As busy moms, it's hard to prioritize our physical health. We're often so busy that we forget to make sure that we're moving our bodies in ways that feel good. More often than not, there are simply not enough hours in the day to make ourselves a priority in any way. But it's important for us to make sure we're prioritizing ourselves and our physical health. Ali Owens, a mother and yoga and meditation instructor on leading digital yoga and wellness platform Glo, has some tips to help us make ourselves a priority.
"Be gentle with yourself and love your body as it shifts and transforms because it is a vessel for life and incredibly worthy of your time, admiration, and attention," she says.
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Take time for yourself
Owens' number-one tip? Take time for yourself when your baby is asleep or self-occupying. Maybe it's taking a nap, meditating or doing some yoga, or making yourself a meal. "When you prioritize your health and well-being, it signals to your brain and all those around you that those things are important and deserving of time and attention. When your cup is full, you can better serve others," she said.
Not all physical activity has to be time-consuming
"Learn the art of quick, efficient, and effective forms of movement: We often don't need to spend a lot of time focusing on our physical health outside of our day-to-day activities because motherhood is already physically demanding. That might be a 20-minute yoga sequence, 30-minute HIIT workout, or 10-minute meditation. Sometimes meditation, Yoga Nidra, and other forms of rest are more beneficial for our physical health because they restore harmony to our nervous system and are very replenishing. Choose what feels best for you at any given moment," Owens shares.
What you're eating matters
Owens suggests eating foods that "fill you up, energize you, and provide the nourishment you need to keep going." You can find whole foods like grains (steel-cut or old-fashioned oatmeal, quinoa, brown rice, farro, bulgur), fruits, vegetables like bells peppers that are easy to grab, eggs, plain yogurt, cheese, nuts, and seeds. Stock your fridges and cabinets with these things to make them easy to grab for quick snacking and meal making.
Rest is key
For pregnant and postpartum moms, rest is so important. We may feel the urge to get right back onto the treadmill or get back to yoga as soon as we're cleared to exercise by a doctor, but Owens emphasizes the importance of waiting 40 days postpartum before resuming exercise. "You will recover faster and be more efficient if the muscles of the abdomen and all the organs within have time to reintegrate into their proper place," she says.
When it comes to practicing, be adaptable
"My motto when it comes to fitting in a yoga practice is 'carpe diem,' seize the day," Owens says. "I recommend bringing your little one into your practice, setting them up with some toys, or simply on a blanket at the top of your mat if you're having a hard time finding the time outside of parenting responsibilities. It does not have to look perfect, like it may have before you got pregnant, or accomplish any goal, other than that it energizes you, releases tension, and returns you to your heart and intuition. Learning to let go of the way we moved before becoming pregnant or giving birth is an important step to realizing our bodies can move in these new ways and it will still feel great and be incredibly effective."
