For some people, Mother’s Day is a celebration. For others, it may feel complicated, tender, or reflective. In our yoga practice, we have the opportunity to approach this day in a way that is expansive enough to hold all of those experiences—by looking at the deeper qualities that the idea of “mothering” represents.
At its core, mothering is about creation, care, and protection, and these qualities are not limited to one role or one relationship. They are energies that exist within all of us.
In yogic philosophy, Shakti is the creative force of the universe—the energy that gives rise to life itself. It is movement, expression, and the spark behind all growth and change.
Shakti is present in the breath as it moves through the body, the thoughts and ideas that take shape, and the cycles and seasons of rest and renewal. When we step onto the mat, we are engaging with Shakti in a very real way. Each movement, each breath, each moment of awareness is an act of participation in that creative energy.
Alongside creation, there is also the need for protection and boundaries. This is where the energy of Durga comes in. The Goddess Durga, pictured above, is often depicted as strong and steady—a guardian figure who protects what is sacred. Her strength is not aggressive, but purposeful. It arises from clarity, compassion, and a deep sense of responsibility. In our lives, this energy might show up as setting boundaries, and standing up for ourselves or others.
In our yoga practice, we may notice that we have the ability to hold the energies of softness and strength at the same time. In a single practice, we might move fluidly (Shakti), hold steady in a pose (Durga), build strength (protection), and soften into rest (care). This balance reflects the reality of life. We are not only one thing. We are capable of nurturing and protecting, creating and sustaining.
When we widen the lens, “mothering” becomes less about a specific identity and more about a way of relating to the world.
It can look like:
As you move through your practice this week, you might ponder:
At its core, mothering is about creation, care, and protection, and these qualities are not limited to one role or one relationship. They are energies that exist within all of us.
In yogic philosophy, Shakti is the creative force of the universe—the energy that gives rise to life itself. It is movement, expression, and the spark behind all growth and change.
Shakti is present in the breath as it moves through the body, the thoughts and ideas that take shape, and the cycles and seasons of rest and renewal. When we step onto the mat, we are engaging with Shakti in a very real way. Each movement, each breath, each moment of awareness is an act of participation in that creative energy.
Alongside creation, there is also the need for protection and boundaries. This is where the energy of Durga comes in. The Goddess Durga, pictured above, is often depicted as strong and steady—a guardian figure who protects what is sacred. Her strength is not aggressive, but purposeful. It arises from clarity, compassion, and a deep sense of responsibility. In our lives, this energy might show up as setting boundaries, and standing up for ourselves or others.
In our yoga practice, we may notice that we have the ability to hold the energies of softness and strength at the same time. In a single practice, we might move fluidly (Shakti), hold steady in a pose (Durga), build strength (protection), and soften into rest (care). This balance reflects the reality of life. We are not only one thing. We are capable of nurturing and protecting, creating and sustaining.
When we widen the lens, “mothering” becomes less about a specific identity and more about a way of relating to the world.
It can look like:
- offering patience to yourself on a difficult day
- supporting someone else through a challenge
- tending to something you’re growing—an idea, a relationship, a practice
- Knowing when to rest. When to say no. When to create space.
As you move through your practice this week, you might ponder:
- Where am I creating?
- Where am I being asked to protect?
- How can I offer care—to others, and to myself?
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