Life as a mum is hard enough. It can feel like everybody relies on you for everything, and, to be honest, most of the time, it feels like that because it’s true. That’s why it is so important for mums, in particular, to carve out a little time for themselves. Sure, you could spend it catching up on the latest box set or having a quiet glass of wine, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

However, if you really want to get the maximum out of your ‘me-time, then it’s best to do something with it that will genuinely benefit you. Yoga might sound a little intimidating if you’re not exactly a gym bunny, but it is surprisingly easy to get into, and you will feel the results almost immediately.

Start With The Basics

Anyone who’s had a go at pilates, gymnastics, or really any basic stretching has likely done the cat-cow pose before. This simple stretch is a great way to release tension in your shoulders and neck and allow you to really fill your lungs with air. Get onto all fours and push your belly down and chest up and forward, raising your gaze right up to the sky.

As you do this, breathe really deeply and feel the stretch right across your chest, this is the ‘cat’ section of your pose. Next, push the air right out of your lungs, arch your back and push away from the earth with your hands and knees. You’ll feel a stretch all the way down your spine as you let your head hang low. Just a couple of these stretches can help to keep your back supple, and they can form the basis of a simple yoga practice.

It Doesn’t Have To Take Hours.

Next up is building your practice. It’s super important to remember that you don’t need to find an extra hour every day for this. This five-minute filler yoga practice was designed for poker players, but it works equally well for anyone who spends much of their working day sat down. The exercises are gentle on your joints, but if you find yourself in any pain, stop the movement and go back to the one you can complete without pain.

Whilst five minutes probably isn’t quite long enough to feel the full benefits of your new practice; it can be useful to help you feel grounded during stressful moments. If you manage to sneak in two or three of these in a day, then you’ll really start to notice a difference in your flexibility and maybe even your mood.

Brave A Class

Once you’ve got the poses from your five-minute practice down to a tee, you could think about giving a class a go. Whilst many of us feel intimidated by the image of a perfectly toned yogi in lycra, the truth is, most people who attend yoga classes are just like you. Some will be slim, some will have wobbly bits, some won’t have had time to shave their legs, and nobody cares! Yogis are a very accepting bunch of people, so be brave and sign yourself up for a session. You’ll learn lots about how to improve your posture, and you’ll likely learn some new poses too. Having a second pair of knowledgeable eyes to watch how you perform your poses can be really helpful for catching any beginner’s mistakes before they become bad habits.

Make It A Habit

One of the hardest things about making a healthy new change is getting it to stick. Even if your yoga practise leaves you feeling rejuvenated and ready for anything, there’ll be days where you just can’t be bothered. Although one day now and again is fine, if you start to make a habit of skipping yoga, then before long, you’ll have stopped altogether. That’s why it is so important to make yoga a habit. The best way to make a habit is to build it into a part of your routine. If you always have a cup of tea after work, then before you have that tea, do five minutes of yoga. You can build it into brushing your teeth, your evening glass of wine, or whatever you know won’t change.