No Place Like Home

Ahhhhh, January.  It’s finally here.  After months of what feels like non-stop activity, there’s something so nurturing about the cold, dark days of January.  We retreat inward, taking time and space to reflect on the previous year and look ahead to all that can be.  We take comfort in the warmth of our homes and we slow down just enough to really enjoy time with our loved ones.  We nourish our bodies and feed our souls with hearty soups and stews, and we feel gratitude for morning light, no matter how late it makes its appearance each day.

Until recently, being at home used to feel draining to me.  I was the at-home parent with three small kids, working as a freelancer between playdates, peanut butter sandwiches and rounds of CandyLand.   But now that I am working a good part of the week outside of my home, I savor every opportunity I have to eat, sleep, work and play in this sacred space.  True, there are toys on every surface, and yes, it’s often so noisy in my kitchen that I fear passers-by know exactly how high I count before the dreaded time-out.  But there is something so peaceful about being able to stay right where you belong, especially in the cold, Maine winter when icy roads and snow squalls can easily throw plans for a loop.

This fall, I began practicing yoga at home for the first time in quite a while.  I took a month-long workshop to learn the Mysore practice (which follows the Ashtanga sequence but is self-led) at a local studio, but then took my practice home in order to make it easier and more affordable to include yoga in my life.  I love rolling out of bed and onto my mat in the early morning hours before the sun, or my family, is even up.   It took some time to memorize the sequence, and I don’t always have the same amount of time to devote to practice, but I am more calm and focused each day I begin this way, and I love that I don’t have to go anywhere!

Developing my own yoga practice has been a goal of mine for a long time.  This year, I resolve to get on my mat at least 3 times per week, even if only for 15 minutes of sun salutions, a meditative pranayama session or a restorative sequence.  And on those days when I may need some extra motivation, the folks at Gaiam have put together a fantastic online resource for yoga, wellness and beyond.

Gaiam TV is an affordable way to access hundreds of yoga, fitness and other inspirational videos, and to learn from the best instructors in the nation.  Developing a home practice and staying in shape has never been easier!  I’ve read about Seane Corn in Yoga Journal, and once heard Deepak Chopra speak at a conference, but never would I dream of having these, along with hundreds of other instructors, authors, doctors and spiritual leaders in my own personal library of over 2,000 videos.   In addition to yoga, I’m really psyched about the fitness classes, such as Power Kickboxing with Patricia Moreno, the wellness offerings such as weight loss and nutrition, relationships and personal growth,  and the many, many pilates offerings (my nine-month-old is cute, but he sure did a number on my abs!).  There are courses on ayurveda, documentaries on spiritual leaders and current health issues, and even a video on how to create peace in the home or workplace using Feng Shui.

I’m amazed at all that is available at Gaiam TV, and as a New Year’s Treat, I’m giving away a free 3-month subscription to the site!  To enter, post your wellness-related goals for the new year and explain how Gaiam TV would help you accomplish these goals.    And don’t worry…if you don’t win, Gaiam TV offers a free 10-day trial, so you can see for yourself how the site can support you and your physical, spiritual and emotional wellness.

The winner will be announced here on January 31st.   To enter, you must comment on thepranamama.com itself (Facebook comments are always welcome, but will not be accepted as entries in this giveaway).  Good Luck, PranaMamas!  And here’s to 2012 – a year of wellness for all.

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