8: Self Love Revival And Body Image As A Mom with Tommie Burch, Wellness Lead At Wanderwild Family Retreats & Founder Of Balance By Tommie
Introduction
Motherhood is a transformative journey that challenges every part of our being—our identity, routines, relationships, and most of all, our relationship with ourselves. While caring for our families, many mothers lose connection with their bodies, desires, and sense of self. The constant outward giving often leads to self-neglect. But there is a way back: a self-love revival.
In this post, inspired by Episode 8 of The Wand(HER)wild Podcast, we explore the emotional and practical aspects of reviving self-love as a mother. From healing body image issues to nurturing inner dialogue, this article offers actionable tips, personal stories, and powerful tools to help modern moms reconnect with their bodies and intuition.
Understanding Self-Love in Motherhood
Self-love is not about vanity or indulgence—it's about respect, compassion, and awareness. For many mothers, self-love becomes more complicated post-birth as bodies change, time becomes limited, and emotional labor increases.
Guest expert and yoga teacher Tommie Burch explains that self-love is foundational to every other relationship in our lives. When we hold ourselves with compassion and worthiness, our ability to connect with others—children, partners, friends—naturally improves.
The Body Image Shift: From Perfectionism to Presence
Before motherhood, many women link body image to productivity, control, or perfectionism. After becoming mothers, those routines often disappear, replaced by unpredictable schedules, hormonal changes, and postpartum recovery.
Carolyn, co-host of the podcast, shared how her own journey moved from a perfectionist mindset to practicing "equanimity"—the idea of being open and accepting of oneself exactly as they are.
Monica added that reframing how she viewed her body helped her celebrate its strength. Her body had carried, birthed, and nourished her children. That, she realized, was more meaningful than any number on the scale.
How to Begin Your Self-Love Revival
Here are practical steps to support your journey back to self-love:
1. Start with Micro Moments of Connection
You don’t need an hour to yourself every day. Even 3 minutes of mindful breathing, movement, or journaling can shift your energy.
2. Move With Intention
Tommy recommends yoga and Pilates as movement modalities that bridge mind, body, and soul. They promote strength and awareness while offering space for emotional release.
Try this: Warrior II pose while saying affirmations like, "I am strong. I am grounded. I am capable."
3. Rethink Social Media
What you consume matters. Curate your feed to include voices that empower, not shame. Unfollow accounts that trigger comparison.
Tommie’s Tip: Practice a "social media diet" by unfollowing accounts that diminish your sense of self-worth.
4. Feel Your Feelings, Then Let Them Move
Shame and guilt are natural but not permanent. Practices like breathwork, somatic movement, and emotional journaling help clear stored emotions.
5. Redefine Worth Beyond Appearance
What if you measured your worth by your compassion, creativity, or intuition instead of your waistline? Reclaim metrics that reflect your true self.
Yoga and Pilates: Rebuilding the Mind-Body Connection
Tommie shared how a single yoga pose changed the way she saw her body. In Warrior II, she realized she liked how strong she looked, not how small. This marked a pivotal shift from self-criticism to self-appreciation.
Yoga invites stillness, reflection, and emotional awareness. Pilates, with its focused verbal cues and structure, can be ideal for Type A personalities seeking reconnection with their core—literally and energetically.
Benefits of Intuitive Movement:
Builds confidence
Improves pelvic floor and core strength
Creates space for self-inquiry
Encourages embodied presence
Raising Body-Positive Children: It Starts With Us
The way we speak to ourselves matters, especially around our children. Kids absorb our behaviors and beliefs, even those unspoken. One of the most healing actions we can take is to model body neutrality and self-acceptance.
Tips for Modeling Self-Love for Children:
Say affirmations together in front of a mirror
Avoid negative self-talk about your body in front of them
Celebrate what your body can do, not how it looks
Read books and tell stories that center self-worth and diversity
Tommie's children's book, Being Me is Special, is designed exactly for this. It weaves yoga poses with gratitude prompts and reminds children that their inner gifts are what make them extraordinary.
Affirmations for You and Your Child
Create a ritual with your child or for yourself using affirmations like:
I am enough exactly as I am.
My body is powerful and wise.
I am grateful for all my body has done for me.
Being me is special.
When You're Disconnected: What to Do
Disconnection happens. Whether you're postpartum, working full-time, or managing toddler chaos, here are ways to re-ground:
Take a bath with salts: Use Epsom or Himalayan salt for energetic clearing
Walk outdoors: Nature restores nervous system regulation
Journal: Ask, "What part of me needs love today?"
Nap without guilt: Rest is productive
Remember: you don’t need to do more; you need to do what matters. Reconnection is about returning to yourself with love.
The Power of Community and Ritual
Healing doesn't happen in isolation. Whether you're in a formal coaching program or attending a retreat, being witnessed by others on a similar journey is powerful.
Monica, Carolyn, and Tommie offer a wide array of intentional spaces through Wand(HER)wild’s digital community and Wanderwild Family Retreats.
Final Thoughts: Returning to the Wild Within
A self-love revival isn’t about becoming someone new. It’s about remembering who you’ve always been. Beneath the external roles and changing body is a wild, intuitive, resilient mother who deserves reverence.
By embracing intentional movement, practicing mindful parenting, and speaking to yourself with compassion, you return home to your body and soul. Let your journey be messy. Let it be nonlinear. But let it begin.
Because when you choose to love yourself loudly, you give your children permission to do the same.
A Call to Mothers Seeking More
If this conversation resonates with you, we invite you to become part of the Wand(HER)wild community—a space where we explore self-development and mindful motherhood together.
Join the Movement
If this story resonates with you, we invite you to explore more. Visit our free resources, upcoming digital events, in person family retreats, and follow us on Substack or follow us on Instagram for conversations on self-healing and intentional living. Let’s walk this path together.
