em·pow·er·ment
əmˈpouərmənt/
noun
authority or power given to someone to do something.
the process of becoming stronger and more confident, especially in shaping one’s life and claiming one’s rights.
Purpose: To empower parents with the knowledge and confidence to tap into their innate ability to uniquely nurture their children, while trading fear for trust and peace, and confusion for clarity and truth.
The journey of empowered parenting entails:
- Acquiring knowledge
- Cultivating trust in oneself and The Divine
- Building confidence
- Practice
In her book, Living Your Yoga, Judith Hanson Lasater concludes each chapter with a section called “Mantras for Daily Living,” in which she lists a few mantras that relate to the theme of that chapter. Almost every single one is applicable to those on the path of empowered parenting, but here are just a few that particularly resonate with me as a mother:
- I am my own authority.
- My life is a work in progress.
- All the answers are within me.
- I am whole.
- Life is practice, practice is life.
- I give myself fully to each moment.
- There is enough time.
- I am perfect just as I am.
- I have the courage to act from my heart and the compassion to stay open.
- Living fully in each moment is a radical form of courage.
- I have compassion for myself. I have compassion for others.
- When I act from the heart of compassion, I always know what to do.
- Control is the greatest illusion.
- What can I let go of right now?
- I choose the life that I have right now.
- Everything is moving at the proper speed.
- Things are as they are, and I have a choice about how I react to them.
- I embrace change and let go of fear.
- What can I be grateful for right now?
- There is always enough.
- When in doubt, tell the truth.
Resources for Further Reading
Recommended books:
The Breathing Book: Good Health and Vitality Through Essential Breath Work by Donna Farhi
Living Your Yoga: Finding the Spiritual in Everyday Life by Judith Hanson Lasater
The Healing Secrets of Food: A Practical Guide for Nourishing Body, Mind, and Soul by Deborah Kesten
The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind by Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson
Your Self-Confident Baby: How to Encourage Your Child’s Natural Abilities — From the Very Start by Magda Gerber
Elevating Child Care: A Guide to Respectful Parenting by Janet Lansbury
Yoga books for kids:
Good Morning Yoga: A Pose-by-Pose Wake Up Story by Mariam Gates
Good Night Yoga: A Pose-by-Pose Bedtime Story by Mariam Gates
Online articles:
This school replaced detention with meditation. The results are stunning.
Krystal Barschig 