One of my favorite things about publishing Macaroni Kid is the chance to connect with other moms in our community. Often times these connections inspire me and remind me of the ability of one person to make a difference. It is with this in mind that Macaroni Kid Springfield launches a new article series spotlighting these special women. My hope is to introduce you to some amazing moms living right in our communities who not only are doing unique and wonderful things but also deserve to have some attention brought to their mission.
I first met Heather Monson a couple of months ago when she reached out to me for help in regards to promoting her Brain Break Yoga series for kids. My son takes yoga at school and I was curious to learn more about this type of class for him. Heather owns Dragonfly Girl Yoga and we now see her each week in East Longmeadow at Heartsong Yoga.
During our correspondence and weekly interactions, I quickly got the impression that Heather is a mom who follows her passions and considers the impact of her actions on young people. Most recently she hosted a story yoga event for all ages and abilities to benefit the African Library Project. Heather Monson is on a mission to make sure children and families are mindful of others and compassionate to one another. Please get to know this local mom a little better by reading her answers to our questions.
What is my mission?
My mission is to bring yoga into the world to anyone who needs it (adults and children alike) and/or might think that it is something they can’t do. Yoga is so much more than just being able to do poses. It’s about being mindful of others, showing compassion and empathy, and making a difference in small ways. I read a blog that referred to humanity being disguised as yoga. That resonates with what I see as my mission.
What do I want to accomplish?
I want to be a role model for others. I want to share my mission of selfless service, acts of kindness and making an impact in the world as a positive human being. Yoga is a tool for bringing my mission out into the world.
What inspired/encouraged me to start teaching yoga?
My childhood was challenging in that I never felt like I fit in, never felt comfortable in my skin. I was intensely bullied in my teens and that also had a profound impact on my self-esteem. I found yoga in my late 20’s and grew to find a sense of peace about being myself. Yoga allowed me to feel good in a body and mind that I had been told was not any good.
Is there one specific moment when you knew this was what you wanted to do?
I worked in the corporate world for twenty years and became increasingly frustrated with the intense competition, the “us vs. them” mentality. I wanted to find a greater purpose. As a yoga practitioner for 20 years, I decided I wanted to share with others what yoga had done for me.
How did my life before children influence the mom I am today?
My life before my children taught me how important it is to be a role model out in the world, that children watch and learn from what you do and how you respond to experiences both positive and challenging. I have always cared for others in my life from a very young age and being a mom hasn’t changed that. It simply enhances how crucial it is that we teach children to step outside of themselves and to do good in the world.
What part do my children play in my current mission?
I try to involve my children in my service to others. As a family, we have a dinner table ritual of sharing three things: the best part of our day, something we are grateful for and an act of kindness. We also participate in service towards others: doing our own family book drive to create a library for children in Africa, delivering meals to the elderly on Thanksgiving, donating items to friends participating in service projects.
My younger son saw a man leaning up against a tree holding a cardboard sign as we were coming home one night. As we sat at the light, my son noticed this man. As the light changed, my son said "Mom, I think I want to go back and give that man my gloves and the penny I found." Although I was already on the highway, I circled back to look for the man. We found him right where we had last seen him. My son got out of the car and gave this stranger his gloves and penny as I looked on. The man looked and me, smiled and waved. He shook my son’s hand and mouthed “thank you" to me.
I frequently receive words of kindness from my older son’s school recognizing his kindness towards others. I have been told that he will stand and hold front door of school until every last student is inside the building in the morning.
What lessons/values am I learning through this process?
The lessons and values that I am learning through this process is that as a yoga teacher, I am responsible for holding space for my students for them to feel safe, both physically and emotionally. Yoga is just as much about emotional growth as it is physical growth. Every student brings their own stories, life experiences to their yoga practice and that it is important to respect that.
What lessons/values do I hope my children are learning?
I want my children to feel gratitude for what they are fortunate to have and to understand that there is always something to be done for someone else, no matter how small or insignificant it may be. I want them to grow up being kind and compassionate to others, to step outside of themselves and see the bigger world.
What do I do to take care of myself and how do I make time to do it?
I take care of myself by finding time in nature, walking, hiking, snowshoeing, gardening. There is a silence in nature that allows me to escape from the busyness of work and technology. When I don’t have the time to get outside, I make time for friends, nurture my own yoga practice and read.
What can others do to support my mission in the community?
Be a role model for others. Be of service and perform acts of kindness, no matter how small. The world is big but we can all make a difference. Yoga is a tool for bringing that message into the world.
