I recently launched a mothers day mini session day and met some beautiful mothers as a result. I’m just taking a moment to celebrate the win that this has been for me, and decided to share it.
I know Mothers day is for some incredibly important, for others incredibly painful, and for others something they couldn’t care less about – and all of that’s okay. I wanted to get creative, to give something that was meaningful and to celebrate mothers in whatever stage of their journey they were when we met.
Of course, it’s been timed to fit mothers day, and I wanted to make sure I got everyone their gallery beforehand, but deeper than that, it was a celebration of mothers in their every day, and that’s exactly how it felt actually.
I need to say it was an honour to meet, share and capture the wonderful mothers who came.
We went to the woods and walked and captured moments of their relationship with their beautiful tiny people. I wanted it to be natural, relaxed and away from the whole “pose for a photo” vibe that comes with a random stranger and their camera being around you.
I think there’s absolutely a place for that kind of photo, but I’m not the one to be taking it and that’s okay. I’m really grateful that I live somewhere that I can say let’s meet at “xyz” and the people who are cool with it come.
With all my heart I am so grateful this is a reality I am living where I can do this. The version of me who was hopeful, afraid and eventually gave up trying 6 years ago is part of who I am today, and without her I wouldn’t have been able to offer this, create in this way or share, but here we are.
Capturing motherhood not in a posed “smile for the camera” kind of way, but in the twinkly smiles and excited hugs kind of way.
It’s been an intense week at home and honestly I felt like I wasn’t going to show up and give a class that supported anyone.
But I paused.
Because the idea that it is my job to support anyone in class sounds well intentioned and fitting, but also feels rooted in a more complex colonial lens that says “I’m the teacher and those who come to class need something from me” – which is icky as hell!
So I decided to go.
For me.
Yes I’d committed. Yes there was the element of it being a pre-booked session… but I was ready to postpone it until I decided it was for me.
Because showing up for me was a way for me to be there messy and human, and make mistakes and laugh, without the idea that I was ‘leading a class’ anymore.
And that felt good.
And in the end, class was messy and human and I got m uddled up but laughed and shared and it was beautiful to be in a space with other humans. I listened to a couple of songs on the drive in, and I sat for a whole 3 minutes listening to some Mantras before starting.
I set intentions like every week and then as people came in I felt my body’s gratitude that I’d shown up.
Was it perfect, no? Did it mean something, absolutely.
More than that though, I got to reflect on why I wanted to cancel, and undo some of the intensely woven conditioning we have in the wellness industry about what yoga classes mean – I’m not any better or worse for teaching, but I am evolving, and that’s magick.
A few months ago I anxiously asked a friend of mine if she would be willing to do some modeling for me. As a photographer I usually capture family’s and wanted to do something different. I was worried she’d think it would be super weird or out of our friendship bounds but 20 seconds of bravery was all it took. I asked, and she, being the awesome human she is, said yes!
We set a date and shared a Pinterest board, and came up with a vision. It was new, exciting and I was honestly nervous. I knew the session was important, for both of us, and she was trusting me… and I am so glad she did.
We walked to our chosen spot, a gorgeous relatively hidden spot in the woods – we didn’t even have to leave Helensbrugh! We shared focaccia and chocolate, drank tea and spoke about life. Of course, we also took some photos (they’re coming, promise).
Our Pinterest board was very earthy. It focused on loving the body we are gifted with, and appreciating ourselves. There were some beautiful inspirations with shadow and raw, magickal fairy witch energy. Using them, and drawing into her expertise teaching yoga, here’s a snippet of what we created.
These 3 coloured ones are some of my favourite. To me they tell a beautiful story, and to my friend.
The depth of these monochrome ones gives me chills.
I thought the other day about how if I hadn’t taken those 20 seconds, I wouldn’t have had this incredible experience. 20 seconds of bravery turned into hours of creative healing. My photographer cup was filled, my friendship deepened, and now I know a cool spot to take clients who want to get creative. Wins all round.
Oh and of course I shared the gallery and cried at her feedback because it gave me allll the feels!
Do you have a thing you need 20 seconds of courage for? Go do it!
Pregnancy is a beautiful and transformative journey, but lets be honest it can also be exhausting. As your body works hard to grow and nourish your baby, there will be many a day where you might feel like a nap is the only solution. Definitely nap as much as you can if you want to, especially when its baby number 1! When you’ve got more though, napping isn’t always an option, but sometimes a bit of yoga can change the trajectory of your day immensely.
Rather than pushing through exhaustion the way society often expects and encourages us, it’s really important to listen to your body’s wisdom. Women have been growing babies forever yes, but they have also had space and time to honour the transition this brings, which unfortunately we’ve lost.
Pregnancy yoga offers a gentle way to reconnect with yourself and your baby while also providing much-needed relaxation. The right yoga postures can help ease tension, improve circulation, and support emotional well-being—all without over-exerting yourself, and they often lend themselves to getting toddlers involved too!
If you’re in Helensburgh and looking for a way to move that feels nourishing rather than draining, Im running pregnancy yoga classes locally and would love for you to join. If you’re futher away, these six pregnancy-friendly yoga postures will help you rest, restore, and bond with your little one, and you don’t even have to leave the house!
The following postures are designed to be deeply nourishing, allowing you to move in a way that feels supportive and build up some energy for you to take into life off the mat.
5 Nourishing Pregnancy Yoga Postures for When You’re Tired
1. Supported Child’s Pose (Balasana) – A Restorative Hug for You and Baby
Child’s Pose is one of the most restorative poses in yoga, gently stretching the back and hips while promoting deep relaxation. In pregnancy, a supported variation using props can help relieve pressure on the belly and lower back.
How to do it: – Kneel on your mat with your knees wider than your hips to create space for your bump. – Place a bolster or a few pillows in front of you. – Slowly fold forward, resting your chest and head on the support. – Allow your arms to drape alongside or hug the bolster for comfort. – Breathe deeply and visualize sending love and calm to your baby.
Why it helps: This posture provides a sense of safety and surrender, encouraging deep relaxation and reducing stress.
A forward fold can feel like a much-needed pause, giving your body a moment to relax while gently stretching your back and hamstrings. When you’re carrying bump all day, it’s also a chance to let the earth hold that weight a while, and for you to feel supported.
How to do it: – Sit with your legs as wide as is comfortable and extended, knees slightly bent if needed. – Place a bolster or cushion in front of you, leaving space for bump. – Inhale to lengthen your spine, then exhale as you fold forward, resting on the support. – Let your hands rest on your legs or the bolster and breathe deeply.
Why it helps: This posture encourages introspection, helping you tune in to your baby while also relieving lower back discomfort.
3. Cat-Cow Stretch (Marjaryasana-Bitilasana) – Gentle Flow for Spine and Breath
This simple movement helps to ease back pain and promotes fluidity in the spine, making it a wonderful way to gently energize your body without over-exertion.
How to do it: – Start on all fours with your wrists under shoulders and knees under hips. – Inhale, arching your back and lifting your head (Cow Pose). – Exhale, rounding your spine and tucking your chin (Cat Pose). – Move with your breath, taking it slow and steady.
Why it helps: The rhythmic motion soothes the nervous system, enhances circulation, and provides a lovely opportunity to connect with your baby.
4. Legs-Up-the-Wall Pose (Viparita Karani) – A Gentle Circulation Boost
If your feet or legs feel swollen or heavy, this is a wonderful posture to encourage blood flow and relieve fatigue.
How to do it: – Sit sideways next to a wall and gently swing your legs up. – Keep your knees slightly bent and a cushion under your hips if needed. – Rest your arms comfortably by your sides and close your eyes. – Stay for a few minutes, breathing deeply.
Why it helps: This posture helps reduce swelling in the legs, promotes relaxation, and gently supports circulation. Super effective for taking the pressure of hemeroids too.
5. Goddess Pose (Utkata Konasana) – Open Hips, Open Heart
This standing posture allows for a hip-opening stretch while strengthening the sense of deep power with you.
How to do it: – Stand comfortably with the soles of your feet apart, extend them into a wide legged squat, letting your knees drop open. – When you’re ready, as you squat down bring the hands up beside the ears, palms facing forwards. – Stand tall and take slow breaths, letting your body relax and feel the power you hold.
Why it helps: This posture encourages openness in the hips, strengthens muscles in hour legs, and provides a moment to simply be powerful with your baby.
One of the most important lessons yoga teaches us—whether pregnant or not—is to respect and honor the body’s intuition. When you’re expecting, this wisdom becomes even more vital. In many ways, this is training for when you’re parenting. Some days, you might feel full of energy and eager to move; other days, exhaustion might take over, and rest will feel like the best option. Trust that both states are valid.
Practice – on a mat, practice off a mat, come practice with me locally if you can, but ultimately, practice. It doesn’t have to look perfect or fancy, and don’t need anything fancy, just you, your beautiful growing baby and an intention for rest.
I was looking through old photos last night from a few years ago. Family, friends, photos I had taken and then just left on my laptop because life got busy.
There were hundreds of them from the first few years of Ps life. Some made me cringe as a photographer, others made me stop and think “oh my god did I really look like that!”
But the ones that had the biggest impact were the ones of P; and of me with him specifically. They made me pause and reflect how little he was, and how much our life has changed.
Then I found some of me with A before she was walking and that flooded through a whole host of different emotions! During covid they were some of the first self portraits I think I properly played with and I had forgotten about them!
Then I found photos with the kids big expressions. The faces that they still make now, just as older versions of themselves, and the little smiles or scrunched up noses they have grown out of. There’s one of P in Hermitage Park and I can see so much of each of his siblings in the way his face lights up.
I love photography that’s no secret, but to dig through pictures and find captures memories of my own little family that I had forgotten was a beautiful gift from my past self. I am grateful to her.
It’s why I think it’s so important to pause our busy lives to make time for photography. It’s also why I’m so passionate about motherhood photography (and fatherhood/parenthood) because as the person behind the camera, I see the beauty of your everyday little interactions with your kids and I want to freeze them; I want to suspend time and snap up those ordinary exchanges and wrap them up beautifully for you to hide away and open in a year or 2 or 10.
That you in the future might have forgotten how your child whispered into your ear while walking in the woods. Or how they felt up on your shoulders with their wellyboots by your chest. Or how they gifted you leaves and pinecones because to them they were beautiful treasures.
These tiny details feel so big now, but in 2, 5, 10 or 50 years, it’s the photographs that bring back the smells and sounds to your memory.
That’s why photography matters.
That’s why motherhood photography matters even more.
It isn’t for the Instagram post or Christmas card this year.
It’s for you. In the future. The you that has forgotten. The you that misses these moments. The you that wants to remember.
Capture your moments – you won’t regret it
Rohana x
Manage Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
