Last night I sat together with my 6 y.o. son at a kirtan in our yoga shala listening, clapping, chanting and singing along with Girish and his band. My little guy is something of a yogi himself – even though we’re both newbies to yoga. (At left is his drawing of yoga class.)
At some point during the performance, as we sat together on the floor and the vibrations pulsed through us, I looked down at his gentle innocent face – and it suddenly dawned on me – why I’ve been feeling so compelled to expose him (and his younger brother) to kids yoga classes – not to mention kirtans.
Someday, I’ll be long gone from this world.
How will my children find me when I gone?
Where will they look?
How can they find comfort in time of distress? How can they connect with “me” – my heart and soul?
There amidst the chanting, it became clear – that yoga, being a form of spirituality in its barest, stripped-down most primitive form – is a way that folks come to know their true selves, heart and soul.
Suddenly I realized that, someday when I am long gone, my sons will be able to find “me” – my own self, heart and soul – RIGHT HERE! On the bare floor – wherever they are – between their own hands, in the place where their own beads of sweat fall. They will find their own selves – hearts and souls – in their practice – and know that their dad found his true self, heart and soul right there – in the very same place – where the sweat falls from the brow.
It felt so wonderfully comforting to realize that there IS a way to stay connected. To share a living, breathing bond that survives long after the body. There is a path! I think doing yoga with my kids is a way to build a passageway – through space and time – to find each other again – long after we leave this world. I will never forget that moment of clarity.
I’ve seen many great dads in my town, and I think they all feel the same way – whether it be baseball, football, basketball, soccer etc. Yoga – although a deeply spiritual endeavor – does not have to be special in this regard (you should see some of the fanatical baseball dads in my town!). Perhaps, we all imagine that someday, our kids will play and teach their own kids in the same way we taught them. Perhaps, many years from now, they’ll stop for a moment and think fondly of us – about the simple joy they shared, and – in that instant – realize that there is a living bond that cuts across space and time.
Whatever you LOVE to do –> teach it to your kids and you will forge a bond that survives long after you are gone!
Genes 2 Brains 2 Mind 2 Me 
John, I am such a sap, but this post left me in tears reading it to my husband who found it equally as amazing. Your boys are so blessed for the love you provide them & care you & your wife put into their upbringing…so truly blessed. Love love love this post 🙂 -britt
This warms my heart, John. Truly. I was so happy that you and your son attended the Kirtan and so happy that you’ve instilled a love for yoga – the true meaning of yoga – in your children. There is nothing more beautiful then sharing what you love with your children and them loving you back for it. B said to me today…”Miss Karen, do you think you can talk to my dad and see if I can stay at yoga all day?” I love it!!!! Makes me so happy to be doing what I’m doing. Thank you for your presence and your children’s presence at Alluem. We are the blessed ones.
John, I read this about an hour ago and couldn’t quite find the words. Then laying with Emma Grace before bed (which I rarely get to do) as she touches my nose with her finger and says, “the light in me sees the light in you,” I nearly died! I understand. I get it. We are blessed. Here’s the thing, no matter what and when we die, there will always be a part of us in our children’s hearts. Teach what you love is so true because one can always go back to that place; mat, studio, field, rink….for the sights, smells and sounds of what was taught early on; to meet each other again on the path through space and time. You and your wife are gems and fantastic parents to those boys. I am honored to know you both. Thank you for being part of my life. Love, gina
You all are making me cry. What an amazing post and wonderful comments. This is pure testament to why I love you, my Alluem family, so much. John, thank you for putting such eloquent and simple words to such a complex feeling. We ARE blessed. Namaste. The light in me sees the light in you. ❤ much love, Kitty
I’m stopping by from Karen’s Alleum blog, just to thank you for the wonderful post. It is written with such heart there is something very true about it. What you have with your son is what so many parents long for. Congratulations.