5 reasons why every working mom needs yoga

Working mom life is full. And it always will be. But why not enjoy it to the fullest now instead of waiting until it gets better?

One of my favorite tools to make me a better mama. YOGA. I might be biased but hear me out! Maybe you find some good reasons to integrate yoga into your schedule next year.

1. It releases tension and stress

We all carry stress in our body which creates tension and stiffness. For me it’s usually my shoulders that carry my stress. Lifting my baby and other things at the same time or sitting at a desk, I constantly need to remind myself to drop my shoulders to release tension - The right movement and relaxation enhanced by breathing into the areas of tension are the game changer to release any stress. Yoga in combination with the right Breathing techniques is an effective way to create space in the body and prevent the accumulation of stress and tension in certain areas of the body.

2. It energizes you.

As working mama, you know all too well those days of little sleep, and the pressure to still function and perform at work. It’s easy to fuel up on coffee. But did you know that too much coffee drains your adrenaline levels and ultimately makes you even more tired. So instead of that 2nd or 3rd coffee, move your body! We all know that movement creates energy. It essentially changes the body on a cellular level, raises endorphins and boosts your mood! Just repeat 5 sun salutations, and you will already feel a difference in 10 minutes!

3. It teaches you how to not be competitive.

Who didn’t ever feel triggered by hearing that another child can already do … (insert what you felt most triggered when asked)?  I certainly did. And although I was quick to brush it off, I probably checked google and milestones in the early days. Soon I stopped completely and unfollowed all triggering mom bloggers. It’s just not healthy. Where does yoga come in here? The practice of yoga alone helps you to tune inwards and focus on yourself and appreciate your own journey and process instead of comparing yourself with others. I know, easier said than done. But developing a consistent yoga practice serves as a gentle reminder and eventually helped me to apply those same principles to everything else in life, especially motherhood.

4. It shows you how to respond with calm to annoying situations.

Yes, they are the most loving gorgeous little human beings and we love them to the moon and back BUT there are the moments of not listening to a NO, throwing food, screaming for no reason and and and… and well, it is easy especially after a full day of work, to lose it and get mad at your child, but it’s really not their fault. Yoga helped me a lot to stay calm and embrace the present moment. Even just pausing and breathing in and out for double the amount of time is an effective way to respond with compassion to your child especially in those “annoying” situations.

5. It’s the best use of ME time.

It is easy to just default to sofa and phone when you have a moment to yourself. But have you ever realized that time goes by incredibly fast when you are on your phone and most of the time you didn’t do anything but just randomly scroll? I’m making a huge effort to use ME time effectively - and yoga gives you all in one: movement to boost your energy, breathing to ground you, and with that connect to yourself on a deeper level. It creates space to reflect and pause the monkey mind. So, when you return to family life you will bring your best self! Because your family deserves nothing less than a calm, confident and compassionate parent.

If this approach resonates with you, like, comment and share it with your friends and follow me on Instagram for more tips on navigating the identity shift, self-care and living life unapologetically authentic as working mom of young ones.

About the author

Miriam Lesa is a multi-dimensional certified soul & life coach for women, nutritionist, yoga teacher and business strategist, practicing the art of slow living since almost 10 years. Her heart is at the intersection between wellbeing, motherhood and business.

Attuned to corporate life and navigating C-Suite for 15 years, yet grounded in peace, intuition and connections, she is deeply passionate about supporting women, especially working moms to access their inner compass to ignite their strength and live a life in abundance.

Born and raised in Germany, Miriam now lives with her husband and son in Toronto since 2018.