How Intentional Movement is Making Me a Better Mom
This past year and a half has been a total identity shift. Becoming a mom, juggling a full-time job, building a business, and surviving on broken sleep left me stretched thin. Somewhere in the mess and beauty of it all, I put certain parts of myself on hold, including regular, intentional movement.
At the time, I didn’t have capacity for much more than getting through the day, maybe with a few walks around the neighborhood a week to get out of the house. And honestly, I don’t regret that. I let myself slow down, take things day by day, and adjust to a completely new rhythm. Rest was more so what I needed, and that was my form of care I prioritized. I think that’s the beauty of living intuitively. You remove the pressure to live, look, or be a certain way and start honoring what actually feels right for you, where you’re at, what you need, and who you’re becoming.
But as I reached the one-year mark of motherhood, I started to feel this need to fill a void in my life. I was craving something that felt a little more like me again. I wanted to feel strong in my body, grounded in my day, and more connected to myself beyond the roles I had been filling.
Some of the bigger changes in my life that prompted this urge were finally achieving full stretches of sleep at night, ending my breastfeeding journey after 1 year, addressing my nutrient and hormone deficiencies with a functional medicine doctor, and just feeling like I was in a better groove in my parenting journey. That longing finally led me back to more intentional movement, but not in the way I expected.
Starting Over Can Feel Really Vulnerable
So back in the day, running used to be my thing. It carried me through high school (hello cross country & track), college, and early adulthood. But ever since moving to SoCal, something just felt off. My body didn’t feel as good running anymore... especially during pregnancy and postpartum. Because of this, I felt discouraged, unsure of where to begin, and completely uninspired by my home gym. As a former runner, strength training felt kind of foreign to me.
On top of not knowing what to do, figuring out when to fit in movement has been another challenge in early motherhood. Waking up early enough to exercise before work just hasn’t been sustainable, at least at this point in my life. Between tiptoeing around the house in the morning to avoid waking the baby or trying to work out in the garage while he’s already up and needing me, it just hasn’t worked out. Evenings haven’t felt aligned either. After making dinner, handling the bedtime routine, and wanting to spend quality time with my family, I’m often spent.
That was all until our son turned one year old. In addition to the changes I experienced when our son became a toddler, another thing that caught my interest earlier this year was learning about ClassPass. A client of mine had mentioned that she uses it and said she loved the variety of workouts and studios it gave her access to. After months of talking myself in and out of it, I finally signed up for a ClassPass trial at the beginning of June of this year. The flexibility to explore different studios across OC felt like the perfect fit for my ever-changing schedule. Even better, many of the studios offered mid-day classes that I could fit perfectly into my lunch break.
Movement That Met Me Where I Was
One form of exercise that caught my eye was pilates. I noticed a lot of studios offered nearby, and while I didn’t know much about pilates at the time, I knew it was low impact and good for building strength and stability, so I booked a class for mat pilates at a local studio.
Day of, what I didn’t realize was that it was a heated pilates class. The moment I stepped into the studio, I was hit with a wall of dry heat around 85-90 degrees. It was a moment of thinking “Oh, Sh**! what did I get myself into” lol. But hey, I had made it this far, so I rolled out my mat, took a deep breath, and gave it a shot. Thank god I put ice in my tumbler 😂
That class truly challenged my body in ways I hadn’t felt in years. Every slow, controlled movement felt hard in the best way. I was shaking, burning, and absolutely dripping with sweat. To be honest, many of the moves I couldn’t even hold for the full duration, and I had to modify quite a bit. I felt humbled at where I was at in my strength journey, but also encouraged by how welcoming, safe, and fun the class was.
I walked out of the studio with no brain fog, better mood, and almost no back pain for the rest of the day. I didn’t even realize how much tension I had been carrying until it was gone. It felt like someone gave me the right prescription glasses, but for my body and mind.
From there, I slowly started incorporating more intentional movement into my week. Just one class at first. Then two. Now I aim for two to three classes a week, mostly pilates, sometimes strength, and other times I even feel good to stay home and move in a way that fits the day. I also feel like I’m learning more about form in these types of exercises, how to create workout sets, and overall just increasing my knowledge around other forms of movement that I never really knew much about in my pre-baby era.
Best of all, working out during my lunch break has become one of the best things I’ve done for my mental health. It gives me all the benefits of moving my body, but more than that, it’s time set aside just for me. No distractions. No thoughts about chores, whether the baby is awake, what I need to cook for dinner, or what’s still on my to-do list. It’s pure, uninterrupted self-care that breaks up the day, gives me a boost of energy, and helps me feel calm and focused heading into the second half of my day.
It’s Not About Perfection
All this to say, I’m still a mom to a toddler. I’m still working full time, still running a side business, and still am trying to just live life as present as possible. My sleep isn’t always great, my schedule changes often, and I still have weeks where movement takes more of a backseat. But overall, adding this kind of intentional movement to my life has given me more energy, focus, calm, and confidence.
And here's what I really want you to hear: even though I’m a dietitian, even though I’m in the health and wellness space, I’m human too. I go through seasons. I fall off. I get overwhelmed. The goal is never perfection. The goal is learning to feeling like myself again in this new chapter of my life.
Movement has helped me reconnect with my body in a way that feels empowering, not punishing. It’s become a gift, not a task. I’m celebrating the small shifts, embracing the process, and learning what feels good in this new season of life.
If You’re Starting Fresh Too…
Most of us already know that movement is good for us. Logically, we understand it can support our energy, mood, and overall health. But practically, that’s not always easy. Life gets messy. Schedules shift. Motivation comes and goes. And sometimes, taking care of yourself looks like rest or simply getting through the day.
That doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re human.
We do what we can with what we have. And over time, we might find new rhythms, routines, or motivations that fit better with who we are and where we are in life. Whether you’re brand new to movement, returning after a long break, or navigating a new season like I was, you have full permission to move in a way that feels good to you. Not for the sake of fixing your body, but for supporting it. Not for chasing perfection, but for building energy, clarity, and peace.
And if you need another reason to begin, let it be this: movement helps us function well for the long haul. It supports our longevity, our quality of life, and our ability to care for the people we love. It helps us keep up with our kids, show up with presence, and feel strong enough to live fully in the everyday moments that matter.
You’re allowed to start again, and you’re allowed to do it gently.
If This Spoke to You, Let’s Chat
If you’re feeling ready to reconnect with your body, rebuild your routine, or just need some support finding what works for you, I’d love to help.
I offer 1:1 virtual nutrition counseling that’s rooted in a non-diet, intuitive approach, focused on how you feel, not how you look. Whether you’re also navigating postpartum changes, general burnout, or just looking for more energy and balance in your day, you don’t have to figure it out alone.
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PS: if you’re interested in trying out ClassPass, you can use my referral link to get 20 bonus credits during your free trial!
PPS: here’s more about Pilates & it’s health benefits… all reasons for why I’m currently obsessed!