Keep Calm: 3 Things I Learned from Raising Chickens

Many of our friends got cats and dogs during the quarantine, but we decided to add chickens to our family!

My husband has bad allergies, and I grew up with chickens, so it seemed like a perfect fit for our family. By the way, I wrote a yoga book about this, Polly’s Perfect Pet, coming in 2021 😉 .

Given that the three of us are living at home together 24/7 without school and a workplace to go to, going outside to collect the eggs each afternoon has become a welcome ritual. As my teacher, Katie Rose, says:

“It’s super important that we invite Sadhana, a daily spiritual practice, into our lives each day.”

When I head up to the chicken coop, I take a Sadhana moment to take a deep breath, enjoy the fresh air, and have a chat with the chickens. I know you’re thinking that I’ve probably gone bonkers talking to the chickens as a way to cope with our COVID life, but in fact, I’ve learned a lot from the chickens and wanted to share with you today!

3 THINGS I’VE LEARNED FROM CHICKENS

1. Keep life simple.

Our chickens have such a gentle temperament, and I’m reminded that their lives seem so simple and uncomplicated. They are happy to see us and love their veggie scraps. It reminds me to simplify my own life and appreciate the small things. Even though our lives have shrunk a lot since year and we don’t go out far from our home, most days since feel like a lot of juggling. I take a moment each afternoon to think how I can reduce my to-do list and decrease my unnecessary stress.

2. Be outside in nature.

As my friend Nicolette from Wilder Child says, we should be outside for at least three hours a day. We can think of Mother Nature as our co-regulator to balance our emotions and wellbeing. I can’t help but wonder if our chickens are so seemingly relaxed and happy because they are outdoors all day. They have trees next to their run and experience the changing of the seasons with nature around them. Imagine if we were connected with the rhythms of nature on a daily basis.

3. Live in social groups.

We are social creatures and absolutely need the love and connection of others to fill us up. This need for socialization has never been truer than during this time of isolation and not being able to easily see our families. I’ve found it fascinating to watch the dynamics of our seven hens as they live together in peace. Their communal living inspires me and makes me grateful for our little “quaran-teaming” bubble that we have created with a couple of neighborhood families. We have to remember that no matter what, we are not alone, and we absolutely must reach out to friends and family for support.

Well, there you have it: my musings about what I learned from chickens in the hopes that we can remind each other to simplify our lives, get outside in nature daily, and connect with others.

If you have a story to share about what you’ve learned from your pets in regards to yoga and mindfulness, share in the comments below—I would love to hear from you!

As 2020 comes to a close, it’s a great time to reflect on this unexpected year and look forward to 2021 with hope and inspiration.

We humans are smart and resilient. Let’s shine our lights brightly and bring our positive thinking into what the future holds, so we heal together as a global community.

From our family to yours, wishing you a safe and healthy holiday season.

Keep Calm & Chicken On!

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What you can learn from chickens | Kids Yoga Stories — Keep Calm: 3 Things I Learned from Raising Chickens

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