How yoga helped me find balance
“Okay lang ako.. I need to take care of them first."
That was my mindset for years. My time, energy, and all my effort—para muna sa mga kids, for my husband, for my family back home. That’s typical, right? Growing up in the Philippines, I never really saw moms take time for themselves. They were always doing something for someone else. And naturally, when I became a mom myself, I followed the same pattern.
Until one day, I realized… I was running on empty. And you can’t pour from an empty cup. That’s when my journey into self-care began. Slowly, very slowly — but also joyfully. Let me tell you about it.
My Zumba Phase – Finding Energy Through Movement
I’ve done zumba while I was back in the US even before I met my husband. Then I did zumba when I moved to the Netherlands. But then I became a busy mom to babies, then toddlers, then preschoolers. Walang time. When my boys started grade school, I found myself with a sliver of “free” time in the mornings. So I went back to doing zumba infront of our tv with a dvd. At one point I also joined an online zumba class of a friend of mine. Zumba is something I will always love. The music is great, the moves are easy to follow. I love dancing, so why not dancing while doing a workout, right? Unfortunately, as my schedule kept changing (I’m a working mom, too) it was becoming difficult for me to maintain doing zumba and it could no longer align with my daily routine. Even physical classes do not fit my free days from work.
Painting – Reconnecting with Creativity
After Zumba, I stumbled into another of my old hobbies — painting. I don’t have any formal training. I just start to outline, sketch then paint. I think I started drawing early in grade school, but it’s really more for fun than of real interest. Nowadays, painting calms me. The focus on my brushstrokes slows me down. Sa sobrang focus minsan I forget about time. I realize I hadn’t checked my phone or thought about chores in over an hour. It was like a mini-vacation for my brain. And more importantly, it reminded me that I am a creative person. That feels good to know.
If you’ve never tried painting, journaling, knitting, or even adult coloring books — go for it! You don’t have to be “good” at it. Just enjoy the process.
Yoga – My Quiet Sanctuary
Eventually, I found myself craving for something more structured, more regular, but also something that heals my mind as well as my body (those aches and pains started coming left and right when i turned 50!). That’s when I discovered our free Sunday morning yoga sessions at our local library. One peaceful hour, in a quiet space, we can meditate, we all can relax. And the first class I attended changed everything. Ganito pala ang feeling ng nagyo-yoga. I didn’t think I would be into yoga. I really love to dance, I preferred to do my zumbas. But I remember feeling light and very relaxed both in my mind and body in that moment of exercise and sometimes thereafter. I love it! It was an extra cherry on the top that a couple of my mom girlfriends were there in our sessions too, so that we can also hang out for a couple of minutes after the sessions to catch up.
Since then, yoga has become my weekly ritual. And I also recently signed up for a 5-minute stretching and pilates online for my morning routine. Yoga doesn’t require equipment, any talent, or rhythm. Just a mat and a willing heart. And that’s why I fell in love with it. Because it fits me for now. My time, my energy level, and my current well-being.
What I’ve Learned: It’s Not About the Activity — It’s About You
Here’s what I would love for you to take away from this: self-care isn’t a trend or luxury. It’s a lifeline.
It doesn’t have to look like mine. Maybe Zumba isn’t your thing. Maybe painting bores you. Maybe yoga makes you feel too still. That’s okay. But I encourage you to find your own rhythm.
Maybe it’s:
- Walking or biking while listening to 90s OPM hits
- Dancing in the kitchen while cooking
- Kickboxing or martial arts to release stress
- Writing poetry or journaling your day
- Taking long baths with candles and music
- Volunteering for causes you care about
- Binge-watching K-dramas perhaps? (hopefully not for too long hours though!)
Whatever brings you peace — own it! And if you're asking me how to make that first step if you start feeling overwhelmed? I'd say... start small. I know for some of us, it can even be difficult to start at all, diba? So, you don’t need to book a spa weekend or overhaul your routine. You don’t even need to spend outright!
Here are some ideas I could suggest:
- Schedule 10 minutes a day just for you. No chores. No kids. Just silence or music or movement. (Challenging right? But you can do it!)
- Try one new activity a month. Maybe that’s a Zumba video. Maybe that’s a walk in a new park. Maybe that’s buying a tiny canvas and just seeing what happens. Cycling around? Sure thing!
- Ask your partner and/or kids to support you. I think this is quite important. Tell them why “mommy time” is needed. Let them see that you want to prioritize your well-being sometimes. And that's okay.
- Join a local group or online community. There are many expat moms in the Netherlands who are looking for connection too. You’re not alone.
Final thoughts: Happy mom, happy home
Moms are the heart of the home. (Not just ilaw ng tahanan.) But even hearts need rest. (And lights need to be recharged, right?). And I hear people say this a lot .. when we take care of ourselves, we feel great, our smiles come easier, our patience lasts longer, our joy becomes contagious. So from one mom to another: you deserve joy. You deserve rest. You deserve to feel like YOU again. Try the yoga. Do the Zumba. Pick up the paintbrush. Walk, cycle, laugh, cry, breathe. Whatever it takes to come back to yourself.
Because when mom is okay, everybody at home is okay.
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