How does one stay fully connected and present each moment of each day?

For years I worked on developing my one-pointed awareness and mindfulness through asana, mediation and Buddhist tantric practices, trying to find some sort of deeper understanding of the nature of reality. Single with a stable job and no kids, I had the luxury of time and money to devote to my “personal development.”

Now, as a Domestic Yogi with two young children and many demands on my time, I don’t have the luxury of time to spend on diving down deep into such practices. I am still obsessed with awakening the divine within, but now I am more concerned with living as consciously and compassionately as possible.

The tricky part of being a Domestic Yogi is bringing these “deeper truths” that I’ve unearthed in my previous practices into real life and living them each moment to moment.

As the full-time carer of small children, sometimes I don’t even have the luxury of being able to think a complete thought in my own head during the day. Children have a natural way of forcing you, ready or not, into each moment. The hard part is staying mindful.

A friend recently asked me what yoga means to me. Before I had children, I would have answered the question much differently. Running off and meditating in a cave and isolating yourself is important so that realizations can be attained—but now I see that it is equally important to share such wisdom with others. To be a ‘living example’ of the Truth.

Yoga, to me, means constant connection to one’s inner truth or inner divinity (which of course is the same as universal truth), while still remaining grounded and functioning in this world—especially to benefit others. As a Domestic Yogi, staying fully connected yet available and present is key. Yoga isn’t just an asana practice, it is an eightfold path and way of living.

But how does one stay fully connected and present each moment of each day? Ahh, my friends, that is the path and the practice of the Domestic Yogi!

In my posts to follow, I will explore a few ways to help other inspiring Domestic Yogis stay centered, connected and present. And better yet, how to do it while being present and playful with your loved-ones! I will share with you my experiences and thoughts on right mindfulness and concentration, compassion and creativity, and how these things help you drop into the moment and be.

Samantha King, known in the blog world as The Domestic Yogi, is a chanting, vibrating, vinyasa-practicing, yogi-Buddhist-mom. She has happily (in an unattached way) found herself sitting in zazen with the Zen Buddhists, enduring 10-day long silent vipassana meditation retreats, powering through some crazy pretzel asanas avec bandhas and breath. Under the guidance of her lama, she has dove full force into the tantric practices of vajrayana (Tibetan) Buddhism. But that was all before kids. Now she supports her husband at the Lakota Sundance and their other ceremonies, wipes up spit and tries to teach her two kids to value peace, the earth and respect for all things living. Samantha teaches ashtanga-vinyasa yoga, and has found a new love in teaching children and teens yoga.