JOURNEYING THROUGH

MJourneying through otherhood as a Tribe

By Tara Payor, Ph.D.

Introvert or extrovert, humans are, by their nature, social creatures. People need other people. Isolation, a part of COVID-19 quarantine, made an unstable situation increasingly trying. While immediate family members are, hopefully, people we can lean into, we need others. Regardless of where along the motherhood journey a woman is, she needs a supportive female community. MamaShakti Prenatal Yoga is focused on educating and empowering women during pregnancy and beyond. While virtual meetings will never replace the sort of intimacy made possible by face-to-face settings, virtual spaces are proving to be cornerstones of support during uncommon times.

Jessica Freedman, mom of two, founded MamaShakti after her own pregnancy and postpartum journey. The uncertainty associated with all phases of parenting is a common thread among mothers. “Postnatally, I had a difficult time and I was not healing in ways that felt right. Sometimes, even the most educated practitioners don’t have all answers,” says Freedman, who was pre-med in college.

MamaShakti was born in 2016 with Freedman’s driving forces being (a) ensuring other women don’t go through the challenges she did and (b) providing ongoing support. When COVID-19 forced changes, Freedman and her network—many holistic healers—went into overdrive.

“We learned how to navigate Zoom, the virtual studio, and any platform we could get our hands on,” says Freedman. “Many women needed us as they neared due dates

and delivered babies despite the pandemic.” In order to keep showing up for their community of mothers, Freedman and her team did things like make a bimonthly support group a virtual one. “It’s been so well received that we’ll likely keep it as a virtual offering—especially since it’s hard getting out of house with little ones.” During literal isolation, mothers need safe spaces for vulnerability.

MamaShakti support groups and yoga classes, sometimes held at Bella Prana Yoga and Meditation, offer mothers a chance to learn from naturally minded practitioners for the course of their motherhood. “As teachers, we share the incredibly healing power of community. Throughout quarantine, we’ve realized how much we needed the various classes and support as well.” MamaShakti provides a tribe, something healthy for all mothers, that welcomes mothers with open arms.

A mother must care for herself if she’s going to have the endurance, grit and grace needed for healthy, fulfilling mothering. Meaningful self-care entails tending to the mind, body and spirit; Freedman, certified in pre and postnatal protective exercise, knows how to safely help women maintain their physical best. Classes f lip the script: Rather than viewing physical and mental aspects of motherhood as limitations, there are intentional conversations on celebrations of motherhood. “Lately, we’ve discussed mothers' mental health during COVID-19 and how moms are nurturing their relationships. Conversations, often led by professionals from the Tampa Bay area, including doulas and family counselors, f low organically.”

All mothers are everyday people needing everyday people. Virtual or in person, mothers need a tribe, a village, a community. “Everyone is there for the same thing, support,” Freedman says. When mothers are supported, so are their families. When mothers feel confident in their abilities to live mindfully, they are better situated to raise mindful children. Mindful is a stunning thing to be in this sometimes-quite-scary world.

LEAN INTO MORE Information about classes, meetups and kids’ camps:

Bella Prana Yoga & Meditation: bellaprana.com MamaShakti: mamashaktiprenatalyoga.com Body Electric: thebodyelectricyoga.com