The Yoga of Parenting: An Online Yoga and Meditation Workshop Series
Six live Sunday sessions from 8-10pm EST
June 28-August 2
(with an option to join the video recordings if you cannot join live)
Parenting is one of the hardest jobs in the world and it is both exhausting and overwhelming. The challenges are magnified in this time of Covid-19, when we are home 24/7 with our child(ren) with no external support and when we have to play a larger role in our child(ren)'s education. This is in addition to all the other stresses and worries that we are dealing with at this very unusual time.
Although we want the best for our child(ren) and we crave good connections with them, our parenting strategies often just seem to cause frustration and anxiety for everyone. With little guidance in our society about how to parent effectively, many of us end up yelling, reprimanding, threatening, and/or lecturing our kids on a consistent basis. These techniques tend to aggravate our relationships with our children, rather than strengthening them.
Through the lens of yoga philosophy, this workshop series not only offers practical tools to support letting go of the parenting patterns that do not serve our relationship with our child(ren), but also introduces new tools for more effective parenting, connection, and more peaceful cohabitation. We will also practice yoga, breathwork, meditation, and journaling, all of which can help us to hone more patience, reflection, and kindness in our everyday lives.
Although we want the best for our child(ren) and we crave good connections with them, our parenting strategies often just seem to cause frustration and anxiety for everyone. With little guidance in our society about how to parent effectively, many of us end up yelling, reprimanding, threatening, and/or lecturing our kids on a consistent basis. These techniques tend to aggravate our relationships with our children, rather than strengthening them.
Through the lens of yoga philosophy, this workshop series not only offers practical tools to support letting go of the parenting patterns that do not serve our relationship with our child(ren), but also introduces new tools for more effective parenting, connection, and more peaceful cohabitation. We will also practice yoga, breathwork, meditation, and journaling, all of which can help us to hone more patience, reflection, and kindness in our everyday lives.
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Below is a summary of each workshop: Module 1: Why is parenting so hard and how can yoga guide our parenting? Sunday June 28 (8-10pm EST) In this opening workshop, we will reflect on our biggest parenting challenges, we will consider the key concepts of yoga philosophy that apply to parenting, and we will learn about what kind of parenting styles borrow from the traditions of yoga philosophy. . Module 2: Why am I triggered? Looking inwardly at our internal wounds from childhood and how they impact our parenting Sunday July 5 (8-10pm EST) The way we were raised and the insecurities we learned during childhood influence both how we parent our children and how we interact with our loved ones. These childhood experiences affect how we are triggered and how we react when things do not go according to plan. Additionally, societal norms influence the expectations we place on our children. We will explore the patterns we get stuck in as well as techniques to help break unconscious, negative cycles. |
Daniella, the workshop instructor, with her family. She was always considered the "difficult" child and was living up to that label in this photo (she is on the left).
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Module 3: Emotional intelligence: How to deal with our own emotions and how to support our children when they have big feelings
Sunday July 12 (8-10pm EST)
Most of us didn't learn emotional intelligence or how to deal with our emotions effectively. Instead, we simply stuff our feelings away without processing them. In this module, we will practice productive engagement with our own emotions rather than ignoring or denying them, so that we can avoid dumping these unprocessed feelings onto our children or other loved ones. We will also learn how to support our child(ren)'s emotional outbursts and how to "hold space" for them and their big feelings. Holding space is the practice of being there for someone without judging, criticizing, or commenting on their emotions or taking their behavior personally.
Module 4: Why is my child behaving like that? Compassionately looking at situations through our child(ren)'s eyes
Sunday July 19 (8-10pm EST)
When our children or other loved ones are behaving “badly,” we often take it personally instead of looking at these occurrences from their perspectives. We will consider our children's needs and what they are trying to communicate through their behavior. We will also think about how our children might view us as parents and what kind of unintentional messages our parenting communicates to them. Understanding the underlying causes of our children’s behavior will help us to find compassion for them, even in their darkest moments.
Module 5: The power of connection: How to connect more with your kids
Sunday July 26 (8-10pm EST)
This module will focus on how to be more present and mindful in our relationships, how to listen and communicate more consciously with our children and how to lead by example instead of lecturing with words. We will also play with some creative ways to engage with children when they are resistant, and how to respond to them with connection in various scenarios that might be challenging.
Module 6: Putting it all together
Sunday August 2 (8-10pm EST)
We will review what we have learned, identify areas of improvement in parent-child relationships during the 6-weeks of classes, answer additional questions, and discuss areas that remain challenging. In addition, participants will receive resources that will help them to continue to learn, grow, and feel supported as parents going forward.
Each module will be two-hours in length and will include some combination of yoga philosophy, movement, breathwork and/or meditation. The great thing about engaging in these materials in a weekly workshop format, is that you will be able to practice the content of each module during the week and you will be able to report back and/or ask questions about anything that arises in between sessions.
Sunday July 12 (8-10pm EST)
Most of us didn't learn emotional intelligence or how to deal with our emotions effectively. Instead, we simply stuff our feelings away without processing them. In this module, we will practice productive engagement with our own emotions rather than ignoring or denying them, so that we can avoid dumping these unprocessed feelings onto our children or other loved ones. We will also learn how to support our child(ren)'s emotional outbursts and how to "hold space" for them and their big feelings. Holding space is the practice of being there for someone without judging, criticizing, or commenting on their emotions or taking their behavior personally.
Module 4: Why is my child behaving like that? Compassionately looking at situations through our child(ren)'s eyes
Sunday July 19 (8-10pm EST)
When our children or other loved ones are behaving “badly,” we often take it personally instead of looking at these occurrences from their perspectives. We will consider our children's needs and what they are trying to communicate through their behavior. We will also think about how our children might view us as parents and what kind of unintentional messages our parenting communicates to them. Understanding the underlying causes of our children’s behavior will help us to find compassion for them, even in their darkest moments.
Module 5: The power of connection: How to connect more with your kids
Sunday July 26 (8-10pm EST)
This module will focus on how to be more present and mindful in our relationships, how to listen and communicate more consciously with our children and how to lead by example instead of lecturing with words. We will also play with some creative ways to engage with children when they are resistant, and how to respond to them with connection in various scenarios that might be challenging.
Module 6: Putting it all together
Sunday August 2 (8-10pm EST)
We will review what we have learned, identify areas of improvement in parent-child relationships during the 6-weeks of classes, answer additional questions, and discuss areas that remain challenging. In addition, participants will receive resources that will help them to continue to learn, grow, and feel supported as parents going forward.
Each module will be two-hours in length and will include some combination of yoga philosophy, movement, breathwork and/or meditation. The great thing about engaging in these materials in a weekly workshop format, is that you will be able to practice the content of each module during the week and you will be able to report back and/or ask questions about anything that arises in between sessions.
What you will gain from this workshop series:
Gift yourself with a a well-deserved weekly break from parenting and other responsibilities. Pamper yourself with yoga and meditation, time and space for yourself, and journaling. Taking care of yourself will help you to become a better parent. In addition, reconsider traditional parenting strategies, and/or those that have been passed down from previous generations and become a more conscious parent. Pause, reflect, and learn how to approach family life with more presence, compassion, patience, and connection.
Gift yourself with a a well-deserved weekly break from parenting and other responsibilities. Pamper yourself with yoga and meditation, time and space for yourself, and journaling. Taking care of yourself will help you to become a better parent. In addition, reconsider traditional parenting strategies, and/or those that have been passed down from previous generations and become a more conscious parent. Pause, reflect, and learn how to approach family life with more presence, compassion, patience, and connection.
About your instructor: Daniella Gould
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I used to be a mum who yelled and threatened my son (now 12 years old) because this was the behavior that was modelled to me. However, I always felt unsettled by my behavior and how this behavior might affect my son. In fact, the way I treated my son led me to criticize and doubt myself and my ability to be a good parent. This frustration, in turn, led to feelings of more anger toward myself and my family, creating a vicious cycle. Once I made a concerted effort to apply the philosophy of yoga to my parenting, my approach to how I interact with my son, and how he responds, has changed. He feels more listened to and appreciated, and he has become much more helpful. Of course, family life still has its ups and downs, and I continue to learn every day. Incorporating yoga philosophy and principles has made me happier about my parenting approach. I’m a more confident and kind-hearted mother, and my connection with my son has grown.
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Aside from being a mother, I own Santosa Yoga and Health in Condado, Puerto Rico. I teach public and private yoga and meditation classes, workshops, and retreats. I like to incorporate yoga philosophy into all my work to help my students navigate the challenges of life. Parenting is often a struggle for many of us, so I am excited to offer this very practical training with guidelines to help really transform your relationship with your child(ren) whatever their age. Please come and join me from the comfort of your own home to check out some parenting techniques that might just be life changing for you and for your kid(s).
What people are saying about Daniella and Santosa Yoga and Health retreats:
“This retreat has surpassed my wildest hopes! This is the happiest I’ve been in a long time, and it solved some issues I’ve been stuck on” October 2019
“I really appreciate your calm and balanced approach to our topics” October 2019
“Thank you for leading by example” October 2019
“You being you inspires others to be better versions of themselves” February 2019
“Thank you for being you – you continue to teach me not to be so hard on myself. I appreciate you 😊” February 2019
“Thank you for providing such a stimulating environment giving me the time and stimulation to reflect. Much needed” February 2019
Cost:
The workshops will include:
- parenting workshops;
- yoga sessions;
- breathwork and meditation sessions and guidance on how to breathe and meditate;
- time to reflect, journal, and share experiences with other parents;
- question and answer sessions;
- practice exercises;
- connection with a community of other parents who want to find better connection with their child(ren)
- a resource list.
The cost for this 12 hour course is just $135 per individual or $200 per couple.
A sliding scale and scholarships are available if this is not doable.
Payment: Venmo, ATH, or Paypal to Daniella (310-227-9451) and send a text to the same number to ensure that payment has been received. Please note that payments are non-refundable, but they are transferable.
Please let me know if you need a partial scholarship as everyone is welcome.
These workshops will be practical, interactive, fun, and down to earth. They wil help you with your relationship with yourself, your child(ren). and with other people in your life. Open and applicable to parents with children of all ages, but you don’t need to have children in order to attend this retreat. Parents-to-be, and people who want to improve other relationships by reflecting on how they were parented, are all welcome. These workshops are suitable for all adults, from complete beginners to advanced students of yoga.
