After I became a mom the first time, thought I knew what direction my life was taking.

Then pandemic hit, so ya know... A year later, I brought another human into the world, and she never slept. My anxiety and overall mental health was struggling. I needed to feel positive about something, to find something consistent that was mine to control.

 

Yoga gave me back myself, and so much more. I always thought and was shown on social media that to do yoga was to either meditate forever in silence (which is impossible as a mom) or to do handstands and crazy balances, which I have no base coordination or flexibility to think I can do easily.  I'm not the only one who has this very incorrect idea of what yoga is. Both have their place, yes, but there's so much more.​I started using an app on my phone with thirty minute flows that I did in the early morning hours before work, or before my littles realized the sun was awake. It got me familiar with the poses, and names, but I wanted more, I just wasn't sure what I was missing exactly. Something just felt incomplete in my practice.​

 

Then I quit my career of over 11 years and moved out of the house we brought our babies home to. I discovered that I'm not good with a big change, and I'm terrified of letting my family down. I also discovered that my yoga practice is a constant while always changing. My appreciation for those moments I was able to get on the mat grew. I practiced through the feelings, and reconnected to myself through my breath and my body. It gives me something to hold on to, something that's mine that no one can take. ​

 

Then social media gave me something I needed. An ad for Yoga Renew teacher training program. It changed everything in my practice and my understanding of yoga. I got deeper into what the poses meant, and how to adjust for you. How yoga can fit in every body, you just have to learn to listen to what you need. More importantly, it enlightened me as to why the asanas (poses) are just a small, but necessary, part of what it means to practice yoga.​

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I'm not one to stand up in front of a crowd and say, listen to me! But I've found my voice with the understanding of what this practice brought to me and hoping I can share it with others. Honest Mom Yoga Studio is a safe space welcome to anyone looking for calm in the beautiful chaos. It's what yoga gave to me, and it's my hope to share that with others.