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How One Mama Did it
REACHING OUT–THE POWER OF COLLABORATION

By: Sarah Ezrin   |  June 1, 2023

The Crier interviews Sarah Ezrin, author of The Yoga of Parenting.

 

Where did you get the idea to write a book?

Three years ago, I was talking to a mom friend/work colleague at a park while our children played in the distance. We were catching up on where our long-time yoga teaching careers were going. Both of us were feeling unfulfilled and ready for a change. I had been writing for various online publications more actively at that point and was finding myself much more interested with sitting at my computer than leading real people through movement. 

 

“I really want to write a book,” I told her, “ But what mom has time for that?” 

 

She said something about her own need to focus more on “collaboration.” 

 

The word felt like a splash of cold water in my face.

 

How did you get to this place in your life?

I have been hyper-independent most of my life. I grew up in an alcoholic home, which meant a lot of uncertainty, so I think I’m afraid of relying on other people too much because I unconsciously assume they will eventually let me down. That hyper-independence seemed to get me far when I was younger and family-less. I muscled my way through my early career days, as a young, ambitious yoga teacher. I was happy to run around the world teaching new people and exploring new places rather than settle down and form deep connections, but the pace was unsustainable; I burned out and was left feeling incredibly alone. At the time, I was based in Los Angeles. I grew up there, surrounded by childhood friends and colleagues who wholly supported me, but the greater environment always felt highly competitive, particularly amongst women. So even when I needed help, I was afraid to ask for it. 

 

I moved to the Bay in January of 2016 to live with my then-boyfriend, soon-to-be-husband, and now-dad to our two beautiful boys. I was alarmed by how supportive women were with one another “up here.” Other yoga teachers helped me promote my classes and events that they had no stake in, and random women reached out to form friendships. I thought it was an act. Surely they were talking about one another behind their backs? But as I started to lean into my new friend circles and this collaborative way of approaching business and friendship, I was exposed to the magical power of female connection. Working with other women was not scary or risky, as I had feared in my youth–it was elevating and empowering. I would go to community gatherings and meetings and return energized and inspired. 

 

My female-to-female connections grew even stronger when I became a mother and especially when I moved to Marin. New moms embraced me and my children exactly as we were. No one passed judgment when I would speak in yoga-ese about “karma” this or “dharma” that. No one batted an eye when my toddler would insist on landscaping their sidewalk with a stick during our catch up conversations. In fact, the wilder and sillier my kids acted, the more bonded we all became, and, even though I have only known these fellow moms for a short time, I trust them with my life–I trust them with my kids.

 

How are you collaborating with other moms?

My book was birthed by sisters. Back to the park that fateful winter day in 2020 and my mom-friend and I talking about stalled careers. When she mentioned the power of collaboration, it all came together for me: This is how my book would come to life. I must collaborate with other parents. Other moms.

 

I got home and immediately reached out to all the moms I knew who had written books or worked in publishing. They helped guide me through the early phases of my book proposal and shopping my book around. I decided that the book would be a compilation of parenting stories, yoga principles, and modern science and started to interview yoga teacher mamas from all around the world. Of the twenty total parents I interviewed, fifteen of them were moms. Of those fifteen moms, four were Marin-based. Through that sisterhood, The Yoga of Parentingwas born.

 

In early June of 2023, I will start throwing book launch parties all around the United States and Canada , and I am keeping this collaborative energy going as I host a variety of events aimed to elevate local-mom-owned businesses and local-mom-yoga teachers. It is also my mom-friends who are supporting me with the grassroots efforts of getting the word out about the book. We talk about needing a village to raise a child; well authors know that you also need a village to launch a book, and I’m so grateful that my village is comprised of so many inspiring and amazing moms. 

 

How can SMMC moms learn more about your book?

SMMC Mamas and their families are invited to celebrate the birth of my book-baby, The Yoga of Parenting!

 

Yoga of Parenting Book Launch and Party

Metta Yoga Studio, San Rafael

Saturday June 3, 4:00-6:00 PM

 

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