Mindful Being Series with Brenda Strong
In our very first #MindfulBeing series, we had the honor of getting into a multifaceted and thoughtful conversation with our special Guest Speaker, Brenda Strong. Brenda is probably best known for her Emmy nominated narration work as the voice of Mary Alice Young on Desperate Housewives, Lillian Luther on Supergirl or Mrs. Walker on 13 Reasons Why, which are just a few among the hundreds of shows she has done over the last few decades.
What you may not know about Brenda is that she is also an amazing yoga teacher (with 25+ years of experience) and a pioneer in the world of infertility; she developed a yoga methodology for those going through fertility challenges and served as the National Spokesperson for the American Fertility Association for many years.
Recently we (Deborah & Wendy) had been chatting with Brenda about some of the triumphs and challenges of being a woman at this time in the world, and so we thought it would be fun to get together, in a more formal way, to discuss these ideas and kick off our Mindful Being Series.
MAKE YOUR MESS YOUR MESSAGE
Brenda shares her personal #storyofinfertility which began with challenges conceiving her first child. She turned to her yoga training and TCM (traditional Chinese medicine) and was able to successfully conceive and bring her son into the world. When she was unable to get pregnant a second time (a condition known as “secondary infertility”) she decided to make her “mess” her message and from that, Strong Yoga4Fertility was born.
USING THE FERTILITY JOURNEY AS A GROWTH OPPORTUNITY
While the process of conception may seem simple, it is also wonderfully complex. Two individuals may look the “same” on paper, yet one goes on to conceive naturally and the other needs help (e.g., IVF) or may never conceive. In our discussion, Brenda encourages all women (and their partners) to learn more about their bodies and how other factors, such as nutrition and environmental toxins, may play a significant role in the ability to conceive, have a healthy baby, and gain/maintain personal health (whether or not you ever have a baby).
COMING BACK TO THE WISDOM OF THE RED TENT
At one point in time, women would gather in “The Red Tent” during menstruation to rest and pass down wisdom from one generation to the next. It was an incredible opportunity to self-nurture and be nurtured by others, emotionally and physically. These elements are incorporated into the fertility yoga work first created by Brenda, and now through the mind-body wellness and group support we currently provide. We also discuss the importance of having this collective safe space in the modern world, and how when women have the chance to come together and share, is an integral part of the healing process.
THIS IS ABOUT MORE THAN “JUST” FERTILITY
When you can step back and find some space from the current “problem” (i.e., your fertility challenges), it opens you to possibility and the other life lessons presenting themselves. Brenda shares her thoughts on seeing the fertility journey as an opportunity to practice more self-care, compassion, better your relationship with your partner, etc.
THE LEGACY OF RGB AND THE POWER OF CHOICE
Brenda speaks passionately about RBG’s legacy and how she affected change that has really impacted all women for the better, i.e., granting certain privileges that haven’t always been there, including the right to make choices about our own bodies.
WOMAN’S WISDOM AND OUR ROLE IN HEALING
We also explored women as the caretakers of life, healers of the planet, and those who hold a deep respect for life as it extends past us. There is wisdom innate to each of us. If we get still and quiet enough, our inner guidance system will lead us powerfully along the way of life.
SPEAKING YOUR TRUTH
Brenda spoke openly about challenging her biggest fear related to being a public persona, and we discussed the freedom that comes from being authentic.
We have known and loved Brenda for a long time and could have chatted for hours! To learn more about Brenda Strong and how our work and life paths have shifted because of our knowing of one another, take a listen.
We would love to hear your biggest takeaway from this in-depth conversation. Can you share?
We are excited to soon launch our Mindful Being Podcast to all of you. Be sure to follow us on IG and stay tuned!