Hi Friends! I’m really excited for Wild-Hearted Wisdom Volume 1: Margeaux. (If you want a quick catch up on what “WHW” is all about, check that out here.)
Margeaux is a sweet, sweet friend of mine that I met through my iMoms group at Elmbrook Church. You can find her goodness scattered throughout my blog, particularly here and here. Margeaux is cool. Like really cool. She’s crafty, witty, smart, insightful, thoughtful and is REALLY good in the kitchen. I call her gourmet and apparently it’s some sort of inside joke with her sister, so she really gets a kick out of that. Margeaux is super genuine, calm and collected and is such a great friend. Mark and I have enjoyed spending time with her and her husband, and Maven loves their son Miles (so do we!). I could go on and on, but I’ll let her take over and tell us a little more about herself.
M: Hi! I’m Margeaux. My husband Zach and I just celebrated our third anniversary and we have a 1 ½ year old son named Miles. I grew up in Iowa and met Zach while he was attending chiropractic school in my hometown. We moved back to his home state of WI after we got married and I’ve come to love the area. I stay home with Miles and consider myself a Jill of all trades, spending my extra time on a variety of hobbies (some of which earn money). These include writing, sewing, blogging, yoga, running, reading, cooking and baking. L: See, I told you she’s cool!
L: Okay, I love that each member of my tribe is unique. Will you let us in on a little secret about yourself?
M: I’m obsessed with true crime. Forensic Files, The First 48, true crime podcasts, and those pulpy nonfiction paperbacks about serial killers – I burn through them. My current favorite is the podcast Sword and Scale. L: As an aside, I’m a wimp and don’t watch scary movies {and am not sure if I’ve ever read a true crime book} so when I heard that Margeaux and Zach watched a horror flick on their honeymoon I just smiled and thought to myself “opposites are good”☺️.
L: A few more questions: Favorite color? Green. Favorite food? Probably cherries and apricots. Favorite hobby? Sewing (at the moment ?). I love to know what people are reading to get a better sense of who they are. What’s currently on your nightstand? Best Food Writing 2015 and Fat, Sugar, Salt: How The Food Giants Tricked Us. Love this! Such a foodie!
Okay, take your pick: Motherhood, Health, Hospitality or Style? What do you want to share about? Health! Specifically, “Tips for Cultivating a Yoga Practice”. Yes, yes, yes!
M: Yoga has helped me in many ways throughout pregnancy and motherhood. Each class presents a low-pressure opportunity to practice qualities which make parenting easier – presence, positive self-talk, patience, endurance, and physical and mental strength and flexibility. During the last few years I’ve gone from one self-guided practice per week to a studio or home class 5-7 days a week. However, I know all too well that making time for yoga is a struggle, and that my situation (staying at home with one child) is much more conducive to practicing yoga than some other moms’ circumstances. Far worse, criticism, expectation, and even fear can creep into yoga and make it unfulfilling even when you do have time for it.
Here are five ways I’ve discovered through trial and error which can help make yoga both doable and beneficial.
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Find the perfect resources for you and your unique needs.
The internet and library offer a wide variety of yoga resources. I can’t tell you what’s best for you because each of us need something different from our yoga. Yoga poses (asanas), asana sequences, and breathing exercises can be found in library books, magazines, DVDS, and online videos (both paid and free) – and of course, at local studios and community yoga events.
The best way to find your niche is trying many options and keeping a practice journal. I like to jot down what I did (video, studio class, made-up flow) after each practice and how I felt. Looking back over my journal provides information on where I’m at and where to go next when I become forgetful (a common occurrence!).
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Get to a studio or public class as often as possible.
I think it’s important to get involved in your local yoga community as you can. Even if it’s just once a week (or less often), “escaping” to a studio to enjoy the guidance of a teacher and the camaraderie of other adults is indispensable. Many area studios offer deeply discounted intro specials, making it possible for students to try a wide variety of disciplines and styles. I know it’s hard to get away but it’s worth making happen for your own sake.
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Love yourself and your body and don’t compare your practice to anyone else’s.
Yoga-related media has exploded online in the past few years (particularly on Instagram) and it’s a double-edged sword. On one hand, “yoga selfies” can provide inspiration and I love seeing yogis share their art with the world. On the other hand, they can make yoga seem more like contortionism and acrobatics than a mind-body practice and consequently alienate the average yogi. Pay attention to how media influences you and edit accordingly. Use your practice as an opportunity to consciously (and perhaps even audibly!) express love, acceptance, and support towards yourself and your body.
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Don’t discount the impact of even twenty minutes of yoga on a regular basis.
Consistency is more important than quantity when it comes to yoga. Just keep it simple and try to get on your mat every day, even if it’s just to breathe for a few minutes or lay quietly without phones or kids for a moment. Creating the habit is half the battle.
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Focus on breath and let go of the physical asanas.
I spent a long time obsessing over poses and expecting myself to practice yoga in an “impressive” or “advanced” way. It’s actually caused me to dread yoga on occasions – basically, I was completely missing the point. My favorite practices are when I listen to my breath and let the poses follow – or not! Resting and taking breaks during yoga in order to let your breath come back into focus is a skill that takes time to develop. We’re so used to “pushing” through hard workouts. When yoga becomes about breath and a positive mindset, the asanas unfold along a natural and healthy timeline.
Yoga is the perfect complement to motherhood – it can be done anywhere, with any amount of time, and in any state of fitness. It cultivates presence and self-love, two indispensable qualities for caretakers of any kind.
L: Margeaux, this was beautiful! Thank you so, so much for sharing. You offered so many great pieces of advice and wisdom. This serves as a good reminder for me to work on increasing the frequency of my practice, and I definitely want to start a practice journal {something I hadn’t thought of doing before!} I also greatly appreciate that you touched on the topic of comparison. {And self-love} If you read my recent post about my lack of confidence, you’ll be happy to know my collaborative response regarding strategies to overcome that will be up next week! Your words of encouragement in that area are greatly appreciated.
One more thing before you go. I want to know: What is the best mom advice you’ve ever received, or do you have an inspiring thought you want to share with others?
M: My mom gave me so much freedom in terms of making messes while experimenting in our kitchen, spreading my craft projects out on our dining room table, getting dirty, and climbing potentially hazardous things. I’m not sure I’d enjoy being creative as much as I do today if she hadn’t sacrificed her space and desire for order. As someone who tends towards perfectionism I try to keep this in mind in caring for Miles. Creativity is a priceless gift my mom facilitated for me and I want to do the same for my kids.
L: Ah, I love that! Fostering free play, imaginations, creativity and experimentation is priceless.
Sincere gratitude again to Margeaux for sharing with me so that I may share with you! If you want to find more of her cool vibe and even taste some of her delicious recipes, check her out over at MargeauxVittoria.com.
Namaste.
If you’re interested in more on yoga, check out: