Supporting Maternal Mental Health With Annie Clarke

Finding space to breathe: gentle movement & mental wellbeing for mums

At Kit & Kin, we believe that supporting parents goes beyond creating gentle products for your baby and your home. As parents ourselves, we know that true care means holding space for the people behind the 3am feeds and neverending nappy changes - the ones in the thick of it every single day.

This Maternal Mental Health Week, yoga teacher Annie Clarke has joined us to shine a light on the emotional and mental load mothers carry - and to share a few simple tools that can help mums slow down, take a breath and enjoy some gentle movement.

There are so many challenges to mothers' mental health

Motherhood can be transformative and beautiful, but it can also be incredibly tough on your mental health. There are so many challenges, and they often overlap:

Isolation, especially in the early days
Judgement from others - or even ourselves
Anxiety, both general and specific to parenting
Cultural pressure to parent a certain way, or to ‘bounce back’ after pregnancy
Socioeconomic stress, including lack of access to childcare or support.

When we talk about maternal mental health, we’re not just talking about pre- and postpartum depression - although that’s a very real and important part of the picture. We’re talking about the full spectrum of emotional wellbeing for mums at every stage, from pregnancy and the fourth trimester, to the school run and beyond.

It’s so important that we prioritise supporting mothers’ mental health, both for their own wellbeing and for the health of their families. A mother’s mental wellbeing directly influences her child’s emotional, social and cognitive development. When we care for mums, we care for future generations.

What tools can we use to support mothers?

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, but there are some key areas that can make a huge difference:

Making resources more readily available - from mental health support to postnatal care
Focussing on community, to help reduce feelings of loneliness
Offering practical wellness tools, so mums have something to support their mental wellbeing at home

Taking a moment for you

You don’t need to have hours of spare time, a babysitter or a yoga studio to take a moment for yourself as a busy mum. In fact, some of the most powerful practices are the simplest. Here are a few to explore:

1. Breathwork practices (Pranayama)
Techniques like Nadi Shodhana (alternate nostril breathing) help regulate the nervous system and reduce anxiety - no yoga mat needed.

2. Postpartum yoga
Gentle movement that supports the body in recovery while creating a moment to reconnect with yourself. These practices can also include your baby, supporting that emotional bond.

3. Guided meditation & mindfulness
Whether it's five minutes of focused breathing or a body scan before bed, meditation helps slow down racing thoughts, calm anxiety and build resilience.

4. Gentle, restorative yoga
Using props like cushions, blankets, or bolsters, restorative yoga invites deep rest and relaxation. These supported poses release physical tension and encourage nervous system regulation.

From all of us at Kit & Kin

This Maternal Mental Health Week, we want you to know that you’re doing an incredible job. However you’re feeling this week - tired, joyful, overwhelmed or somewhere in between, please know that you’re not alone.

We hope these simple practices offer you a little pause in your busy day, a little breath, and a little peace.

Don’t forget - if you’re struggling with your mental health or concerned about a mum who is, please seek help from a GP, midwife, or mental health charities such as the Maternal Mental Health Alliance, or Mind.