Cathryn Monro - Spilt Milk Yoga: A Guided Self-inquiry to Finding Your Own Wisdom, Joy, and Purpose Through Motherhood

PRAISE FOR SPILT MILK YOGA

Reading this book, I felt I was with a warm, honest, and down-to-earth friend, sharing her insight and humor into what she aptly calls the volcanically active landscape of family life. Cathryn Monro invites us to look deeply into our own experience and cultivate the qualities we most need as mothers to live our loveinner strength, flexibility, balance, and, most importantly, greater self-awareness.

Myla Kabat-Zinn, coauthor of
Everyday Blessings: The Inner Work of Mindful Parenting

A wise and insightful guide to embracing the transformative journey of motherhood as one of lifes most profound gifts. Spilt Milk Yoga is the warm companion we need at our sides, connecting us to our own humanity as we navigate the constantly shifting terrain of tears, laughter, and learning. I wish someone had given this book to me when I was a new mum!

Shelley Davidow, author of Raising Stress-Proof Kids

Cathryn Monros passion for parenting and self-inquiry is woven into this practical and provocative tool for all mothers. Using recognizable, embarrassing, and often hilarious examples, Spilt Milk Yoga allows us to reveal our own truths, making us more open and ready to grow at the kitchen sink and beyond.

Kate McIntyre Clere, director, Yogawoman

I am a working mother of three, and Cathryns inspirational book resonates with me on many levels. She achieves a universal message through the particular stories she tells. The ingenious workbook form provides a practical and clear pathway to deal with the issues mothers face, yet Cathryns main concern is spirit and how we can light the way for ourselves and our kids.

Miranda Harcourt, Order of New Zealand Merit, actor

For readers who enjoy understanding lifes transitions from a spiritual angle and are interested in a self-investigation into their mothering experiences, this book is a must.

Laurie Hollman, PhD, psychoanalyst and author of Unlocking Parental Intelligence

I AM HOOKED! I so needed thisyou have no idea! (Actually, you probably do!)

I was having a trainwreck of a time as a mother, feeling unvalued and unseen and bad about my own mothering. I could never get it right. Spilt Milk Yoga has helped me feel I am not alone, that there is a place to air the dark corners of my experience, especially when I am struggling (which felt like always), and to know that I have my own wisdom. Reading Spilt Milk Yoga, I feel renewed determination and empowered to move forward. I am loving the motherhood journey in a completely new way.

Straight to the point and no-nonsense, this book is super sustenance for me. It is simple and it goes ineven when Im tired and stressed. I know my children benefit daily from this book as a resource for activating and remembering my inner wisdom. Reading Spilt Milk Yoga, I am learning that though it can be challenging and overwhelming at times, motherhood is the best mess there is, that there are small moments of joy if I take time to see them, that my life is not on hold until they grow up and leavemy life is now.

No other book has been able to combine the human and the divine so aptly. I have read many books, websites, YouTube channels, and blogs looking for parenting advice. They were all full of models and rules. Spilt Milk Yoga is not that; it is a tool that leads me to my own wisdom. I can dip into any page and find answers; I can dip into any chapter and feel seen no matter how I am feeling about my mothering choices. Spilt Milk Yoga is rigorous, caring, firm, and direct all at once. The perfect friend in this mothering journey.

Ngapaki Moetara, mother of three under five years old

... Extremely thoughtful and meaningful and would be a great benefit to caring mothers. Well put together and easy to follow. This is a book in the making that could make a real difference to its intended audience.

Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust Unpublished Manuscript Awards, 2014

Copyright 2016 by Cathryn Monro

All rights reserved.

Published by Familius LLC, www.familius.com

Familius books are available at special discounts, whether for bulk purchases for sales promotions or for family or corporate use. For more information, contact Premium Sales at 559-876-2170 or email .

Reproduction of this book in any manner, in whole or in part, without written permission of the publisher is prohibited.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

2016944195

Paperback ISBN 9781942934752

Ebook ISBN 9781944822194

Hardcover ISBN 9781944822200

Printed in the United States of America

Edited by Elena Gonzalez

Cover design by David Miles

Book design by Cathryn Monro, David Miles, and Brooke Jorden

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

First Edition

SPILT MILK YOGA

To my mother, who has loved me with all her heart,
and to my daughters, whom I love with all of mine.

SPILT MILK YOCA

A GUIDED SELF-INQUIRY TO FINDING YOUR OWN WISDOM, JOY, AND PURPOSE THROUGH

MOTHERHOOD

CATHRYN MONRO

CONTENTS

Chapters

To help you navigate Spilt Milk Yoga: A Guided Self-Inquiry to Finding Your Own Wisdom, Joy, and Purpose through Motherhood Ive used the five niyama, the core actions of yoga, to organise the chapters. Translated as Self-Inquiry, Contentment, Self-discipline, Purity of Being, and Acknowledgement of the Spiritual Nature of Being. The niyama are interrelated and so are the chapters, so youll find relevance and connections in whichever order you read them.

Cultivating self-awareness, coming to know yourself honestly, inquiring as to why you do what you do, and reflecting on what moves you forward or holds you back.

Cultivating acceptance of what is, of yourself and of others, being at peace with who you are right now, and finding contentment in any moment.

Cultivating your capacity to direct your energy purposefully, even when things get hot. The liberating fire of focus, intention, discipline, and perseverance.

Cultivating purity in mind, speech, and body. Decluttering your life and focusing on the good things that uplift and nurture your journey.

Cultivating attitudes and behaviours that celebrate and uphold our appreciation of being. Being alive to the wonder of life; recognising that, in any small moment, we are part of something larger and that how we live is what makes our lives meaningful.

INTRODUCTION

Spilt Milk Yoga is the book I wish Id had when I became a mother sixteen years ago. Being a mother has challenged and grown me in ways I never anticipated. It has been as hard and uncomfortable as it has been soft and loving. I have been pushed to the edges of my patience, anger, frustration, and purpose time and time again. At those times, a companion handbook linked to my questions, tears, and fears wouldve been more than welcome.

Spilt Milk Yoga draws on the principles and practices of yoga to shine light into the corners of motherhood we dont so easily talk about. The purpose of the book is connectionconnection to self, to our own wisdom, joy, and purpose, to the value of motherhood as a site for engagement with our most profound development, as a path offering lifes richest and most confronting lessons on love, acceptance, and joy.

Motherhood constantly confronts the edges of our self-knowing. We journey through an evolving and volcanically active landscape; violent, deep, and creative forces work in our subterranean selves. What stronger mirror of our habits and foibles, what better place to practise love, compassion, tolerance, and understanding than with ourselves and our children?