3 Simple Ways to Help Raise Healthy & Happy People Who Want to Come Home for Thanksgiving
#3. Understand their development.
This will inform your interaction and communication with them. It will let you meet them where they are at and allow you to be more compassionate and present with them.
Not many parents know that children under 7 live predominantly in the theta brain wave state and learn by imitation and by doing. They think in pictures and are physical. Modelling what you want them to do speaks louder than explanations. When you do explain pair the words with actions.
Their brain is not developed to include the higher executive functions and abstract thought yet so talking to them about things will not foster the close connection we desire. Storytelling that brings in their picture consciousness does.
#2. Love them the way they want to be loved.
Take time to figure out what their love language is and schedule something regular – even just once/month - where you are especially conscious about honouring that. My 15 year old’s love language is quality time & words of appreciation (and food lol!) so I take him out to dinner once a month – just me and him and in our time I am mindful of letting him know what I appreciate about him.
3. Be well yourself.
Children love to see their parents thriving. If you think about your own parents you’ll notice this might be true even still for you!
As moms we teach by how we are and when a mom is well she teaches wellness.
Self-care and self-love is getting lots of air-time these days! (-: Let it not turn into a ‘have to’ on the to do list. Self-love can take time to develop - just like any relationship. Find little ways in your day to nourish you and be curious as to what truly sparks joy and uplifts you. I have a lift list that helps . A hot cuppa Chaga tea to support my adrenals, a walk in nature, time with girlfriends, Epsom salt bath ... whatever warms your heart or gives you that home/cozy feeling will be your clues to the things that support nurturing a relationship of warmth and kindness with yourself. Our inner dialogue is a potent area where we can bring our kindness to our self as well with great effect.
Our adrenal health affects our mood, weight, energy and all our relationships so it’s worth keeping it healthy. I specialize in adrenal wellness in my practice as this is an area that is out of balance in some degree with 90% of the women I work with.
One of my favourite, yummy ways to support women’s wellness in my office is through the restorative practices of Yoga Nidra and Yoga Therapy. 30 minutes of Yoga Nidra is said to have the restorative equivalent of 4 hours of sleep.
Below is a Yoga Nidra meditation for you. It’s basically a ‘can’t-do-it-wrong’ lying down guided mindfulness meditation that I’ve found so helpful in restoring adrenal wellness and capacity to parent in a loving, peaceful way (i.e losing your %$#@ less and recovering connection faster when you do). (-:
Yoga Therapy is really about releasing tightness and softening, letting stuck emotions of anger, fear or shame move through and out. Flow is essential for wellness and these practices are decluttering us emotional and tension wise. (-:
Out of all the practices I do Yoga Therapy is the one that clients tell me helps them truly feel love for themselves. The first time I heard a client say that I didn’t associate that with Yoga Therapy itself but since then it’s not uncommon for clients to say that at the end of a session. I think any practice that supports someone to hold loving presence for the unmet/tender parts of their self will do this. I love how simple and easy it is and how obvious the shift isWant to next-level-replenish yourself and live more present and centered with your family?
Getting away for a retreat and reconnecting to You (yes that’s a capital Y!) is a powerful gift to give yourself and those you love.
Consider our November 23-30, 2019 retreat where we will be heading south and sunny for a week of truly next-level-replenishment at Xinalani Eco-Yoga Centre. The theme of the retreat is of coming home to ourselves (in love, calm, clarity, confidence, simplicity, beauty and joy). Yoga Nidra and Yoga Therapy sessions will be part of our time together.
To learn more about She Shines 2019: Eat. Play. Love. Retreat click link below.
To your health and happiness! (-: xo, Dr. Monika
Dr. Monika Herwig ND is a Naturopathic Doctor, Yoga Nidra and Yoga Therapy Facilitator, mother of 2, and a Trailblazer with Happy Healthy Women in Canmore, Alberta. She practices Mind-Body Medicine especially around Adrenal, Gut, Hormonal and Mental Health in her clinic and leads Wellness Workshops and Retreats locally and internationally. Dr. Monika supports heart centered women shine their light and share their gifts with the world without burning out. She is especially passionate about supporting moms and runs yearly Fairy Nature Camps for her clients’ children (and herself!). (403) 609-8385 to call to book or www.opentowellness.ca to book online.
