One conversation I've been having a lot lately is around parenting and identity. A parent recently asked me, "Is it just me? Or do all parents feel like they lose part of themselves in parenthood?" The truth is that it's SUPER common for this to happen to parents, especially those parents who are the main caregivers or who hold more of the childcare responsibilities. So let's talk about 5 ways we can reclaim our identity and reconnect with ourselves when we feel like our whole identity is "parent." My older daughter recently turned 10, so it's a perfect time to reflect on what I've learned and what's helped me. I'm Amy Jackson. Let's settle in, and get started.

If you're local to The Perch, you might enjoy some time away at a yoga class or retreat. We offer both regularly, and I'd love to see you there! Learn more on my website.

This podcast is brought to you by The Perch, a soul care organization in Aurora, IL. To find out about my workshops, classes, and products, head to my website now: theperchplace.com.

When the world feels on fire, joy feels like a luxury. And because it feels like a luxury, it often feels like joy isn’t allowed, right? How can we feel joy when we know so many people are suffering? How can we feel joy when there is so much to DO to make the world better? Today I want to invite you to see practicing joy as a tool of resistance. Let’s talk about why joy is not only appropriate when the world is crumbling around us, but also necessary. I’m Amy Jackson. Let’s settle in, and get started.

This podcast is brought to you by The Perch, a soul care organization in Aurora, IL. To find out about my workshops, classes, and products, head to my website now: theperchplace.com.

When we look around us and see the world on fire, many of us feel spurred to action. We want to do something to make the situation better. We see the people affected and we want to help. And to be clear, this is a really good, healthy response. What we don’t often think about, though, is how activism requires increased self care. Without self care, we are prone to experience burnout, compassion fatigue, and depression as we begin to feel hopeless in our pursuit of justice. In this episode, let’s talk about the importance of self care to help refuel us for activism.

Did you know that we owe our modern understanding of self care to The Black Panther Party? Let’s walk through a short history lesson of the origins of self care so that we can better understand how self care is essential when we’re called to justice work and activism. I’m Amy Jackson. Let’s settle in and get started.

This podcast is brought to you by The Perch, a soul care organization in Aurora, IL. To find out about my workshops, classes, and products, head to my website now: theperchplace.com.

When we look around us, the world absolutely feels on fire. Images of war, mass shootings, crimes against humanity. It weighs so heavy on us. Then add on top of that anything you might be dealing with in your personal life, and you’ve got a recipe for feeling overwhelmed and hopeless. So let’s talk about how we can care for ourselves when the world feels on fire. I’m Amy Jackson. Let’s settle in and get started.

Check back for Part 2 and Part 3 of this series!

To get access to my 5-Minute Soul Care Workshop, sign up for my newsletter here: bit.ly/JoinThePerch

This podcast is brought to you by The Perch, a soul care organization in Aurora, IL. To find out about my workshops, classes, and products, head to my website now: theperchplace.com.

Most of us have had a critical word or two for our bodies. Perhaps it doesn’t look the way we want it to, or we get frustrated that it’s not capable of doing more. Today I invite you into a gentle, healing meditation that encourages you to think of your body a little differently. Find a comfortable position that feels supportive to your body, perhaps lying down with a pillow and blanket. I’m Amy Jackson. Let’s settle in and get started.

This podcast is brought to you by The Perch, a soul care organization in Aurora, IL. To find out about my workshops, classes, and products, head to my website now: theperchplace.com.

Exhaustion is that feeling when you're completely empty of energy, whether physical, mental, emotional, or all three. It's when we are craving rest and relaxation, and when they feel the hardest to come by. Let's talk about some practical tips for when you feel too exhausted for self care. I'm Amy Jackson. Let's settle in, and get started.

During the episode, I refer to Yoga Nidra or Non-Sleep Deep Rest. If you're looking to try it out yourself, you can seach "yoga nidra" in the Insight Timer app, or you can head to this website: https://www.nsdr.co/

This podcast is brought to you by The Perch, a soul care organization in Aurora, IL. To find out about my workshops, classes, and products, head to my website now: theperchplace.com.

May is Meditation Month here at The Perch, and we’re working on a Meditation Challenge, inviting you to meditate every day for at least 3 minutes, and once per week for a longer amount of time. Throughout, we’re tracking our progress. You can join in by registering for FREE here.

For many of us, Memorial Day and the end of the school year mark the beginning of summer. So I wonder as we head into this new season: How are you doing? What do you need? What do you hope for this summer? This meditation is great for anytime we’re transitioning to a new season, or anytime we want to check in with ourselves and our needs. Find a comfortable position for this meditation—seated or lying down. You might even do this meditation outside, or while looking out a window. I’m Amy Jackson. Let’s settle in, and get started.

This podcast is brought to you by The Perch, a soul care organization in Aurora, IL. To find out about my workshops, classes, and products, head to my website now: theperchplace.com.

May is Meditation Month here at The Perch, and we’re working on a Meditation Challenge, inviting you to meditate every day for at least 3 minutes, and once per week for a longer amount of time. Throughout, we’re tracking our progress. You can join in by registering for FREE here.

We all have days when we’re a bit hard on ourselves. Many of us have been taught that’s the only way to improve in life. But what might happen if you accepted yourself as you are? What freedom might open up for you? Find a comfortable seated position for this meditation. I’m Amy Jackson. Let’s settle in, and get started.

This podcast is brought to you by The Perch, a soul care organization in Aurora, IL. To find out about my workshops, classes, and products, head to my website now: theperchplace.com.

May is Meditation Month here at The Perch, and we’re working on a Meditation Challenge, inviting you to meditate every day for at least 3 minutes, and once per week for a longer amount of time. Throughout, we’re tracking our progress. You can join in by registering for FREE here.

This meditation goes out to all the strong ones. The people who feel like they have to hold it together, to stay tough, to be the rock, especially for others. In today’s meditation, I invite you to step out of that role—to let yourself simply be. I’m Amy Jackson. Let’s settle in, and get started.

This podcast is brought to you by The Perch, a soul care organization in Aurora, IL. To find out about my workshops, classes, and products, head to my website now: theperchplace.com.

May is Meditation Month here at The Perch, and we’re kicking off a May Meditation Challenge, inviting you to meditate every day for at least 3 minutes, and once per week for a longer amount of time. Throughout, we’re tracking our progress. You can join in by registering for FREE here.

This simple and uplifting meditation can serve as a longer meditation for beginners, or a shorter meditation for people who meditate more frequently. Feel free to come back whenever you need a little boost. With that, find a comfortable seated position for our time together. I’m Amy Jackson. Let’s settle in, and get started.

This podcast is brought to you by The Perch, a soul care organization in Aurora, IL. To find out about my workshops, classes, and products, head to my website now: theperchplace.com.