Learning to surrender: How to prepare for your first, with embodied presence and relaxation.

Do you remember your “first”?  

When you were a kid, would you have trouble falling asleep the night before your first day of school? Or, remember your 1st kiss? Were you excited AND nervous?!

When you try something new, how does it make you feel? Do you welcome it or resist it?  

Once the shock of the pandemic subsided, the global re-set brought new possibilities and showed us how resilient we are. We soon adapted and figured out how to work and work out virtually. Daily routines changed and life moved forward. Babies were born. Homes were purchased. It gave me an opportunity to certify as an Intuitive Life Coach.

Embracing the new and the unknown

The 1st time I taught a virtual childbirth prep class for couples, it felt clumsy. It didn’t matter, though. Couples were relieved, at a scary time to be going to the hospital. 

When I organized and hosted my 1st extensive virtual summit, Conscious and Confident Motherhood in November 2020, it felt like there were a lot of moving pieces that I wasn’t sure were going to fit together. The feedback was positive. Mamas who felt isolated and were struggling got support. I was grateful.

Hosting virtual events gave me a chance to connect with mamas from all over the world. But as an energy healer and former yoga teacher, I missed hands-on, being in person.

Once we were back live and in-person, I knew I wanted to organize an event that would bring mamas together. That’s why I put together a community event, The 1st Annual Conscious and Confident Motherhood Event of Central NJ on March 4th in Red Bank, NJ. 

Speaking at The Women’s Club in Red Bank, NJ

 A new endeavor

Organizing an in-person event with speakers, vendors and mamas would be a 1st for me.

To birth this project successfully, I knew I’d need support.  I talked to colleagues. I checked and double checked with the various speakers and vendors involved and posted on social media throughout.  

The months of planning felt like wedding or childbirth preparation. I was intentional, detail-oriented and meditated and consciously breathed throughout the process.

As the date approached, everything was in place, and I felt confident the moving pieces would fit together.

Learning how to surrender

The night before, despite using my breath awareness and mindfulness tools, my mind was busy, going over the details. I got about 4 hours of sleep (maybe).

On the day of the event, I surrendered to how it was meant to unfold.  

Whether you’re birthing a baby or a project near to your heart, at some point, you need to let go, and trust. Trust that you’ve prepared enough and that you’re well taken care of. Otherwise, it’s impossible to be fully present for whatever arises.

A community gathers and connects

With over 25+ top professionals that included speakers and vendors, parents received information and got answers to questions on topics such as pelvic floor health, chiropractic care, childbirth preparation, birth options, maternal mental health, nutrition, fitness, energy healing and infant development. 

The goal of the event was to help pregnant and new mamas trust their inner wisdom and feel confident on their motherhood journey.

In addition to 5 main conversations and mindfulness meditations, there were 5 raffle giveaways and light snacks. 10% of the proceeds were donated to The Parker Family Health Center in Red Bank.

We covered these main topics:

Body Beautiful: How to stay healthy, strong and relaxed from pregnancy through postpartum recovery.

Mama’s Mental Health Checklist: How to Navigate life’s big changes with awareness, compassion, love and support.

Sacred Journey Through Pregnancy: Transform fear, doubt and anxiety so you can be calm, conscious and confident as you prepare for labor, birth and motherhood.

Postpartum Healing and Recovery: Stepping into a new identity so you can honor your needs, truth and wisdom.

Baby 101: How to be fully present and grounded so you can raise a curious, resilient and happy child.

 Some valuable take aways

It was a great turn out, with over 70 local residents coming together, to empower mamas and build community. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive.

When you’re starting a family or a new project, fear inevitably arises. Our brain wants to keep us safe, and in what’s familiar. Growth and expansion is outside of this comfort zone.

Acknowledging your fear is key to moving forward.

Also, being aware all is impermanent can be helpful.  Whether you’re moving through a pandemic, birthing a baby or a new project, nervousness will likely arise and it will eventually subside.

The key is to remain in the experience, and to be fully present with whatever arises, in order to reap the fullness of its benefits.

In some ways, organizing and hosting The 1st Annual Conscious and Confident Motherhood Event of Central NJ feels like a 1st birth, and there are things I’ll do differently next time.

For me, nothing is more important than ensuring a mama is healthy and that she feels good about herself. The health of her family and our community depends on it.

Stay tuned for the next event in June 2023 in Monmouth County: Conscious and Confident Motherhood: Flourishing Fertility.

If you or someone you love is struggling with fertility and wants updates, send me an email.