Tell us about your family.
My family is a rainbow — Norwegian, Dutch, Slovakian, British and Aussie ancestry.
My husband and I share two teens and a toddler… so yes, I’m surrounded by boys which is cool. My ex, his beautiful partner & their kids are an extension of our family.
Some may think that’s unconventional but it’s our normal and it’s sweet.
What was your biggest adjustment when becoming a mum?
The shift of focus from self to other.
Honestly, it was needed. Becoming a mother has shaped and inspired me more than anything else.
Supporting my children to chase their dreams, while still nurturing my own, is a juggle but it fuels my parenting.
I see it as a vital part of how I mother, it’s very human. It can be messy but also fun, certainly not rigid! I learnt how to be playful and joyous with my kids from my amazing mama, she has such a spark even still.
How do you manage the juggle when it comes to trying to do it all?
I think we sometimes get stuck believing that we must do everything ourselves, and that asking for help is ‘another thing’. But the juggle with a baby is completely different to the needs of older kids. Our 16- year-old is learning to drive, and the baby is learning to talk; it’s funny and humbling. I’m incredibly lucky to have support. My parents are amazing and when we’re in Bali, our toddler goes to a beautiful local school that he loves. Watching babies befriend other babies gives me hope for the world.
What is the best thing about being a mum?
It’s the most creative project I’ve ever done.
I couldn’t keep a bonsai alive in my twenties and now here I am surrounded by three brave, intelligent humans who teach me my biggest life lessons, deeply humbling. One moment that stopped time: my son was eight, about to perform on stage. I could feel his nerves and went to help him but he wasn’t rushing.
He was sitting cross-legged on his bed, meditating. This quiet, unprompted moment floored me.
Since he was three, we’ve meditated, talked about dreams, visualisations, the world — not daily, but consistently enough that moments like that appear, it really pays off.
What’s been your biggest challenge as a mum?
That motherhood requires such deep trust and surrender. We’re an independent family, often moving in different directions. It’s exciting, but it can spike anxiety too. I work hard not to project that onto my children. Mindfulness practices like meditation and journaling anchor me — and so does returning to my own creativity and dreams.
What surprised you the most when becoming a mum?
How incredibly formed the baby is from birth, it may sound silly, but it surprised me how big a baby’s personality is from the second they arrive, they have such presence. I can’t think of the philosopher who proposed that children are born as ‘tabula rasa’ or a blank slate. . . I naively thought it might be so until I had my own babies and now, I disagree!!
What do you wish you knew before becoming a mum?
To trust my intuition — always.
When my heart leads, things inevitably work out. My head… not always. Some women feel prepared by reading and planning but for me, that would spoil the adventure. I learn through doing, making it up as we go along. My firstborn continues to be my greatest teacher: grounded, wise and always up for adventure. I was driving with him and the baby in Maui, nervous to drive on the ‘other’ side of the road. He was my navigation and my confidante; we ended up at the most incredible sunflower fields.
If you could go back in time, what would you tell yourself or others?
Trust your instincts. Enjoy the ride.
Do you have any tips or tricks to manage the day-to-day juggle?
-Mothers are modern-day circus performers; I mean the multitasking is wild.
-Sleep is key. Find humour in the chaos.
-Accept you won’t get through half your list. . . and that’s okay
-Remember anything you see on IG is just the highlights real.
-Lean on trusted friends and normalise looking out for each other. It truly does take a village.
How do you manage your time to fit in career, being a mum, relationship and time for you?
I think the point is that I don’t — not all at once. And that’s the whole lesson: surrender. It doesn’t all have to get done today. I journal constantly. It’s my therapist, holding my love notes, dreams, and big ideas.
I scream out loud at the wall, the air, and occasionally my family — but I don’t hold grudges.
Yoga brings me back into my body. And I’ve made it clear to my family: solo time isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity.
Who is in your village and you couldn’t live without?
My husband, my parents, my older kids, my brother and his partner, my best friend on the other side of the world. Friends are scattered across the globe from Tassie to Bali, LA, Berlin. Even when we’re apart, voice notes and silly memes keep us connected. A beautiful girlfriend of mine lives in Hamburg, we only see each other every few years but each time we do, it feels like yesterday, just a plane ride away hey.
What’s in your bag you can’t leave home without:
Lipstick, my journal, earbuds, my phone, nappies — and my 80s Nikon film camera.
It creates grainy gorgeous vintage photos and reminds me of the girl I was at art school… the girl before the mum.
Your favourite holiday spot?
Bali — I lived there from 2008–2010 and return every year for some months.
I also love the South of France (dreamy) and Rotterdam, where my in-laws live — the perfect escape from southern-hemisphere winter.
Why do you love those places?
In Bali: the culture, food, devotion, and gentle pace of life. The joy of the Balinese people is contagious.
In the Netherlands: bicycle culture and the galleries.
In France: the charm — the French are perfectly wicked; I love how their culture feels to me, I once moved to Paris for a romance, that city stayed in my bones.
Top of your travel Wishlist?
Africa delivered. We just returned from climbing Kilimanjaro with my dad and my brother, my husband and our older kids.
My mum and niece cared for the baby in Moshi, having their own adventures whilst we were on the mountain. We all met up again for safari; it was a special moment in time for sure.
After the climb we flew by light plane into the Serengeti. Unforgettable!
What is your favourite brand?
Not a brand but I love Vondeux Vintage in Rotterdam.
She sources incredible silk pieces with 80s shoulder pads — timeless silhouettes. I trust her eye completely.
The trend you’re loving right now:
Self-expression, unusual silhouettes, anything ironic.
The trend you can’t get on board with:
I’m not a floral girlie nor anything pink for me.
Your latest brand discovery:
BYNYE (naarm/Melbourne) is a jewellery label made from recycled metals. Her pieces are bold yet feminine, check her out.
What does a healthy lifestyle mean to you?
I am certainly influenced by the environment I am in, so I can be a chameleon like that. But the overarching healthy lifestyle for me is a feeling. It’s when I feel inspired, joyous for no apparent reason, just connected to my body and allowing that to ripple outward. I always know that I am in a good flow when the synchronicities land.
How do you keep your body moving?
Freestyle movement, a dance class. Running — I aim for 20 km a week. If I fit in a Bikram or Pilates class, it’s heaven. Otherwise: quick daily stretches, nothing dogmatic.
Your top five tips for maintaining a healthy lifestyle:
- Don’t take yourself too seriously.
- Wink at yourself in the mirror.
- Eat vegetarian where possible.
- Meditate.
- Love — your family, your friends, even strangers, fiercely.
Your non-negotiables when it comes to health and wellness:
Intermittent fasting. Meditation. Movement.
And staying informed about the world beyond your own backyard.
Check your privilege. Talk to your children about politics, inclusivity, and culture.
We are more similar than we are different.
What does ‘balance’ mean to you?
Balance is bold.
I’ve not mastered it, but I do feel most balanced when I’ve had a good sleep.
Rest is everything, even for a night bird like me.
What inspired you to start your Wellness Coach and Empowerment Mentor business?
After the birth of my last baby, it felt like the right time to step away from traditional classroom teaching and return to my yoga and creative-arts roots — reimagined through a wellness and empowerment lens.
What is the best thing about your business?
The freedom to be creative — to bear witness to another’s transformation like I have had in my own life many times over. And the constant inspiration I draw from other women and their stories to travel is very nice too, gypsy bones!
What is the most challenging thing about your business?
Patience — and learning to navigate the many moving parts of a business.
How do you help people through your work?
I curate experiences that help people reconnect with their bodies through movement, breath, and self-expression.
What would you like people to know before starting their own journey?
The more fun you have, the more you attract.
Business doesn’t have to be so serious — less push, more play, YES! Stay curious as a child.
What’s next?
Launching EmpowerEd, my school-based programme. Traveling & facilitating more embodied breathwork experiences; a fusion of theatre, music, poetry and somatic reset for the body.
Click here to learn more about the wellness and empowerment work of Ingrid Reynolds.
