Do You Put Up A Wall With Your Children? How Yoga Can Help Remove That Wall
As parents, we often find ourselves in moments of tension with our children, whether it's when they ask us a question or when we need to request something from them. Have you ever noticed that immediate feeling of tightening up, a sense of bracing yourself for a conflict? This reaction might be a manifestation of an internal emotional wall—an unconscious defense mechanism our egos put up to protect ourselves from perceived threats or conflicts.
But what if this wall isn't just a fleeting reaction? What if it remains throughout the day, influencing how we interact with our beloved children? Over time, this invisible barrier can become a persistent part of our relationship, unconsciously inherited from the way we were raised. As children grow into teenagers, they may learn to build similar walls in response, resulting in a dynamic where both parent and child are communicating through defenses, not truly seeing or hearing each other.
When we operate from behind these walls, we risk losing the sense of openness and connection with our children. Their essence—their true feelings and need for emotional safety—may go unheard and unseen. Instead of fostering a nurturing relationship, we end up with two egoic walls interacting, each seeking something from the other. This is not a healthy way to connect, and it is certainly not what we want for our relationships with our children.
So, how do we break this cycle of generational conditioning? The answer lies in yoga.
Yoga offers a powerful path to help dismantle these walls and foster deeper, more authentic connections with our children. By allowing us to connect with our bodies, focus on the present moment, and dive deeper into our essential being, yoga helps us slow down and remember who we truly are. It encourages us to see ourselves clearly, without the veil of past emotional pain or the distracting, distorting thoughts that often cloud our perception of the present.
This journey of self-realization isn't just for adults; it’s what our children crave as well. They, too, are here to experience the unfolding of their true selves. They long for authenticity, presence, and genuine connection, seeking these qualities in their interactions with us.
To truly connect with our children, we must learn to drop the walls that were never truly ours to begin with. These walls are the result of societal conditioning and inherited patterns of behavior. Yoga teaches us to see beyond these barriers and to engage with our children from a place of genuine presence and understanding.
Instead of interacting through the traditional, often rigid, parent-child dynamic—laden with expectations, roles, and defenses—we can approach our children as fellow human beings, each on their own journey. This creates a deeper connection where both parent and child feel seen, heard, and valued.
By practicing being in the present moment, emotional observation, empathy, and a commitment to breaking generational patterns, yoga helps us create space—both within ourselves and within our relationships. This space allows for genuine connection, where both parent and child can truly flourish. We begin to see our children not as adversaries but as allies, and we model healthier ways of being that encourage them to lower their own walls and express themselves authentically.
Isn’t this a far more enriching way to relate? When we connect from our true selves, free from the distortions of past pain and societal expectations, we create a relationship built on mutual respect, empathy, and love. This is the heart of the human experience—being present, being real, and being connected. Yoga guides us on this path, helping us dismantle the walls that separate us and build bridges that bring us closer together.
By integrating yoga into our lives, we take a proactive step toward healing and breaking the cycle of emotional walls. We open ourselves to a more profound, heartfelt connection with our children—one that nurtures their essence and allows their true selves to flourish.
@yogawithsalad
Comments