Mindful Mothering: It's Not What You Think!

THE CONSCIOUS PATH

Exhibits at the Museum of Motherhood in New York City examine the story of motherhood and its evolving role in shaping an emerging culture and new generation. Pictured are Karen Brody, BOLD founder; Lisa Reagan, Families for Conscious Living cofounder; Cassandra Vieten, Ph.D., Mindful Motherhood author; Jeanne Ohm, D.C., Pathways publisher; and Joy Rose, museum director. Photos by Joy Rose

Mindful Mothering: It’s Not What You Think!

Sponsored by Families for Conscious Living, the Institute of Noetic Sciences and Pathways, the first-ever Mindful Mothering Conference gathers at the Museum of Motherhood in New York City By Lisa Reagan

hy do people conjure an image of a mother and then opened the floor to interactive audience discus- and child floating effortlessly through a sion. Cassandra Vieten, Ph.D., author of the research- W field of daisies when they hear the phrase, based and groundbreaking book, Mindful Motherhood: “mindful mothering”? In daily reality, the practical tools Practical Tools for Staying Sane During Pregnancy and Your of mindfulness are designed to bring us fully into the Child’s First Year, shared mindfulness basics before mov- moment with an open mind and open heart, ready to ing on to the more serious implications of her three-year accept the endless laundry, exhaustion and loneliness, research project. as well as the connection, tenderness and joy we find on “Mindfulness is a practice of being aware of your our brief journeys through motherhood. experience, from moment to moment, allowing it to I say “brief” because the 18 years of hands-on care for be just as it is without evaluation or judgment,” said Dr. our children is now a fraction of our total lives, especially Vieten. “Over time, mindful awareness of your experiences since most of us are living longer and will be active into as a mom, whether they are internal (mental, physical our senior years. Put into perspective, most parents or emotional) or external (situations with your baby agree that, despite the stresses of modern parenting, we or others), allows you to more and more often approach don’t want to miss a moment with our children. So how each experience with curiosity and compassion, for are we to stay awake and aware through the greatest yourself and for others.” adventure of our lives? Dr. Vieten explained to the MOM audience, “Mindful The first-ever Mindful Mothering conference, held awareness recognizes that each experience is tempo- at the Museum of Motherhood (MOM) in New York City rary, and with practice, you can learn to ride the waves on November 7, 2011, set out to answer this question. Its of everyday life, allowing each one to arise, peak and presenters shared their integrated insights developed pass away, as all experiences do. Mindful awareness can through professional training and mothering experiences, help you notice and derive greater enjoyment from the

6 pathwaystofamilywellness.org issue 33 simple, subtle pleasures of life as a mom—the way the “There were also trends toward light shines on your little one’s fuzzy head, or the grasp of his hand on your finger—no matter what else may be reduced symptoms of depression going on.” As Pathways readers know, optimal wellness begins and increased positive emotion. pre-conception. Echoing this vitalistic principle, Dr. Vieten’s mindful mothering research reveals that the The women in our courses were benefits to mother and baby increase the earlier the practice is begun. from all walks of life, and most “A large body of evidence in both animal and human studies indicates that stress and mood disturbance expe- found it an enriching experience.” rienced during pregnancy increases the risk for preterm birth, low birth weight and other pregnancy-related —Dr. Cassandra Vieten complications, and may adversely affect the developing fetus,” explained Vieten. “Postnatal mood disturbance experience, with paying attention to my son consciously can interfere with attachment, quality of mother-infant instead of just getting through. It was much more of a interactions, healthy parenting behaviors, and child struggle with my daughter. development. While a wealth of evidence supports all “All of the mothers who attended the conference with these facts, surprisingly little information is available to us said they wished more people knew about mindful women and clinicians for reducing stress and improving mothering,” Shields said. “How do we bring other people mood in pregnancy and postpartum.” to this? That was our underlying thought.” Audience members at the conference found the In the coming months, the online Mindful Mother- information and presentations exciting and “unique.” hood program will be available to professionals and Michael Chase, the sole male participant, said of Jeanne parents alike. The book and program is based on a Ohm’s high-energy presentation, “This is worth the price three-year intervention development project at the of admission alone!” California Pacific Medical Center’s Research Institute. “Jeanne was very insightful. She’s really made a busi- The study showed that participating in the eight-week ness to educate people about birth and how it is meant program reduced negative effects and anxiety during and supposed to be. She has a great perspective,” he pregnancy, and held the promise of reducing depression said. “I thought it was interesting to hear what women and increasing positive emotion through pregnancy into are thinking during pregnancy and birth. As a man, I the postpartum period. am exempt from all of that.” But Chase, who is a talent “This pilot study showed that it was possible to learn acquisition specialist for Goodwill Industries during the mindful awareness during pregnancy and early moth- day and a personal chef for the elderly by night, said he erhood (even with baby in tow!), and that women who was now more prepared for his future, which included engaged in mindfulness training during pregnancy had getting married in 2012. fewer negative emotions and anxiety during pregnancy Janae Shields, M.S.W., the green initiatives coordina- compared to women who did not participate in the tor for Goodwill Industries, attended the conference training,” said Vieten. “There were also trends toward with ten single mothers sponsored by GWI. Shields, who reduced symptoms of depression and increased positive runs the Beyond Jobs program at the Goodwill Center in emotion. The women in our courses were from all walks the Bronx, wanted to expose the mothers to the idea of of life, and most found it an enriching experience.” mindful mothering. The first-ever Mindful Mothering Conference brought “I actually think it is a great thing to share with moth- together activists whose life’s work expands on and demon- ers,” she said. “I was already familiar with the practice strates the possibilities for wellness through mindfulness of mindfulness. It was my hope that the moms there in pregnancy, birth, motherhood and conscious parenting. would find what they need. A lot of people we help are Presenters at the conference included Cassandra in survival mode and just trying to get food on the table, Vieten, Ph.D., who is a licensed clinical psychologist, and don’t get to enjoy mothering. I was hoping that they and director of research at the Institute of Noetic would find something to help them manage their stress Sciences (IONS); co-director of the Mind-Body Medicine a little bit better as they manage their children.” Research Group at California Pacific Medical Center In a post-conference discussion, Shields said, “Every- Research Institute in San Francisco; and co-president one said they wished they knew about mindful mother- of the Institute for Spirituality and Psychology. ing before they had their kids, not after they were five mindfulmotherhood.org years old, or more. My daughter is four years old, and my Lisa Reagan, Pathways associate editor and co- son is ten months, and that was a completely different founder of Families for Conscious Living, connected

issue 33 pathwaystofamilywellness.org 7 tic tenet, “GettheBigIdeaandAllElseFollows: Awak of mindfulmotheringwiththe philosophicalchiroprac executive editor of national Chiropractic Pediatric Association(ICPA) and boldaction.org groundbreaking childbirthpreparation method. Body Rocks Project andFEARto FREEDOM Birth,anew care mother-friendly. SheisalsothefounderofMy as partofBOLD, aglobalmovement to make maternity acclaimed play performedaround theworld since2006 ing challenges.Sheistheauthorof Brody isamotheroftwo boys, onewithsevere learn from pregnancy through birth,andinto motherhood?” keep your internal power switch on,nomatter what, Birth andBeyond,” andasked, “How doyou find and Let theBaby Drive, Parent2ParentU. She haswritten three books,including perfections inthejourney. Hanessianisthefounderof Resilient Kids”addressed self-acceptance forourim Conflicts Can HelpUsRaise Authentic, Connected and Imperfect Mothering: How OurMistakes, Fears, and Pathways to read andshare these“new” stories asthey are told in and planetarywellness. Lisaalsoencourages families old stories andto write anew onesthatsupportpersonal collectively usemindfulnessskillsto becomeaware of perfect settingto encourage mothersto personally and cultural “stories,” theMuseumofMotherhoodwas a and suffragette women who railed against misogynistic Project. Surrounded by displays andimagesofVictorian through her training intheIONSWorldview Literacy the dotsbetween ourcultural stories ofmotherhood 8 Photo by Joy Rose out thepregnancy vests. Conference andmuseumattendees try

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letthebabydrive.org Birth , acritically “ If you think of your life as a garden, how do you cultivate cultivate you howdo life asagarden, ofyour think If you this living soil and then decide what to grow? In practical practical grow?In to what decide andthen living soil this — Life You Want.”Healthy =The +Action and Awareness Living, =Conscious Choice +Informed Mindfulness choice. life’s your into bring aremakinganinformed you garden, like to would you ‘soil/soul,’ seeds what decide you when tomorrow. wellness ofyour grow into awareness With rootand take choicestoday your that realize parent, you andholistic creative acultural As ofmindfulness. practice tools and the through canbetended earth, of animated body abeautiful through projected allofyou, and spirit, emotions ofmind,your state being,your your reality, Lisa Reagan

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conscious pregnancy to daily family living, mothering ening OurInnerGuidanceforMindfulLiving.” “From The Huffington Post specializes inwomen’s health.Jessica isacontributor to and a clinical psychologist basedinLosAngeles,who session with choices forourfamilies.” guidance andtrustthatwe are makingthebest,mindful tivity to thismajorpremise, we are ableto receive clear paradigm forliving,” shesaid.“With continuedconnec is ourgreatest opportunityto discover ourpersonal tofamilywellness.org. Lisa Reagan formore informationatlisa.reagan@pathways or participatingintheeight-week program, contact or withagroup. Ifyou are interested insponsoring may take theonlineversion oftheprogram individually facilitator-training portionoftheprogram, whileparents can earncontinuingeducationcredits through the our Pathways Connect groups. Wellness practitioners Motherhood project to bringthisonline program to online magazine and Participants intheconference alsoenjoyed a free Pathways Jessica Zucker, Ph.D., to your group Worldshiftto your aboutthe to Wellness. Literacy and ishappy facilitator tospeak Project Lisaisatrainedfor ConsciousLiving. Worldview to Family Wellness for associateeditor Lisa Reaganisthe is happy to collaborate with theMindful , PBS’s Pathways

icpa4kids.org This EmotionalLife and the cofounderofFamilies andthe . drjessicazucker.com amotheringexpert ,

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