For this week’s mental health month feature, we chat to Cassey Maynard, the ultimate super-mum and wellness coach, about spirituality and how this can help improve our mental health. We discuss topics such the power of strong women, how to avoid burnout and an overall holistic approach to physical & mental wellbeing.
Tell us a bit about yourself and your background in health and fitness?
In a nutshell…I fell into the full-time corporate hustle while living in Sydney thinking that this was just how life was meant to be. I got myself into a very toxic relationship that turned into a marriage and experienced many burnouts and breakdowns along the way.
In 2012 I decided to follow my passion and join the health and fitness industry. I worked as a group and personal trainer for a few epic Bondi based businesses but I only started to see positive shifts in my life when I made changes, when I stepped into my power as a woman, when I took the time to slow down and tune in to what my body and soul really wanted.
I learnt how to nourish myself and take ‘Queen time’ every day. I kicked bad habits that were not serving me and made some serious investments in self-development. I stopped making excuses and stepped into the light
I changed how I trained, what I ate, my self-talk, daily rituals and routines.
I now work with my feminine energy which has helped me create a life with more flow and ease.
I left my toxic relationship, my full-time job, got my implants removed (join my tribe), relocated to the Northern Rivers and I now own my business, have a loving, supportive partner and most recently had a beautiful baby boy.
In my experience the fitness industry promotes over training, restrictions and obsessive behaviour. This is a very unhealthy masculine way of ‘doing’ which can lead (and did for me!) to breakdowns, burnouts, injuries, body shaming and guilty feels.
My passion now lies in coaching women on everything that helped transform my life; how to slow down, connect to their bodies and work with their cycle. I love seeing my clients radiate confidence as they step in to their feminine energy and become the Queen they were born to be.
Can you please explain what a holistic approach means when it comes to health and fitness?
Holistic health and fitness is not just about looking after the physical body but also mental, spiritual and energetic bodies. Nurturing and supporting your entire being will create a more balanced YOU!
What are some activities you participate in to improve your mental health and wellbeing?
Each morning I like to do a body scan and check in to see where I’m at, how I’m feeling and what I need for that day.
I choose my daily movement based on my mood and what my body is craving.
I focus on getting out of my busy overactive mind and back into my body as much as possible through grounding my bare feet on the earth, journalling, taking big deep belly breaths, dancing, shaking my body, listening to music and meditation.
I love to sit in Ceremony with a cup of heart opening Cacao. I set a beautiful intention, pray, meditate, journal and connect with my spirit guides and higher self.
I also recruit outside help for regular energy energy work to clear and balance myself.
For me it’s about creating space in the day where I can just be. This has become particularly important during my Motherhood journey!
How can one avoid burnout and look after their mental health?
Ok, here are a few of the lessons I’ve learnt (and continue to learn) along my journey…
- Slow the F&^* down: Stop racing through life. Find ways to ground your energy each day, be present and enjoy each and every moment.
- Tune in: Find time to connect to you and see what your body and soul need. Forget about following the trends, follow your TRUTH.
- Don’t compare yourself to others: Easier said than done right?! but try and cut out the people that make you feel like shit. Unfollow the Kim Kardashians of the world and connect with yourself and people that light you up.
- Know you are worth it: Use all the time, energy and money you need to feel good. Stop making excuses and just do it!
How has embracing your feminine energy improved your mental health and wellbeing?
I spent most of my life living in the yang, my masculine energy: getting shit done and stuck in my overactive mind (sound familiar?)
When I started working with my feminine energy I learnt to slow down, connect with my cycle, nurture and work with my body it made me feel so much more grounded, balanced and in flow.
Tuning in and listening to my intuition (rather than societies ‘should’ dos) allowed me to show up as ME which was so freeing!!!
