We’re stronger than we think, Mamas! This is so true and so easy to forget, especially when we’re tired, overworked, emotionally spent, or just physically exhausted from a day navigating Mommyhood.

However, understanding this principle as a Mama has been a game changer for me. How I learned this and truly started to reap the benefits of tapping into this power is through my newly beloved fitness practice, Y-O-G-A. I know I talk a lot about my love affair with yoga, but this love is R-E-A-L and when it’s real you must shout it from the rooftops.

For me, this type of exercise has become so much more than just a workout. The powerful lessons I’ve been taught from various instructors have truly saved my life. I know that sounds a little dramatic and perhaps it is a little bit – but honestly, before I committed to this type of exercise I was ALWAYS a huge stress ball - feeling so frantic in the pursuit of my to-do list, trying to balance Motherhood with a non-structured career, while attempting to be a wifey and friend. One day, I decided I needed to get this stress thing under control so I committed to going to YOGA 3-times a week to see what all the hype was about. Truthfully, it wasn’t until about my 5th class where it all started to click.

Yoga is such a powerful workout if you really commit to learning the premise of what it is all about. And that is.. how to establish and maintain a mind and body connection. Before falling in love with this practice I never understood the power of this principle. Essentially, once you make that connection between the strength of your body and the power of your mind, the sky is the limit… there is nothing more true!

I don’t know about you, but more often than not I look at my to-do list for the day and instantly think, "Help, there’s no way I can get that all done!?!" Anyone else feel that way? However it’s important to remember this… we don’t always have control over the first thought that pops into our head, BUT we do have control of the second one. Instead of talking yourself out of your to-do list… think: I’m one strong mama, I got this. And if I don’t cross everything off my list today, I vow to enjoy the journey.

In those moments where you’re doubting your strength, remember ALL the things you’ve done right. Um for starters… you created a human, they grew inside you for 9+ months, you survived child birth, you’ve proven you can function on essentially no sleep, you somehow manage to keep up with your toddler day-in and day-out, and for some of you, you also have a career. And if you’re like me, you're also trying to the best friend to all your girlfriends... and super-wife to your husband. If that’s not willpower, then I don’t know what is.

But in all seriousness, this year I’ve had some super tough mom days. Earlier this year, my little guy fractured his tibia going for the monkey bars at the park. As a result, he was in a full leg cast for 4 weeks, meaning he couldn’t walk (truly awful). He’s 40lbs plus the weight of his cast... and I had to carry him EVERYWHERE. On so many of those days when my arms were aching, I caught myself thinking, “I seriously can’t do this – he’s way too heavy.” I would stop, breathe, and think.. wait, remember what my yoga teacher would say…

“Just breathe! Breathe through the pain because it doesn’t last forever… You are stronger than you think!”

This is so true. If you can train your mind to breathe through the difficult times, they will eventually pass and when they do, you will be stronger as a result. Having that awareness and being able to maintain a connection between my body and my mind is what helped me get through that really hard time.

Now that I understand this wholeheartedly, it’s my mission to share this mantra with other Modern Mamas and my sweet son. The sooner we all get it, the stronger we will be. I love doing yoga with him because I know the earlier he makes that connection, the earlier he’ll be soaring to his best self. For toddlers, even encouraging them to do the simplest poses is such good practice and helps teach them discipline and focus at such an early age.