Marathon Mom

Before you read any further, I’ll stop you from thinking this is going to be a story about how I ran a marathon.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  In fact, lately I’m having trouble squeezing in more than 30 minutes of running three times per week.  And with my pace, thirty minutes is [...]

Who Is The PranaMama?

Four little words — Who Is The PranaMama — appear prominently at the top, left side of this web site.  According to web gurus, this is the most visible area of a web site – a real estate gem on the World Wide Web.  The top left should be reserved for the most important information [...]

Copy Cat Pose

“…I was leaving behind a huge pile of unfolded laundry, a sink full of dishes, and a mound of tax paperwork to be done.   And, really, shouldn’t I be putting my education to use and getting some “real” work?   Why hadn’t I pitched any magazine articles lately?   Clearly, there were many things [...]

Breaking Out of The Comfort Zone

Facing the dilemma of what to write about tonight, it was going to be one of two possible topics.
One: a recent weekend getaway with friends and family to an area never before visited.  Two: a new recipe using tempeh, an ingredient never before introduced at my dinner table.
As I procastinated a bit, switching between the [...]

Sorry Boy Scouts…Being Prepared Sometimes Doesn’t Matter!

The last 48 hours have given me quite the yoga lesson. Yoga teaches us to be present…no regrets about the past, no worries about the future.  Learn to let go of the control, and let life happen.
Of the hundreds of thousands of us affected by Thursday night’s storm here in the Northeast, who really [...]

The Maze of Motherhood

It’s Friday afternoon.  Dozens of children are swirling about, running, jumping, laughing…Disney music blares as parents shout to be heard above all the commotion.  I am sitting in an aluminum and canvas chair, normally found poolside or in the beauty of a quiet garden on a summer afternoon, with nearly the same amount of peace.
On [...]

Hakuna Matata

My two-year-old has recently taken a liking to the Disney hit “Hakuna Matata” from The Lion King.  In my opinion, this catchy tune ranks third on the list of all-time most fun Disney songs, right behind “Under the Sea” from The Little Mermaid (#2), and “Supercalifragilisticexpealidocious” from Mary Poppins (#1).
While all three will put a [...]

Om My! Introduction to Yoga is a Breath of Fresh Air (The Boston Globe)

“She jumped feet first into yoga, and still hasn’t come down.”
Just in time for Yoga Day USA (Saturday, January 23rd), here is a great story about a beginner’s journey.  I hope it inspires you to be adventurous as you try yoga for the first time, or check out a different kind of class than [...]

Peace in Prana

How many times have you rushed the kids out the door, five minutes after you intended, hustled them in the car, buckled the car seats, jumped in the front seat, fumbled for your keys, only to realize you left them inside?  The stress of getting yourself and little ones ready for the day can make [...]

Get Smart (Active.com)

Ever heard of Mommy-brain?  That total lack of memory and concentration caused by constant multi-tasking and interruptions? Want to do something about it?  Get moving and take back your mind!
Check out this interesting article discussing a scientific research study that proves exercise can make us smarter.
Get Smart (Active.com)

In 2010, Listen to your Inner Child

It’s a new year.  A new beginning.  Time to reflect on your past and make plans for the future.  2009 brought The PranaMama to life, as I began to listen to my heart and do more for myself than ever before.   As a result, I am a happier mother than I was one year [...]

Christmas Presence

OK, I admit it.  For all of my thoughts about wellness and suggestions for ways we moms can make time for ourselves, this month finds me feeling like a failure.  I’m totally not living up to my own standards.
Three weeks ago I wrote about Tapas (discipline), and vowed to train for a New Year’s Day [...]

Be True to Yourself During the Holidays and Beyond

Everyday I make connections with my true self, constantly learning about who that sometimes crazed, sometimes serene person is.  My goal is to inspire and provoke the very same thoughts in moms everywhere.  This very blog, my personal project and first step into a brighter world, has made me think about myself and the world [...]

Reflections of Gratitude

If there is one thing that makes teaching yoga to children easy, it’s a holiday.  As a former kids instructor, I enjoyed lesson planning immensely, perhaps sometimes more than carrying out the lesson in the studio or classroom!  (It must have been the creative side of me eeking its way out to the world)  Nothing [...]

I Get By With a Little Help from My Friends

A 10 a.m. request to cover a story happening at 4 p.m.  My son’s delayed afternoon nap.  The car running with the keys locked inside.  A sudden stomach bug.  A construction detour.  A job interview.
These are just a few of the many occurrences which have led my friends and neighbors to my side within the [...]

Off the Mat Moms: Lesson 3 Asteya

Last year, my good friend Carrie was expecting a baby.  She and her husband John were over the moon with excitement, and couldn’t wait to dive head first into their new role as parents.   John comes from a big family, and as the first to marry, his parents had been asking bluntly “so when are [...]

Off the Mat Practice Makes us all Better Moms

Excuses, excuses…I could come up with at least a dozen right now.  Excuses of why I haven’t written a fresh post, why I haven’t been running as often, why my yoga mat is lonely in the dark basement which is my home practice area, why I haven’t cleaned my bathroom or put away my clean [...]

Run through the Rain!

A dear friend sent me this story today, and I wanted to pass it on to all of you.  (Because it was originally an email message, I feel it is the author’s intention to have it shared.)   It’s a wonderful lesson in awareness and living in the present moment, something I strive to do, [...]