Kate Arends

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It’s 11 am on a Saturday and the kids have been particularly challenging today.

August is mad that Bennett is crawling into "his space" and I can’t say I blame him. Watching my toddler learn to control his impulses has been surprisingly eye-opening for me. I truly believe we have a toddler in all of us that needs to feel in control of our space, our body, and what will happen in our lives next. Yet as we all know, this kind of control is triggered by the deeply disappointing truth that nothing is in our control, aside from how we decide to react to the chaos.

Through seeing this truth manifest in my son and his totally warranted displeasure in learning there are rules and limits and boundaries to set for ourselves, I’ve come to reassess my own relationship with boundaries. It’s something I’ve struggled with my whole life and in an odd way, I get a little thrill from subjecting myself to chaos through avoidance, lack of planning, and self-sabotage.

I’ve made a lot of changes the past couple months to feel better in my body and dedicating time, space, and mindset to finding quiet during the day has been a huge part of this effort. In a world that loves to talk about self-care as a commodity, finding headspace is free. While the act itself is free it is not always easy. Establishing a ritual is the first big hurdle. Dedicating a space in my house to practice also removed a huge barrier to entry for me, too.

I’ve pulled together some practical tips for creating a special space for your practice at home:

1. Find a sunny corner in your house. Most of us do not get enough vitamin D, even when we are outside in the winter! Connecting with the sun, feeling it on your skin, and experiencing an overall feeling of warmth can help bring your blood pressure down and find a way to connect with what's going on with your body at that moment.
2. Bring in plants and other natural elements. Plants not only clean the air and add oxygen, but research has also shown caring for plants and gardening is therapeutic and can decrease blood pressure and reduce stress. My favorite (almost impossible to kill) plants are Snake plants, English ivy, Peace lily, Philodendron, Spider plant, and Aloe Vera.
3. Keep cozy pillows and blankets nearby. I like to practice my Savasana with a pillow behind my head and a blanket covering my body after I’ve spent time moving and opening up stiff areas (usually my heart, hips, and upper back).
4. Incorporate essential oils as part of your practice. I run an essential oil diffuser in our room almost every night and it was a game changer to incorporate it into my yoga practice at home. My favorite combination is Frankincense, Ylang Ylang, and Sweet Orange.
5. Use guided tools like Headspace to learn new techniques to help quiet your mind. It is one of the harder skills to master so it is important to remember it might be a little uncomfortable to sit quietly. Even a few moments of active meditation can be as beneficial as a 20-minute nap!