I have a deep love of yoga; the rhythm as my body moves through my practice, the calming ritual of shavasana (but that is a story for another time).  Yoga has led me to crave a sense of ritual and rhythm in my everyday life. Moments and actions that center me and focus on my core values.

A few of my favorite rituals –

• Quiet, reflective mornings (yoga, prayer/ devotion and coffee)
• Saying quiet prayers or mantras to myself throughout the day as I complete tasks, such as cooking dinner and making beds
• Taking walks, clearing my head and simply listening to and observing nature
• Nighttime prayers with my children and giving them each “five good dreams” (a happy thought for each finger on my hand that then gently “places” the good dream on their forehead)
• Listening to music, relaxing with my husband and a good glass of wine

Cultivating joy in the everyday is at the heart of these rituals.  By building my days around intentional moments, I am creating a rhythm in my life.  It is so easy to be distracted and rushed, always busy.  By quieting the mind, even if just for a few moments each day, I am working towards a more balanced life.  Like everyone, I wear many hats: wife, mother, employee, chef, tutor, transportation director… These are roles I am grateful to have, my hope is to make choices each day that allow me to also ENJOY them.

As a new school year begins, our rituals and rhythms will change and adapt. I look forward to a more regular routine (the summer spontaneity has been great, but can only go on for so long). Creating new rituals for after school snack and homework time is a focus – finding a way to make it more peaceful and less stressful.

Creating rituals – everyday habits that can be made more intentional, more sacred- allows us to feel a sense of control and purpose in our days.  The daily to do list can be overwhelming, but guiding each day with a few key rituals helps to create a more joyful life.