Benefits of meditation and effects on parent-child bonding More and more people are incorporating meditation into their daily lives. The benefits are obvious, so it's worth giving it a try. Regular meditation isn't just a wonderful way for adults to connect with themselves, calm the mind, and receive new ideas – children also love the inner peace and tranquility that can come from children's meditation. If you have children of your own and want to enjoy harmonious family time and strengthen your parent-child bond, be sure to read the tips in this article. Meditation and its effects on the family and parent-child bond If you've already tried meditation, you know it has many benefits. Of course, that's also true when mom and dad meditate. They feel more relaxed, calm, and creative. This automatically affects the children. When adults are connected to themselves, they radiate more calm , which has a positive effect on interpersonal relationships within the family. If children can organize their thoughts well and recognize their own feelings , this has a positive impact on the parent-child bond. Children also learn to name their emotions and feelings and deal with them meaningfully. Shared meditative activities can promote cohesion among family members and strengthen feelings of love, joy and connection. Why are children's meditations so important? The earlier children begin meditating, the easier it is for them to maintain a connection with themselves. Perhaps you yourself experience the constant distraction caused by intense external stimuli. Your own voice is barely heard, and this has a profound impact on your life and family dynamics. However, if children learn from an early age to sit on their own meditation cushion daily or regularly and sink deeply into themselves, this has a positive effect on their own thoughts and feelings . Family life becomes significantly calmer and more relaxed with well-balanced children and adults. Your breathing and your system can be calmed through deep, focused breathing . This also has a beneficial effect on your well-being. If you're anxious about exams, for example, it's crucial to sit down for a moment beforehand, breathe deeply, and let your insecurities pass. If your child has difficulty concentrating , soothing meditation exercises can be helpful. Studies show that meditation improves concentration and thus reduces the stress of doing homework. Children suffering from headaches, stomach problems, or tension often find relief by regularly sitting on the cushion and meditating. If symptoms persist or are otherwise unusual, be sure to consult a doctor. What do you need to consider when meditating with children? There are some important tips that make getting started with meditation much easier. 1. Duration of meditation Remember that a child obviously can't sit still as long as an adult. Therefore, you should only plan a few minutes for meditation time. Depending on the child's age, this could be five minutes, for example. If the child is very young, try two or three minutes. Afterward, you can try another meditation activity together. 2. Quiet place To help your child truly unwind, it's important that you provide a quiet space. It's best if you and your child set up a spot in your apartment or house that's just for meditation. This will help them focus during the meditation practice. Pay attention to: no distractions (no TV, no cell phone, etc.) gentle music that relaxes If there is street noise, close the windows and ventilate beforehand instead (fresh air is very important) Make important, essential to-dos in advance so that your offspring can let go more easily 3. Be a role model Children learn by watching, so if you meditate regularly, it will be much easier for your child to get started. Therefore, you can experiment a little yourself and gradually involve your child in the meditation practice. This is how your meditation routine can develop. 4. Talk openly about what you are doing now To help your child feel safe, you should be clear about what you're about to do. Explain what changes will occur through meditation and the exact process. This way, your child can feel comfortable and look forward to spending time together. Which meditations are suitable for children? Children tend to get bored very quickly, so you have to come up with some ideas to achieve the necessary relaxation through meditation. 1. When boring sitting still doesn't work... There are kids who can barely sit still without doing something, and that's perfectly fine—they can meditate too. It requires a little more creativity and some ideas for effective games. You have several options: You can sit down with the child , if this brings about improvement, and listen to a gentle meditation or sounds. You can try movement meditation with your children while walking or running in nature . With children, meditation should always be fun and enjoyable, so it's worth taking a playful approach. Mandalas are a good idea, for example, and are often a good alternative to mindless sitting still, even for very active children. Print out a mandala or buy a mandala book and have some pencils ready. When your child starts coloring the individual shapes, a state of relaxation will automatically occur. You can choose other images; they don't necessarily have to be mandalas. While you both color, you can listen to gentle music or enjoy the silence. In addition, other craft activities can have a meditative effect on older children and strengthen mindfulness, such as crocheting, knitting, doing puzzles, etc. Meditation with stones from the forest or garden : For this, you find lots of stones and sit in a quiet place. There, your child can feel the stones and ask themselves questions like: What shape is the stone? How does it feel? This mindfulness exercise ensures that your child is fully focused on the moment and can let go of the carousel of thoughts in their head. 2. Fantasy journeys If your child prefers to relax without any active activity, you can guide them through a guided fantasy journey or play a meditation journey from the internet. Active listening helps your child focus on the here and now and let other thoughts drift away. If the instructions are accompanied by calming music, relaxation can be even more pronounced—especially if you're lying on a comfortable mat . Afterwards, you can discuss your experiences and share your observations. The advantage of this practice is that with a little practice, kids can let go more and more. It also promotes creativity, mindful listening, and a sense of connection within the family (when everyone listens to the story together). If your child wants a little variety, special children's meditations are perfect for promoting peace of mind, learning self-love, and relaxing more. In this context, you should make sure that the child learns to breathe deeply through a shared breathing practice. Do you meditate with your children? If so, what are your favorite routines and how has this impacted family life?

Your new yoga mat is slipping: What can you do? You love your yoga mat; the color and material feel really nice. The only problem is that it slips. This is definitely annoying and needs to be fixed. There are various solutions, which we'll discuss below, so you can soon practice your asanas again with joy and motivation. You'll find all the important information and tips in this article. Enjoy! The mat slips: What to do if the problem exists from the beginning? If your newly purchased yoga mat is slippery, you should definitely take the following tips to heart. Even though your mat is labeled as non-slip, you feel a lack of grip during your exercises. This may be because the non-slip properties develop gradually. The reason is this: Some materials retain a certain amount of residual moisture on the surface after production. This makes the mat less stable and less slippery. The good news is that this dissipates with use, allowing you to perform your yoga poses with increasing stability. This problem is common with PVC mats. With regular use and cleaning of the surface, slipping almost disappears automatically. If your mat is made of a different material, you can definitely contact the manufacturer. They will explain why this is the case, and if it is a defect, you can certainly get a new mat quickly and easily. For many yogis, excessive sweating on their hands or feet also causes the mat to lose its grip. You can help with this, too. Use a soft towel and place it on the mat. You'll see that it absorbs your sweat and keeps the mat firmly in place. This is something you should keep in mind when buying new mats! Are you unsure which mat is right for you? You should learn about the different materials and their properties to make sure you choose the right one. To avoid slipping in the first place, you should choose ones made of natural materials, such as natural rubber. If you choose a version made of this material, you'll be less likely to experience the problem. How can you make a used mat more slip-resistant? Many yogis only notice the slipping over time. If this is the case for you, here's what you can do: Check your yoga mat for any sweat residue or other dirt. If so, it's a good idea to degrease or clean it. Depending on the material, use just water or a mixture of water and vinegar. If the mat is heavily soiled, you can use dish soap, but use a very small amount to avoid making the material more slippery. Experts recommend not cleaning natural rubber mats with soap or dish soap—only with water and vinegar. Always check with the manufacturer to make sure you do everything correctly. If you're mixing a large amount of vinegar and water, you can add a small drop of essential oil; tea tree oil is recommended because of its antibacterial properties. Make sure you use just one drop, ensuring the concentration in the water and vinegar mixture is low. The residues of the cleaning mixture must be completely removed. Then, roll the mat in a towel to completely absorb the liquid. You can also hang the mat outside. However, avoid direct sunlight. It's also not recommended to place it on a radiator. Important : Complete soaking (placing the mat in a full bathtub or in the washing machine) is rarely recommended. More tips for more slip resistance! In addition to proper cleaning and the right materials, you should make sure your hands and feet aren't moisturized or oiled beforehand. This increases the risk of slipping. If you have oily hands and are about to begin your practice, sit comfortably on your meditation cushion and do a short breathing exercise to settle into the moment before you begin. Damp hands should be thoroughly dried. Additionally, rubbing some mats with salt can be beneficial. However, this should only be done after consulting the manufacturer to avoid damage to your favorite mat. When practicing various yoga poses, it's important that you stay firmly planted on the mat and maintain stability in your core. This can also help prevent slipping. Have you ever had a slipping yoga mat? If so, what did you do and how did you solve it?

As a yogi who regularly takes to the mat and practices yoga, you don't want to harm your health. This raises the question of whether combining caffeine with yoga is a good idea. In this article, we'll explain and provide you with all the important information. Is coffee healthy? Opinions differ greatly on this question, so in the end everyone has to decide for themselves whether to drink this beverage or not. Generally speaking, however, you should know the following information: Consuming coffee can have an impact on your liver. This is especially true with very cheap products. The reason is that many chemicals are used in the cultivation of the plant, so you should definitely switch to organic coffee if you can't do without it. This ensures that no pesticides are used. Caffeine causes us to artificially stimulate our nervous system, exposing ourselves to stress. This is why many people drink coffee; they feel more energetic because the nervous system is unnecessarily activated. This isn't necessarily conducive to inner balance. As you may know, coffee dehydrates the body. This makes it particularly unsuitable for yogis and other athletes. During a workout or yoga session, the body needs to be optimally hydrated. Many people sweat more as a result of drinking it, which can negatively impact vitamin levels (excessive amounts of vitamins are flushed out). As a highly stimulating drink, coffee causes inner restlessness or irritability in many people. It contains a lot of acid, which is bad for the entire body. Many people notice this in their stomachs, which suddenly cause problems. Is your inner balance thrown off by coffee? Those who follow yogic teachings know that coffee is " rajasic ." This means it disrupts your inner peace. If you practice yoga regularly on your mat , the goal over time is to be as connected to yourself as possible, to experience inner unity and balance, and to strengthen your intuition. The caffeine it contains isn't particularly conducive to these cravings. Therefore, it's advisable to avoid this stimulant, especially if you're very sensitive. Giving up caffeine – what happens in your system? Many people feel a certain dependence on this substance, after which withdrawal can be an intense phase depending on the individual. Some coffee lovers even experience physical withdrawal symptoms during the first few days without caffeine. These include headaches, fatigue, depression, or inner dissatisfaction. If you experience these symptoms, know that they could be due to withdrawal. This doesn't mean you have to immediately eliminate them with a new cup of coffee. Wait a few days, endure the symptoms, and see how your well-being changes. How can you deal with withdrawal symptoms? Of course, the answer always depends on your individual withdrawal symptoms. For example, if you feel tired and exhausted, breathing exercises on your meditation cushion could be helpful. Alternate nostril breathing, where you breathe in and out alternately through your left and right nostrils, breathing fire to boost your circulation, or taking repeated deep breaths can boost your circulation and reduce fatigue. You can balance inner dissatisfaction with exercise in the fresh air or asanas on your yoga mat. These feelings often arise from an energy blockage in the body, which can be balanced through healing movement. Yin yoga helps you loosen your fascia and feel more calm within. Ashtanga yoga or Vinyasa yoga revitalize your system and can be beneficial for fatigue. A balanced diet with fresh foods will also help you feel better and more vital. Important : These feelings and withdrawal symptoms are absolutely okay and should be accepted. Perhaps you can take time to reflect on your thoughts and feelings during this very special phase. How can withdrawal be made easier? Are you determined to eliminate caffeine from your daily life, but unsure how to do it as easily as possible? In this case, the following points are advisable: Find an alternative that you can drink during these usual moments. Switching to teas or ceremonial cacao (which also contains a very small amount of caffeine, comparable to a cup of decaffeinated coffee) is recommended. Ceremonial cacao, consisting of 100% cacao (the cacao bean is completely ground, without removing the cocoa butter or adding any other ingredients), is a good choice if you want to be more focused while also calming your system. Of course, the effect on each individual must be tested individually; these plants do not always have the same effect on everyone. You can now change the moments you enjoyed with coffee. Introduce new habits into your life. Instead of a coffee break, you can do a short breathing exercise or practice a few asanas. Writing down your thoughts can also help you get through these moments. Physical symptoms may be reduced with other measures (breathing exercises, asanas, exercise in the fresh air). Are you a coffee lover? If so, does it limit your yoga practice in any way? If not, was your withdrawal mild, or have you never drunk coffee before?