Managing Anxiety and Stress During Pregnancy and Motherhood, with Yoga Therapist Tess Jewell-Larsen
Finding Your Way Back to Balance: A Holistic Approach to Women’s Health During Pregnancy and Motherhood
As women, we’re often told we can do it all – manage stress the same way men do, bounce back quickly after childbirth, and seamlessly juggle the demands of modern life with raising children. But what if I told you that our bodies, our nervous systems, and our healing journeys are beautifully and fundamentally different?
In our latest podcast episode, I had the privilege of speaking with Tess, a holistic women’s health specialist who brings together yoga therapy, somatic healing, mindfulness coaching, and Ayurvedic nutrition to support women through pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond. Her approach isn’t about quick fixes or one-size-fits-all solutions – it’s about understanding your unique body and finding sustainable ways to support yourself through life’s transitions.
Understanding the Difference Between Stress and Anxiety
One of the most eye-opening parts of our conversation was when Tess explained the crucial difference between stress and anxiety. Stress, she explains, is our response to external pressures – deadlines, noisy environments, or immediate challenges. It typically resolves when the situation ends. Anxiety, however, is more internal and persistent. It lives in our future worries and past experiences, creating cycles of hypervigilance that our bodies carry even when the original stressor is gone.
For pregnant and postpartum women, this distinction is particularly important. The physical changes, hormonal shifts, sleep disruption, and overwhelming responsibility of caring for a tiny human can trigger both stress responses and anxiety cycles. Understanding which you’re experiencing can help you choose the right tools to support yourself.
The Power of Somatic Healing
Tess introduced us to the concept of somatic healing – essentially, the practice of coming back into your body and feeling safe there. As she beautifully explained, “soma” means body, but in this context, it’s about having that felt sense experience in your body rather than living entirely in your head.
This approach recognizes that everything we experience happens not just mentally, but physically. That stress you’re feeling? It might show up as tension in your shoulders, tightness in your jaw, or butterflies in your stomach. Somatic work helps us notice these physical manifestations and work with them rather than against them.
What I found particularly powerful was Tess’s emphasis that our stress responses are actually trying to protect us. Instead of fighting these responses, we can acknowledge them with gratitude and then gently guide our bodies toward more supportive patterns.
Practical Tools for Overwhelmed Mothers
One of the most practical parts of our conversation focused on what to do when you’re feeling overwhelmed and disconnected – something so many new mums experience. Tess shared simple but effective techniques:
- Finger rolling: Gently rolling your index finger from the base of your thumb upward, focusing on the sensation, sound, and any tingling you might feel
- Grounding through observation: Taking a moment to really look outside your window, notice the clouds, listen for birds, or simply observe a houseplant
- Connecting differently: Instead of just texting, actually calling a friend to hear their voice and have a conversation that goes beyond daily logistics
These might seem simple, but as Tess pointed out, research shows that even looking at pictures of nature or listening to bird sounds can activate our parasympathetic nervous system and promote calm.
Breaking the Isolation Cycle
For moms feeling stuck at home, whether due to pregnancy limitations or caring for a newborn, the feeling of disconnection can be overwhelming. Tess’s approach isn’t about adding more to your already full plate – it’s about finding small moments of connection that can shift your entire experience.
The key insight? You don’t need a mountain hike or beach walk to feel connected to something larger than yourself. Connection can happen through a meaningful conversation, observing nature from your window, or simply taking a moment to really see the living things around you.
The Courage to Ask for Help
Perhaps most importantly, Tess reminded us that reaching out for support isn’t a sign of weakness – it’s a sign of strength. Whether you’re dealing with postpartum anxiety, feeling overwhelmed, or simply need someone to talk to, asking for help shows incredible courage and self-awareness.
As providers and caregivers ourselves, we’re not above the human experience. We all have ups and downs, and giving ourselves permission to need support is actually an act of love – both for ourselves and for those who depend on us.
Work with Tess:
Join Tess’s Postnatal Yoga and Restorative Yoga Classes inside the Krish Yoga Membership www.krishyoga.com/yoga
Join Tess’s supportive community: https://www.tytoniyoga.com/pages/membership
Book a Free Consultation Call with Tess: https://www.tytoniyoga.com/offerings/book?offering=d178e911-6739-4802-875a-c12ac0f86b23&embed=undefined
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Thank you for listening!
