is said for homeschooling. Once you affirm your dedication to homeschooling you will see the advantages.
One other influence both yoga and homeschool have had on my life is the need for quiet space in my mind. With yoga, you are encouraged to clear your mind or set an intention as you practice. I like to choose a verse, a word, or a person that I feel God has laid on my heart. With homeschooling, this quiet is crucial. I need time for reflection, journaling, and prayer to help me move forward in our journey.
I hope this helps you look at homeschooling in a different light whether you practice yoga or not. There may be another influence in your life that parallels your homeschooling journey. I just added a zen yoga practice to my podcast if you would like to check it out it is at curious journey podcast.
