Can a Yoga Principle Really Help an Overwhelmed Mum?

The Inner Work: A Guide to Navigating the Overwhelm

Mama, I see you, caught in the relentless whirlwind of demands, the alarm jolting you awake, the instant mental load, and the relentless ping of the inbox. I see you navigating endless after-school activities, hurrying to reply to emails under a tree, and then collapsing onto the sofa, too exhausted to think, losing yourself in the endless scroll. You're constantly adapting, a chameleon shifting to every child's need, every societal expectation, always doing what you feel you "should" do, and somewhere along the way, you've lost sight of you.

And beneath it all, I see the quiet, often unspoken, struggle with your own body. The disconnection, the subtle self-loathing, the comparison to impossible ideals, the feeling of being alien in your own skin, especially after carrying life. You know there's more to life than this constant depletion, but you're frustrated and unsure how to break free from these ingrained norms.

This is where an ancient principle from yoga philosophy can completely transform your relationship with your own inner world. It's a simple idea that can feel revolutionary in the chaos of modern motherhood: ahimsa, or non-violence. This isn't about physical harm; it's about the radical act of choosing kindness for yourself first.

The Power of Ahimsa: Cultivating Self-Compassion

As I’m reading the fascinating book, Meditations from the Mat by Rolf Gates, it reminds me that I am always a student, and I love that. My yoga journey has evolved from focusing on “advanced” physical poses to the inner work that for me is the most important part of yoga. Inspired by this, I want to dive a little deeper for you and go into the philosophy behind it all.

From the ancient yogic texts, we are gifted with a map for living. Instead of looking outside ourselves for the answers, yoga invites us to go deeper. To go inward, where all the answers are lying hidden from view until we look a little bit closer. As Gates explains, the approach to yoga isn’t linear. It’s a symphony we can work on all the time, not solely for that one-hour or 30-minute yoga class you can squeeze in a week.

How we can do this digging is by using the Yamas and Niyamas. These principles teach us the beautiful art of finding balance. The yamas are about what we give up - the habits and thoughts that don't serve us. The niyamas are about what we choose to cultivate - the practices that help us grow. Together, they create a solid foundation for living with more peace and purpose. These are not rigid rules but rather guidance to accept the duality of our nature. Each of us has our own shadows, but through the work of the yamas and niyamas, we can shine a light on these shadows and turn them into love.

Ahimsa in Thought, Speech, and Action

The first yama we will look at is ahimsa, or non-violence, which I like to think of as simply love. This teaching invites us to embrace non-violence at the level of thought, speech, and action.

How often do you indulge your inner critic, only to wind up in a miserable place? We are often our own worst critics, and ahimsa beautifully invites us to cultivate a compassionate inner voice and release the need for perfection. It’s about being kind to yourself first, especially when you are caught in the comparison trap or feeling alien in your own skin.

Feeling that racing mind? Why not try my "Reclaim Calm" meditation and discover how to cultivate that compassionate inner voice for yourself. It’s a gentle, 10-minute guide to finding stillness. You can find it here: https://youtu.be/jntCYrRD-Ug?si=0j2-MAibKkBzEuYx

This practice also extends to non-violence in action - how we treat our bodies on a daily basis. This means listening when your body needs rest instead of pushing through exhaustion. It means choosing nourishing foods because you love yourself, not punishing yourself with a rigid diet. It means moving your body with kindness and curiosity, not forcing it into a shape it doesn’t want to be in. Every time you make a choice that honours your well-being, you are practising ahimsa.

Your Journey to Peace and Presence

It’s all too easy to live in a state of fear- fear of not having enough, of not being enough, of not doing enough. Yet what if true freedom comes from letting all of that go? From leaning into love, from embracing the light? Perhaps the biggest challenges we face in our lives are actually a crucial part of the path itself. Every time we push past our resistance and fear, we are making a choice to live fully. And every time we choose life, we find that fear begins to lose its grip.

There is a beautiful quote from the Bhagavad Gita: "Free from all thoughts of 'I' and 'mine,' that man finds utter peace." We are meant to live in harmony, to foster internal and external balance. In today’s society, we spend our time surrounded by voices that criticise, judge, and cause harm to others and to ourselves. Ahimsa invites us to tune into that brighter voice: the voice of love, peace, joy, and calm. We have to cultivate it, trust it, and act upon it. Ahimsa asks us to abandon the idea of separation and embrace the unity of life.

The core of ahimsa isn't about avoiding conflict; it's about choosing compassion for yourself so that you can show up in the world with more love and less fear. This is the first and most important step to a gentle, unplugged life.

If the thought of finding that calm voice feels overwhelming, I want to give you a simple starting point. It’s a gentle, powerful reset for your mind and body that takes just a few minutes.

Ready to start?

My free gift, A Taste of Morning Magic, is a short, guided, 3-day experience designed for your life. It's not about adding to your to-do list; it’s about giving back to you. Click here to get your free gift and take your first step toward cultivating a more peaceful, compassionate life. https://subscribepage.io/3-day-mum-reset