My Red Yoga Mat

Tara Carpenter, NC, PES.

Originally published on July 15, 2015.

Like a loved teddy bear, my red yoga mat has been with me through thick ‘n thin since I was 20 and taught myself how to do each yoga posture with a little book written by Richard Hittleman. This was before my children were born and my career took off; when days were seamless and I went where the wind blew …. one of those places was Esalen in Big Sur where my love for yoga deepened into the practice I continue to this day.

Since those carefree days, I have moved 12 times, become a single mom, married, divorced, and married again. I birthed two beautiful boys and lost a baby girl so small she fit in my hand. I (and my husband) have built a home and a meaningful career that I love. I have found my niche in life 🙂

When I roll out my mat, I breathe deeply and fall onto its plushness. I let my body stretch in whatever way I go. Other times I follow a video. No matter which way I begin, the end result is the same, a whole centered ME.

I did yoga through my first pregnancy. The photo below was taken the day before he was born. Note the birthing tub set up in the kitchen! Once my belly button resumed a slightly normal position, I rolled out my mat, put my baby next to me, and began ‘mama yoga’. As my baby got older and started to crawl, he wandered quietly while I was up and down on my mat, yet never crawled on my mat …. as if he knew this was my place. He is calm and quiet when I roll out my mat.

As a single mom, I worked 60+ hour weeks for years straight and woke early to do yoga. My source of calm! When I became pregnant again, I was even more sick with hyperemesis gravidarum and rolled up my mat for 2 years. When I got back on, I felt like an old car starting up after a long time sitting still in the driveway. Thank God!!