Documented in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras as one of the five practices that can align us with universal consciousness, and as part of the concept of yoga in action, ishvara pranidhana is a critical component of any yogi's practice. Ishvara pranidhana is commonly translated as surrender, but in the context of the modern world, an applied yoga practice, and your own experience as a busy, working mom, you can think of this concept as releasing control.

Yogic surrender, releasing control, or letting go invites us to delve deeper into our own purpose without forgetting that we are part of a much larger consciousness. It starts with understanding ourselves at a more profound level through svadyaya, using that knowledge to nurture and parent ourselves through self-care, and applying yogic discipline to align ourselves with our truest self. These steps lay the foundation for embracing ishvara pranidhana and opening ourselves to universal intelligence.

For moms, finding the right spaces to let go can be challenging, both as we grapple with who we are in the context of our roles as mother, partner, daughter, and more, and as our parenting unfolds through the years of raising our littles.

At LaRose Wellness Collective, I support busy moms in embracing a slower, quieter motherhood using yoga tools. A disciplined meditation practice is one of the most accessible ways to practice ishvara pranidhana alone, without pressure, and without judgment. In time, that practice naturally moves from your yoga mat into your day to day life and mothering, and your ability to release control and see the bigger picture improves as your alignment with universal consciousness strengthens.

Meditation: Ishvara Pranidhana in Motherhood

This 9-minute ishvara pranidhana visualization meditation invites you to rest beside a softly burbling stream. Use it to practice letting go, and notice whether you are able to release control of something in your day after practicing this meditation.

Journaling Exercise: Ishvara Pranidhana in Motherhood

This journaling exercise invites you to uncover and rework your mindset around something you've been clinging to in your motherhood journey. After your reflection, notice whether the way you approach this aspect of motherhood changes as you go about your day.

1. Identify one outcome for your children or for your personal motherhood journey that you may have been focusing on or clinging to recently.

2. How does it feel to hold that outcome so tight? Why is it so important for you?

3. Like we practiced in the meditation above, spend a few moments imagining releasing control over that outcome.

4. What might it look like to shift your focus from that specific future outcome to instead living in alignment with your truest self and as your best version of a mom today, in this moment?

Yoga, Nature, and Slow Living for Busy Moms

• The online yoga studio for busy, working moms seeking a slower way of life offers monthly pre-recorded yoga and meditation you can use to sink into a slower pace, plus a slow down framework where you can restructure your most overwhelming challenges into peaceful, rhythmic routines that support you and your family.

• Two-minute Reset Meditations for Routine Calm Days includes ten completely free two-minute meditations for you to capture a moment of calm right now, without spending an hour at the yoga studio or taking paid leave.

• The Mama Naturalist on my website and Substack is a space where I share both conceptual and practical guidance on slowing down, connecting to nature, and living seasonally.

• Mindful Moms Digest offers exclusive yoga and meditation classes, nature stories from a wildlife biologist (me!), and free, supportive resources including links back to every blog post for busy, working moms journeying toward a slower, more seasonal way of life.

• Cultivate Calm Mornings is a structured series of three yoga workshops that supports you in transforming your morning routine from chaotic to calm.