Finding my Zen

Most days after work I stick to the same routine, which includes commuting from work, picking up the kids, then home to eat, bathe, do homework, and get everyone to bed.  Once in a while we deviate from that and it is usually exhausting in the end.  Yesterday, I was invited (is a Facebook event invite considered an "invitation" these days?) to "DJ Yoga Party on the Beach" in Staten Island.  It was part of the Luna Free Yoga Series that was hosted by Karen Torrone (she runs 5 Boro Yoga, which is the first and only actual yoga studio that I have ever been to).

Well, I thought it might be fun, especially since they were going to have yoga for the kids so, I planned to go. I picked up the kids, stopped home to change and made a quick stop at the TJ Maxx.  Well, let's just say that shopping with kids is not fun, ever!  My daughter decided to test my patience, which ended in my putting down an adorable pink yoga tank for $10 that I soooo wanted  (fact: I still want it).  We went back to the car and then my son spilled a full bag of Wild Harvest Organic animal crackers all over my back seat (fact: I was equally upset about the mess and having no more crackers. They were so good!), but  I decided to keep going.  We ended up on the beach and I am so glad that we did.

The class was free, but they were taking donations for Food Fight, an organization that fights obesity in children and is trying to change the way Americans think about food.  I love this mission and I only wish I had more cash on me yesterday to give to its cause since they work in the NYC public schools.

I dropped my kids with one of the instructors who was doing downward dogs and frog poses with the kids and I set up my mat in viewing distance of them.  

The kids doing yoga right next to us.

 I jumped in at a warrior pose and got into my groove.  My groove is clumsy and not very flexible, but luckily there were instructors walking around to help.  The class was so much fun and left me surprisingly relaxed after a stressful afternoon.  This was in spite of the fact that during a series of wheel poses at the end, several spectators from the boardwalk were making me feel slightly awkward.  I took a deep breath and remembered that they are up there because they are afraid to do what I am doing.  And I am leading by example.  You're welcome gawking onlookers!  Hopefully, one of you will get the courage to start moving.  Do something!

My view

Naptime!

Afterward, I picked up my sand-covered children, a few Luna bars and we headed home for showers and bedtime feeling more Zen than earlier.

**Did you ever do yoga on a beach?  What makes you feel zen after a tough day?  Is there a secret to shopping with kids that I don't know?