Community Highlights: Meet Anisha Patel of MasalaMommy

Today we’d like to introduce you to Anisha Patel.

Hi Anisha, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Absolutely! The most significant part of my story is that I’m a mother, and my 3 amazing boys have been my greatest teachers. It all started in 2011 when I first became pregnant, and I felt deeply responsible for loving, shaping, protecting, and growing a healthy & kind human being. It propelled me towards living more mindfully in all areas of my life. I also worked in the well-being industry then, so I was simultaneously learning about what makes us feel healthy, satisfied, and fulfilled. What surprised me is how tightly our well-being is linked to our children and how little information there is about this transition. Spoiler alert: Having a baby requires us to re-learn ourselves and become clear about our values and purpose. There is an added layer of complexity when you are now responsible for your well-being and that of your child. And by the way, this happens every time you welcome a new baby! From my own experience, I saw and experienced a major gap. New and expecting moms don’t need another birth plan or a reminder that breastfeeding is recommended for the first 2 years of the baby’s life. They must maintain well-being and welcome ease during this pivotal life transition. They don’t need a bunch of textbook data thrown at them. They need to be heard, seen, and supported. They don’t need the right checklist. They need the right expectations and tools to help them through the high tides of modern motherhood. My story is about a mom who experienced gaps in her early motherhood journey and wanted to close them for the next generation of mamas. As a result, I founded MasalaMommy, became a certified Ayurvedic Postpartum Doula, New Parent Coach, and recently authored “Expecting: A Pregnancy Journal” which is a beautiful memory book to help moms connect with their pregnancies and capture their story along the way.

It wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No, because what fun would that be? In all seriousness, the bumps are where the biggest learnings happen. In my personal life, I learned the importance of self-compassion and self-love by making mistakes. I was terrible at asking for help because, for one thing, I wasn’t sure what to ask for—I think this is a problem that many modern moms face because we are accustomed to being quite independent, and then suddenly, we need an entire village and we feel like we are failing. The challenge has been and continues to be about balance in my professional life. The intersection between motherhood and entrepreneurship can be tricky, but I practice what I preach. Getting clear about my priorities, knowing my values, and lowering my expectations seem to keep things afloat.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about MasalaMommy?
My biggest flex is that I teach moms how to take care of themselves postpartum, an area often glazed over in books and even in healthcare. This does a massive disservice to new mothers and their families. I want new and expecting moms to know that the best thing you can do for your family and your baby is take care of yourself—mentally, physically, and spiritually. I offer new and expecting moms education as you would get from a traditional class, but I teach you how to make it work in real life. I take Eastern practices/concepts derived from Ayurveda and couple them with Western lifestyles so that moms can get the best of both worlds during the delicate period from pregnancy thru postpartum. I teach newborn care, breastfeeding, postpartum self-care, postpartum planning, and newborn sleep education. Moms can work with me in postpartum via virtual postpartum doula coaching so that I teach them and provide ongoing support through the first 6 weeks after a baby. It’s estimated that nearly 50% of mothers with postpartum depression are not diagnosed by a health professional. There are several contributing factors to this, but the good news is that there are ways to get ahead of this and practice preventative care. Since most moms only receive 1 OB visit postpartum, it is much more important to learn at-home care for those first 6 weeks after a baby. According to Ayurveda, the first 42 days postpartum are the foundation for the next 42 years of well-being in a woman’s life.

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
The common thread to any success I’ve had personally and professionally can be linked to my unwavering (and sometimes stubborn) commitment to my higher purpose. My life’s purpose is to raise conscious and connected kids while helping other parents do the same. My values guide my decisions, whether it comes to parenting or business opportunities. That might not be the most tangible characteristic, but I think it’s the most noteworthy.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.masalamommy.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/masala.mommy/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anishapandyapatel/
• Other: https://amzn.to/3MOinp1