It’s my 53^rd trip around the sun and I wanted to share with you a few things I “think” I have figured out. Here’s one of my thoughts: When I was in my 20’s, I thought I knew everything and had it ALL figured out. When I was in my 30’s, I realized I didn’t know nuttin. In my 40’s, it started to come together a little bit. I had direction. Now I’m in my 50’s, and WATCH OUT!

I’ve learned so many things since we had our first Kids’ Yoga teacher training in January of 2010.  It’s been an OMazing journey. Get it? OMazing instead of AMazing. When I taught that first training I had no idea what was to become of Kidding Around Yoga. But here we are 4 years later with 20 Kids’ Yoga teacher trainers and a thriving business, sometimes teaching 3 yoga trainings per weekend in different parts of the world. Yabadabadoo!

Some people “think” I’m a smart businesswoman, but in reality, I’m just creative. I WILL give myself that much. Once I became a Kids’ Yoga trainer I had to give up my 8-12 weekly Kids’ Yoga classes to other teachers. What would happen if “I” wasn’t teaching them and the teacher didn’t do everything exactly the way I used to? What if they were late? Didn’t show up? I worried and worried to the point that if I believed in Botox, I’m sure I’d be getting some injections. Someone once said to me: “Haris, your forehead looks like a roadmap”. Harrumph!

Kidding Around Yoga has a Teachers Forum with hundreds of folks sharing fantastic ideas for how to teach kids’ yoga. I love to read these posts, and I’m often jealous that my very own teachers are BETTER than I ever was. They have taken the Kidding Around Yoga method of teaching and improved upon it. I am running around the world teaching more and more teachers and through our forum reading on a daily basis how yoga is changing the lives of the kids AND of course our teachers. Sure I feel great about this…and I’m often a little jealous. I miss the kids. Would I physically still want to teach four kids’ classes per day? Nope. Here is how I turned that corner.

Every year my husband and I go on Jam Cruise. It’s five days of cruising with over 2,000 folks who are happy and smiling the entire time. I am in heaven and it’s also fantastic for me because I HAVE to unplug—no work for me (OK, hardly any). It’s so much better than the usual music festivals that we often go to because we get our own room with a bathroom. I am a hugger and at music festivals, I’m often regretful that I just walked up to someone and gave them a BIG hug. Pee-U! Break out the Really Stinky Feet spray.

Picture it: The music goes until 6:00 am and I doubt I’ll even make it to midnight—THAT would be really late for me. So we’re sitting in the dining room with another OLD couple. The average age of a Jam Cruiser is about 30. I’m complaining about how I wish I could stay up and this woman who is about 58 or 60-ish says to me: “It’s ok to act your age”. WOW!! Simply put, I realized I didn’t have to keep up with the rest of the boat. I could rock out from noon to midnight and just feel good about that. I am getting older and with that I do have to slow down a little. I don’t recover from injuries like I used to. I have to get my beauty sleep. Yes, I do have a road map on my forehead and I’m proud of it.

That woman has NO idea how much she changed my life. I do still struggle a little when it comes to being jealous that my teachers are running all over town teaching kids to Meditate, practice Pranayama, jumping up and down and dancing to the Kidding Around Yoga music. I mean it IS so much fun it seems it should be illegal. Then I remember I’m 52, and if I act my age I can put all of my life experiences together and truly be the “Momma KAY” they call me.

I’ve stopped wishing I had created this business when I was 35 because, DUH… I didn’t have the life experience to do it. I didn’t know what I know now. What do I know now?

• Do your hobby. It’s the best chance you have to make it work because you are so passionate about it.
• Surround yourself with amazing, awesome, upbeat, fun, loving people. And if you’re running a business, make sure those folks are smarter than you!
• It’s not enough to just say “NO”. You have to say no and feel good about it. BIG difference. I learned this from one of my dearest friends, Swami Vidyananda and she learned it from our teacher the GREAT Yoga Master Swami Satchidananda.
• Take a nap. They rock!!!
• If meditation, a hot bath, a nap and a good glass of wine doesn’t fix it I’m in trouble… but no worries, it ALWAYS does.  =)

P.S. If you ever see me in action teaching Kidding Around Yoga to a group of kids, I WON’T be acting my age. That’s ok. There’s something else I’ve learned along the way: It’s alright to break the rules if it helps others and causes no harm to anyone.