Page 2 - Health & Wellness

Modern motherhood comes with an abundance of joy...and information! For one thing, we have access to seemingly unlimited resources and knowledge on how to mother “best." It seems that everyone has an opinion on how best to raise children. We are overwhelmed with choices on which bed to choose, which high chair, which feeding method, which birth method. With answers close at hand online, it doesn’t take much time to question your intuition. Don’t forget that your mommy intuition is almost a sixth sense! Mothers have relied on their intuition for millennia to protect and nourish their babies. We can still tap into that resource. Many times, having good information and tools can help us tap into that mother’s intuition more readily. I’m here to remind you not to discount your own motherly wisdom. I know personally how easy it is to second-guess my own decisions when it comes to parenting and motherhood, so today I’m sharing three tips that have helped me trust my mommy intuition: Treat yourself

Yoga to me is the art of being present. Living in the present moment has been my greatest tool throughout pregnancy and now, into motherhood. When we hear the word yoga we oftentimes think of posture or a series of postures performed in a set sequence. While this is certainly an aspect of the practice it is only a slice of the pie available to you when you practice yoga. We practice yoga through movement, meditation, mindfulness and awareness. By becoming more aware of what is happening inside of us we are better able to tune into our needs and respond in a way that bring out love, joy, peace and presence. For me, I find my yoga while moving on my mat or closing my eyes to meditate. But you might find your yoga doing something else such as painting, cooking, walking, being outside immersed in nature, etc. Whatever it is that you do to become more mindful and present, do that with intention and purpose. It is when we start to add intention to our everyday lives that we discover our purpose

Self-care and self-love receive a lot of hype these days. And in theory, these sound like a dream. But as a new mama, what is realistic? Maybe you haven’t had a good night’s sleep in days. Maybe you have very little time to yourself. Maybe when someone tells you their idea of self-care is a two-hour massage or a day at the spa you feel like they’ve found some magic secret and you’re doing something wrong. In the month of February, love gets a lot of hype and attention but it’s hard to love others well if we aren’t caring for ourselves, first and foremost. I took some time to talk with my fellow colleagues and mamas at Ergobaby that have passed through all sorts of stages of motherhood to ask them some of their favorite tips for caring for themselves as new parents. We thought we’d share some loving and realistic tips for loving thyself in the month of February.

Cut yourself some slack and don’t beat yourself up

You are doing enough. Don’t stress if the house isn’t clean. If you are

In recent posts, we’ve discussed the benefits of postpartum yoga and even learned a yoga sequence for new moms. Over the past five years, I've gotten to teach prenatal, postnatal, and kids yoga classes in New York City and Los Angeles. During that time, I've kept a running list of the hilarious / adorable / weird / poignant things I've heard in my kids classes. Today, I’m opening up the vault to share those gems with you. Behold, my top twenty favorite kids yoga moments: 20. As a teacher, I’ve noticed that kids are obsessed with finding out everything about you. During my first teaching job in New York City, this five-year-old girl called me out in front of the class, asking the following spitfire questions: “How old are you? How many kids do you have? Are you married?” After I told her my age (to which she gasped in horror), that I wasn’t married, and didn’t have kids yet, she handed me a book she’d gotten at the school book fair, entitled How To Fall in Love. 19. In

Eight years ago, we lost my aunt to breast cancer. It’s hard for me to talk about and I know I’m not alone. Breast cancer has affected so many of the women we love. I know that early detection could have saved my aunt’s life, so I’d love to encourage you to carve out time each month for your breast self-exam. You may be thinking, “Umm, I’m a new mom and I don’t have time to do anything. At all. Ever.” I hear you. What if you made a deal with yourself to do the exam on the first of every month? I know you have 800 million things going on at all times, but think of it as an investment. While there’s no way to prevent breast cancer, early detection is the single best way to combat it. In fact, 40% of breast cancer detection stems from breast self-exams. So, by taking a few minutes each month to check, you’re doing yourself (and your baby) a world of good. Now, maybe you’re like me and you genuinely care about your breast health, but you always forget to do the exam. Well, we’re going

Carving out time for self-care is a challenge for anyone, but it’s especially difficult when you’re a new mom. Mommy & Me yoga classes are a great option to invite movement and meditative focus into your day, but the reality of leaving the house and going to a yoga studio might not be possible. With that in mind, here are some fun yoga poses you can do with your little one in the comfort of your own home. If you’ve got a yoga mat already, that’s great! If not, a blanket or towel will do just fine.

Cat-Cow Pose

Set your baby on her back, either on a comfy blanket or some other sort of support on the floor. Next, bring yourself onto all fours, positioned so that when you look down, baby and you make eye contact. If you have sensitive knees, you may want to grab an extra blanket to place underneath them for cushioning.  For optimal positioning, you’ll want your palms flat on the floor, with your hands shoulder-width distance, and knees hip-width distance. Take a deep breath, arch your back,

These are some of my favorite babywearing yoga poses. Poses you can do with your babe along for the ride! We all know the benefits of yoga and the benefits of babywearing. Combining them helps create a baby-friendly exercise that both parent and baby can enjoy. Yoga and babywearing are a natural fit as the meditative nature helps soothe baby and since it’s low-impact, it’s very easy to involve baby. _________________________

Please use caution when attempting any of the carries, exercise or activities highlighted on this blog, social media or any other content channels.  Please use common sense and caution when using a baby carrier.  You should consult a physician before starting any diet or exercise program.  For more information, see our disclaimer.

The two most common reasons that healthy eating habits start to slip is because either it becomes less of a priority or a reliable strategy hasn’t been put into place. That’s why it can be especially difficult to stay committed to healthy eating after you’ve had a baby. Your priorities shift, your focus is now on your new little bundle, and if strategies are not already in place you don’t have much spare time for making new ones. As a new mother, making your health and wellness a priority isn’t self indulgent, it’s necessary so that you have energy and clarity to care for your baby. If you’re breastfeeding, what you eat also directly affects the quality and sometimes quantity of your breast milk.

a few things that have helped me continue to make healthy choices in the kitchen after having a baby….

Most babies don’t like to be put down, especially in the early days. So it becomes much more difficult to luxuriate in the kitchen with a baby in tow. Babywearing has become my most indispensable

 Somehow, my tiny newborn daughter has turned into a beaming and chunky six-month old (seemingly overnight). Although I mostly hate how time seems to fly right through me lately, there are so many things that I love about having a baby as opposed to a newborn. The older León gets, the more connected with her I feel. As I watch her sit and eat and growl and laugh and squeal I feel like I am finally getting to know her. It has been so much harder to bond with her because of my high energy three-year old who takes so much of my energy.