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Motivating Moms Through Yoga

Therese M. Pope | May 14, 2008

Leading yoga and fitness expert, Sara Holliday, MFT, CPT, believes women can achieve their optimum potential. As a licensed marriage and family therapist, she takes a holistic approach to helping women find the power within themselves to lead rich, fulfilling lives.

As a former competitive gymnast, Holliday’s favorite gymnastics coach made a lasting impression on her and taught her that gymnastics wasn’t about only winning, but it was about finding the best inside you. She carried that motivational philosophy over to her own fitness career and her company, Fit by Sara (www.fitbysara.com).

She also looks to Oprah Winfrey as one of her own personal role models. Holliday says Oprah inspires the every day woman to be healthy and that it isn’t about having a perfect body.

“Fit for Mom”

Holliday’s devotion to helping women achieve both physical and mental well-being led her to produce the “Fit for Mom” DVD series. Her yoga DVDs are geared towards pregnant women and moms. As a mom of two little boys, Holliday knows how difficult it is to exercise during and after pregnancy and her DVDs allow moms to exercise, despite their busy schedules as new moms.

“Since I am the mom of two boys, I understand what they are going through and want to inspire them. They can look at me and say, ‘She’s a mom too and she’s in good shape. If she can do it, so can I.’”

Her Prenatal Yoga DVD series includes 3 DVD yoga workouts designed for each trimester. She also has produced the “Stroller Fitness for Moms” DVD that teaches moms a fun, energetic workout they can do outdoors with their babies and other moms.

Improving Moms’ Self-Esteem

She also has produced a “Postnatal Total Body Toning” DVD that incorporates elements of yoga and cardio-focused exercises.

“A lot of women are unhappy with their bodies and have a low self-image after they have a baby. I’ve heard a lot of complaints from women about how difficult it was to get back into shape after having a baby and I wanted to help them,” explains Holliday.

Holliday just doesn’t focus on the physical obstacles that are holding new moms back from achieving their wellness goals. Mothers also suffer from post-partum depression and yoga can help new mothers emotionally and mentally as well.

Hormones and More Hormones

“New moms are nursing and they have a lot of hormones running through their bodies. Also, after a baby is born, their partner sometimes feel left out. I teach new moms how to communicate with their partner and how their partner is very important in their relationship. Their relationship also affects the baby’s sense of security, especially if the parents aren’t connecting with each other.”

Fitness and Healthy Eating Tips

Holliday points out that women become fixated on weight loss because they are unhappy with how their body looks after having a baby. Holliday also advises that moms need to stop “eating for two” after the baby is born.

According to Holliday, moms could still be experiencing tearing and bleeding and they need to allow their bodies to heal properly before they start exercising again.

“They end up going back to exercising before they should and end up injuring themselves in the process,” comments Holliday.

Yoga Shapes Up Moms

Yoga is an important element of moms’ exercise plans. She encourages them to combine yoga, Pilates and kick-boxing for a powerful workout.

“There are so many yoga postures that work. Plank and side plank postures are great and power (Ashtanga) yoga can burn fat and lengthen muscles.”

Moms Inspire Their Children to Exercise

Holliday also teaches bonding exercises that can be performed with both mom and child. She teaches an abdominal crunch exercise in which the mom holds the baby on her lap and tickles and smiles at the baby every time she performs a crunch. This exercise emphasizes a deep connection and bonding with both baby and mother, while incorporating the benefits of exercise.

“When you exercise with your child, you are a positive role model and it’s a way of encouraging your child to be healthy and to have fun exercising,” says Holliday.

Holliday is a positive, shining example of a “motivating mom.” She is incorporating yoga and fitness into the lives of moms, which in turn is boosting their self-esteem and strengthening bonds between mothers and children.