You Give So Much. You Need to refuel.
Give Some Care to Yourself, So You Have More of Yourself to Give.
“Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much.” – Helen Keller
Our Mind Body Moms Groups bring wise, caring moms together to turn inward, and tune into to the parts of ourselves that need and deserve our most compassionate attention on the journey as women, on the path of motherhood. We begin with a “parts meditation” to access the healing essence within us, followed by Somatic IFS-Informed gentle yoga, and we close with authentic sharing about the trials and tribulations of motherhood. We do all of this with the intention of developing a deeper connection with ourselves and the parts of us that are so in need of our loving presence – all for the benefit of the health of our system, which in turn deeply benefits our children, our families and our communities.
As social mammals, we share a vital need for connection. So we spend time connecting with our own internal system, as well as building community with each other as we authentically share about the ups and downs of our lives. In the Buddhist tradition, the daily vicissitudes are referred to this as the “10,000 joys and the 10,000 sorrows” that we all experience, but are sometimes afraid to acknowledge out loud, due to internal shame, fear of being judged or concerns about being a burden to others. We have found over the years that sharing authentically in a safe space not only resources us, but also makes it feel safe for other mothers to share authentically, and get the loving support they need. Most of the mothers in our circle come back session after session in order to continue to nourish, sustain and benefit from the supportive connections we have created together over the years.
Mothers in our circle come from diverse backgrounds. Most of the mothers have school-aged children – whether they are in elementary, middle school, high school or college. Yet some of the moms have very young children, and some are empty nesters. We all learn and benefit from each other’s authentic sharing and rich experiences. Some moms are working moms, some are full time moms. All of the moms in our circle value relationships deeply, and understand the importance of deepen connection with their own, inner life in order to bring their calm, confident Self-Leadership to their children.
Founder & Director, Jaclyn Long, offers a group on Thursday mornings from 9am-11:15am virtually via Zoom. Her group is often full with a waitlist, so please inquire by clicking on the tab on the schedule page. While this is a maternal wellness group (a non-healthcare activity), Jaclyn is also a Marriage & Family Therapist, and you can find out more about her counseling practice here: jaclynlong.com and mcaft.com
CLICK HERE to see the schedule and sign up for the waitlist!
TESITMONIALS
“Jackie has taught me about finding stillness and unconditional love beneath each wave of experience. Because of this group, I have learned to apply the principles of mindfulness and compassion not only to myself, but also to my child’s life, my family and friends’ lives, my patient’s lives, and all that I meet.” – Kaveri P., Palo Alto, CA
“Prior to studying with Jackie, my willingness to be with a full, nuanced, rich range of emotion was limited. With Jackie’s loving guidance, inspiration and courage, I’m much more willing to be present with my feelings. I’m much more welcoming of all that arises in my self, others and in all things. Thank you.” – Kelly H., Palo Alto, CA
“With Jackie’s guidance, I have learned to be more in-tune with my own life’s rhythms. This class goes far beyond the physical. In a world with so many demands, this is just the sort of medicine I have been needing.” – Sarah S., Palo Alto, CA
“Thank you for all of the wonderful gifts you have given me through the last few years I’ve been taking yoga with you. You have changed my life and given me many new tools – insights and direction.” – Arlene K., Mountain View, CA
“Jackie has planted seeds in us that are so amazingly inspiring. Uplifted, I know that our power is unlimited and the creativity within us is rich. Jackie reminds us that when we bring peace into our own hearts, it stretches to the vast corners of the universe! Her love and guidance is so illuminating!” – Polly A., Palo Alto, CA
PLEASE NOTE: All activities, including groups, workshops and retreats, offered by Mind Body Moms are non-healthcare activities, and therefore no healthcare records will be generated.
Our Four Pillars
Mindful Moms is an integrative wellness program that reflects the values of self-awareness, compassion, authenticity and meaningful relationships. Each class features four components grounded in years of study of mindfulness, yoga, and compassionate parenting practices.
Parts Meditation
BE CURIOUS
Being curious about what is unfolding within our own, internal system is one of the greatest gifts we can offer ourselves as we navigate the beautiful chaos of motherhood. Curiosity offers ourselves permission to explore what we’re really feeling, to find the courage to look within ~ and focus on what’s really going on inside. Curiosity allows us to get us in touch with the full presence of being alive and helps us to embrace both joy and suffering with compassion. It is this very curiosity, compassion and self-understanding that will enable us to live from a place of Self-Leadership, which will in turn deeply nourish our relationships with our kids as they blossom & grow.
Mindfulness-Based Yoga
BE REPLENISHED
As mothers, we give so much of ourselves, both emotionally and physically. Taking the time to BREATHE with awareness and releasing stored tension through gentle yoga sequences helps us to recharge our spirits. After moving, stretching and breathing together, we can return home to our families more grounded and centered and ready to be the awake and aware moms our kids need us to be.
Deep Relaxation
BE CALM
Motherhood is one of the most important, toughest and most stressful jobs on the planet. Often it feels like we’re barely keeping our heads above water. Deep relaxation techniques help us to let go of stress, lower our baseline anxiety levels, and regulate our emotional responses so we can be more relaxed and at ease when we interact with our kids.
Community Spirit
BE SUPPORTED
Motherhood isn’t meant to be navigated alone. We need other women to help us celebrate the joyful moments and process the challenges of being someone else’s mom. We need to know that we’re not the only ones, and that others truly understand, so we don’t feel so ashamed of our shortcomings. We need to belong.
Our Purpose
Our Mind Body Moms groups exist to transform our relationships to ourselves, each other and our children with compassionate, non-judgmental awareness. At the heart of it all, our groups are focused on building a community – both internally and externally. The mothers in our circle are encouraged to connect and support each other outside of class as well, so a strong community of women has developed over time. Join us!
FAQ
This program is for mothers only (no kids in attendance please). Our groups are designed to have moms come no matter how old or young their children are. It has been a rich process for moms of young adults to be in the same group with moms who have babies and teens.
We do ask that moms come alone, without children, so that there can be a deepening of presence and focus in the room. Our only exception is for mothers with lap babies / newborns, because we want to make sure that women who just made the transition to motherhood can get the support they need and deserve, even if they can’t separate from their baby just yet. While this does cause a little disruption to the focus of the class, we feel it is worth it so that moms can get support and much needed connection.
The cost varies depending on how many weeks the class runs, and how long each meeting is. Some groups meet weekly or monthly, for 1.5, 2 or 3 hours at a time. Each group is unique. Please see the full SCHEDULE to find the cost for the group that works best for you. Our Spanish-Speaking groups in East Palo Alto and Half Moon Bay are free. Please let your Spanish-speaking friends, babysitters, nannies and co-workers know about this FREE opportunity to get support!
Currently, we offer Mindful Moms groups at various locations throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. (Click here to see our Schedule.) If you would like to participate, but live outside of the SF Bay Area, we would LOVE to have you join our Dedicated Moms online program, so you can join us from anywhere in the world, at the most convenient time for you!! BONUS: While you are enrolled in one of our Mindful Moms groups, you get FREE access to our Dedicated Moms online program!
Mindful Moms Groups are small circles of moms who share a common desire for deeper and more nourishing relationships with themselves and their kids. All groups are led by Mind Body Moms facilitators, who have extensive training as holistic wellness instructors and have backgrounds in family counseling and parenting education.
Each week, inspiring themes are woven into the mindfulness and yoga practice, such as self-care, mindful parenting, warm limit setting, handling our children’s emotional moments, managing maternal anxiety and cultivating compassion for ourselves and for our children.
