Heartfelt Moves

26/08/2023

Before I had kids I thought “they’ll just have to fit in with us”. Obviously I now know how naïve I was. Having said that, I do think spaces where babies and kids are genuinely welcome and can come and join us whilst we do something for ourselves are, in reality, quite rare. I have often felt apologetic about my babies/kids or excluded by implication. Recognising the literally unending responsibility of being a primary carer means being inclusive where possible.
A meeting on Zoom where no one cares you’re breastfeeding.
An allied health practitioner who lets you bring your toddler.
A gym where people don’t bat an eyelid when you bring your 1 yr old and she joins in.
These places mean the impact of my recent separation has been lessened. I’m not excluded because I’m a single parent. I’m seen and included.
May parents never feel they have to apologise and may society become ever more embracing of diversity.

25/07/2023

And, just like that, she’s 1 💫
A surprise that burst into our lives at a time I now understand more darkly; she continues to be the light and joy amongst all the loss, grief, renewal, reclaiming… reverence at my own strength to grow and birth this genuine miracle.
At this time more than ever, though, I am challenged to bear in mind - I don’t own her. She is her own being, whose best interests may well already at times clash with my own. What a privilege to get to care for and influence her, what a stark simple truth to realise she doesn’t owe me anything. May we then enjoy each other, respect each other, move together and apart across the times - this one wild ride on which we have crossed paths.

03/05/2023

Moments from the last month, which has been defined by pain, rage, loss… absolute devastation.

And yet.
Moments of abundance, joy, aliveness.

Motherhood - and life - so multidimensional and profoundly complex.

An offering? Love, to myself. Profound respect to my strength.
I now know when we say ‘I can’t imagine’, you can. You can bear it. You would. You have no choice.

27/10/2022

I wrote again! Link in bio.
(Apologies to current subscribers who may receive it twice - I’m a little rusty on the tech side.)

27/07/2022

Heartfelt Moves was ‘born’ alongside my second baby, Jonas, and the immediate postnatal moves I craved and wanted to share, in the context of a pandemic that exacerbated the existing challenges for new Mums to fit in a particular type of movement. It has come to a natural end with this most recent pregnancy, my recovery from PND, my maturation as a mother and reckoning with my ego, realignment of priorities and my relationship to ambition. A surprise natural conception after so many fertility challenges was finally realised as baby Leila Maeve on Monday afternoon. It was not a straightforward, quick or easy birth, but it was still very ‘healing’, in that in felt like an additional chapter of my motherhood story that is about letting go, genuinely forgiving myself and trusting my intuition. Working and achieving and being recognised for all your hustling isn’t as admirable as I perhaps once thought. I hope to permit myself a quieter and more internal postnatal / parental leave period this time. As such, I’ll be officially closing the HF membership, conserving most of my energy and trying to live out all the wisdom I intellectually know about what *actually* gives life meaning and supports health and well-being. Thanks for your interest in me, my words, my moves, my practices, my membership offering, my family, my musings on motherhood - and bye, for now ###x

30/05/2022

When I led HF classes in person I came to appreciate how important it is to practice ‘equanimity’; a lightly held, loving acceptance of ‘whatever is’, *especially* when practicing with little people around. Their sounds; their needs; their ‘disruptions’ to our Agenda... It was the real deal re: releasing any control agenda. Yes, I had a plan, for everyone to leave feeling strong and calm - but it wasn’t always within any of our control!

It’s been so lovely to return to community classes ‘s Move with Mini with Fran in third tri with this latest bub and Jonas with his squeals, yoga block towers and muesli bar confetti all over my mat. Even just a few deep breaths in balasana, a sun salute or two, and being in the presence of other mums with kids crawling on them who manage to practice Non-Resistance feels more spiritually significant than the most elite & expensive adults-only yoga trainings and retreats I’ve been on.

So, I say, if you manage to stay unruffled, and not triggered, anxious or harried when you have a Plan and small humans give it the🖕🏻, to me you are much more enlightened than some yogi dude with a crazy handstand practice who never has to care, concede or compromise.

24/01/2022

A new ep of the pod is out and this ep is one of a series of three interviews I did with experts who have insight, wisdom and specialist expertise that really complements HF. I'd love to know how you find it. Thanks again to Dr. Emily Amos, our first guest in this series of 3 eps, out over the next few weeks.

Listen now (53 min) | In this episode of the pod I’m sharing the audio of a video Q&A I recorded with Dr Emily Amos as part of the Take Up Space anti-challenge I offered Heartfelt members a few weeks back. Emily is a GP, board certified lactation consultant, meditation and yoga teacher and mum. Sh...

05/01/2022

If you're wondering whether next week's anti-challenge is worth giving a crack, here are some solid reasons it might be a good fit.

Remember, the facts are:

1. It's free on a 7 day trial (HF is $29 a month after that if you like it and stick around)

2. You get an email a day for a week with a suggested practice, plus some fun bonus surprises

3. You're moving from home, on-demand for 15 mins a day, incorporating mindfulness, body acceptance and self compassion - as well as strength, mobility and energising flows

4. Tis safe for prenatal and early postnatal (provided you've been cleared to exercise by a doc and feel good in yourself). Also v helpful for hustling mamas of busy demanding toddlers and preschoolers though!

5. Share it with some mates on social media and go in the running to win a gorgeous framed 'Take Up Space' print by (see the original Take Up Space announcement post on my grid)
Wrist weights by and a 3 mth HF membership.

As Eden (and Lightning McQueen) would say, 'Kachow!' 👊

If you're a current HF member, you'll be included unless you let me know you'd like to opt out. Otherwise, head to https://membership.heartfeltmoves.com before next Monday and sign up to be in on it!

30/12/2021

The first Heartfelt 'Anti-Challenge' Challenge is here, from 10-17th Jan. Check out all the details here. I would love it if you shared this with mates so we can have a big crew of mums starting the new year by normalising self-care that isn't about consumerism but is about less pain, stiffness and self-criticism. Woop!!

The Heartfelt 'Anti-Challenge' challenge that's here to remind you to make time and space for yourself each day

26/12/2021

Whilst I'm sitting in my car in my parent's driveway with my napping baby, my reminders to you:

1. You are incredibly awesome just for being here on this earth trying hard like you do and caring for small humans and yourself as best you can.

2. Do your pelvic floor exercises rn and whenever you think of it. (Remember - once postnatal, always postnatal - so continue to support your bod to rebuild and sustain deep core strength. I can help with that on HF (and with the equally important release of those muscles) so reach out if you're like 'Wtf')

3. Silently thank your bod, on behalf of me if you can't yourself, for breathing, keeping you upright and holding on throughout so much demand.

4. Go easy by being *kind* to yourself. And if that is very foreign or challenging, consider how you would act toward, hold space and permit whatever necessary for a bestie. We are so much nicer to others than ourselves.

5. Smell your babe (or your toddler but only if they've just had a bath) and soak that moment in.

6. In the remaining hours of today, consider, what can I control (typically not much) and what can't I? What's totally outside my sphere of influence? Let that stuff go. You're miles ahead if you direct your energy towards what you can influence.

For me for the rest of today that's: how I'm being towards my Ps, partner, kids and *myself*; whether I do my own pelvic floor exercises 🤪; continuing to try to eat intuitively without restriction or shame; and letting love be my guide.

Chat soon ###x

11/12/2021

Weekends feel a bit more high stakes than ever - plans, expectations, hopes for happiness and quality time that makes all the hustle worth it...
Then the kiddos go ahead and thwart any plans with their kid-ness. And it can be frustrating!

But there is (as always) a big opportunity there, in what looks like the mudanity.

It's all OK even if it's very different to what you thought. The gap between expectations and reality is hard, but new, unexpected joys and potential might be there too if you stay open.

My goal with Heartfelt isn’t to sell a promise of ‘If you move for 15 minutes a day you will be happy and healthy’. It’s to share what I know deep down to be true, even if I struggle every day to remember and believe it myself, which is: There is Nowhere To Go. Everything we need, we already have. We can move well and meditate and s**t things will still happen. We can only cultivate particular attitudes to that inevitability through our movement practice.

The practice is to sit in, and move in, embodied awareness of the reality that utter randomness is exactly how it’s “meant” to be - how could it be any other way? We have no true control. All we can do is trust that we are enough. We will bear life’s challenges with grace if we continue the practice of loving kindness, compassion, acceptance.

To practice trusting it, until slowly over time, you live it, because deep inside, you know it is truth: you are a good person, a good mum, everyone is OK, and things will be, broadly, OK. The small things don't matter in the grand scheme of things as much as they might feel they do in the moment, when that control desire is thwarted and it's painful.

Go easy, take care, breathe deep. See you on the mat, if you do manage to find 15 mins for yourself to move today.