We’re in this industry because movement, exercise, nutrition, and wellness have profoundly impacted our lives. Our passion for supporting and coaching others stems from our servant-hearted nature, guiding individuals to become their best selves. The response to my piece titled “More Than a Mom: Helping Clients Achieve Fitness and Wellness While Juggling Life” was very positive with an outpouring of support from leaders and coaches who aim to center caretakers on how they prioritize their care despite having busy lives. The concept of “More Than a Mom” highlights the importance of providing mothers and caretakers with a supportive community. This support encourages ongoing wellness and well-being, helping to prevent burnout and positively impact their lives. Little humans benefit from those who care for them being of the most sound mind and body and observing modeled behavior of self-care taking a front seat.
Our role in the wellness continuum of mother figures
How we influence the lives of mothers is crucial to our role in the wellness continuum. Many of us lean towards the client-facing side of wellness and coach in various ways in session. For others of us, we might have shifted into leadership roles within the wellness industry that have taken us more behind the scenes. No matter which side or facet of the coin we are on, centering “wellness” above all else, ensures that we provide mother figures the onramp to being on the active pursuit of activities, choices, and lifestyles that lead to a state of holistic health.
The wellness continuum is a framework to consistently come back to, particularly through the lens of support for clients who then have to care for others:
Spiritual Wellness: Seeking meaning and higher purpose in human existence.
Social Wellness: Connecting & engaging with others and our communities meaningfully.
Environmental Wellness: Fostering positive interrelationships between planetary health and human actions, choices, and well-being.
Physical Wellness: Nourishing a healthy body through exercise, nutrition, and sleep.
Mental Wellness: Engaging the world through learning, problem-solving, and creativity.
Emotional Wellness: Being aware of, accepting, and expressing our feelings, to then understand the feelings of others.
Vocational Wellness: Building meaning through purpose-driven work and provision for one’s family
As coaches, how can service for moms include a review of the many ways that taking time for them is necessary for their survival through the trials and tribulations of life while exerting understanding for unique situations and off-the-cuff scenarios? Too many of us know that each day we plan a routine, monkey wrenches of all sizes can cause our priorities to take a back seat. From waking up to a sick child to stacks of homework, our ability to pivot and adapt as moms requires the support of our community members and their flexibility as well. For many moms, we might juggle more than one role within their vocational lives. An added facet to wellness is Vocational Wellness. Many might debate if this is a cornerstone for what wellness is understood as, however, it’s a part of our day-to-day lives. The stay-at-home mom can also protest that their lives are full of vocational duties that support an entire household while serving as “domestic engineers.”
Our role in the professional continuum for mother figures
Considering how many mothers are also professionals in the world who are balancing their jobs alongside child-rearing, industry leaders can also check out my piece “Developing Women Professionally in the Health, Fitness, and Wellness Industry” for insights targeting how to support developmental movement throughout the fitness and wellness space. With less than 11% of women in leadership positions within the health, fitness, and wellness industry there is more than work to be done – we have a full rehaul opportunity to ensure that equity is an accessible component of how women move throughout the fitness industry. How is this done while being the main caretaker for little humans? The wellness industry enables moms to lead by example for their little humans; Mothers should have the support and mentoring needed to pursue their careers while raising children, ensuring they can thrive both professionally and personally. No matter what the role, mother figures deserve the opportunity to work alongside of their circles of influence to do whichever best suits their strengths:
- Health and Wellness Director
- Corporate Wellness Consultant
- Chief Wellness Officer
- Corporate Wellness & Benefits Director
- Group Fitness Director
- Chief Executive Officer
- Chief Financial Officer
- Fitness Instructor
- Personal Trainer
- Physical Education Teacher
- Exercise Physiologist
- Wellness Coach
- Fitness Manager
The list goes on! Representation matters in leadership roles and C-suite opportunities within the health, fitness, and wellness industry.
What are some other ways that the intersection of motherhood and fitness and wellness can collide to support those who are growing our population of young people?
References:
- Global Wellness Institute. (2023, August 21). What is Wellness? – Global Wellness Institute. https://globalwellnessinstitute.org/what-is-wellness/
- How some working, single moms manage to exercise. (n.d.). Association for Psychological Science – APS. https://www.psychologicalscience.org/news/how-some-working-single-moms-manage-to-exercise.html
- Paulise, L. (2024, February 20). 5 steps to start Timeboxing and Improve your Time-Management Skills. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/lucianapaulise/2022/11/03/5-steps-to-start-timeboxing-and-improve-your-time-management-skills/?sh=532fe9525ef3
- Wittels, P., Kay, T., & Mansfield, L. (2022). The Family Is My Priority: How Motherhood Frames Participation in Physical Activity in a Group of Mothers Living in a Low Socioeconomic Status Area. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(3), 1071. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031071
Katrina Liew Wilson
Katrina is a global educator and Certified Wellness Specialist dedicated to bridging gaps through equitable access and collaborative coaching. With over 20 years of experience, she leads diverse teams, creates support groups, and mentors future leaders. Katrina specializes in Bias Unearthing, Neurodiversity Inclusion, and Intersectional Inclusion. She holds a Master of Science in Exercise Science and Health Promotion, certificates in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell and USF, and an Associate of Science in Graphic Design. Katrina’s mission is to foster unity through self-care and compassion, making healing a path to deeper purpose and inclusivity.
