I am a mother.
The first time I said that outlaid over 5 years ago, I couldn’t believe my ears.
“I am a mother. A mom. A mommy.”
The first time my daughter said it to me, I teared up. I thought to myself, I am this beautiful soul’s guide. It’s the kind of love that makes you want to drive cross country to find the perfect home, the perfect school, and the best community to raise them in (Yes, I did that). It’s the kind of love that produces exquisite joy and makes time slow down all at once. Some days, it’s the kind of love that brings you to your knees, with all of the emotions at once… I am a mother and I am so grateful that I am a mother who practices mindfulness.
And now, I am a mindful mother of two. A little boy came into our life just this past January. My little girl is now a big sister. My heart bursts forth with so much love and adoration for the two of them. I feel honored to be able to raise two littles in an environment that is peaceful and practices spirituality through mindfulness on a daily basis. Both of my children get to meditate every morning, experience yoga, cultures through mindful travel on my retreats, and the delight of being praised for all of the amazingness that just oozes from their being in every moment (Yes, even in those moments of frustration, I am so proud of them!)
I 100% know that my daily regime of self-care has brought out the best version of me over the years, and while I am not perfect (What would be the point of being human if we were perfect), I know that my consistency has paid off in all the ways. I could see the positive shifts that my positive mindset, healthy eating, yoga and meditation had on me clearly before I had kids, and now, I get to see the incredible impact my positive habits have had on my children. My little girl at 5 years old will sit down to meditate all on her own. Wow. I inspired that. That feels reeeeally good. I can only imagine what mindfulness and self care practices could have offered me at that age if I had known about them. When we take good care of ourselves at parents, we are aiding our children in knowing that it’s not only ok to self-care on a daily basis, but that it is most necessary in life to do so!
I want to give all of the mother goddesses out there a huge hug today. You’re amazing. However you chose to become a mother is blessed. I honor you.
So, in tradition of honoring mamas all over the world this weekend on Mother’s Day, I want to gift you a meditation as a self-care ritual. Take some time for yourself today and tomorrow to be still and reflect on all of the things that you are grateful for about your own mothering. Give yourself the attention, the love, and the praise that you may wish to have from others in those moments where you just want a break, because mama, you deserve it.
(I will be releasing 3 Self Study Yoga & Lifestyle Courses for Mamas in the next few weeks to help support you in Conscious Conception, Pregnancy, and Postpartum! To learn more, DM me!)
Listen to this Free Guided Yoga Nidra Meditation (You’ll hear my little baby boy’s sweet noises in part of it!) for Mother’s Day by Clicking the Image Below.
With all of God’s love and respect for your journey,
Alana, Founder of Explorations of Self, LLC & Free Spirit Moms
Mindful Travel is the Fast Track to Positive Change
Alana’s love for yoga came from firsthand experience with just how powerful the practice is. “In 2009, Yoga found me. Inside the studio, she experienced a deep sense of belonging, but the most profound part was what happened after. “I felt as though I was at true peace. I finally knew what the word meant. Until that moment, I had just understood it cerebrally. There is something profound to be said about Peace dropping into the heart.”