What does it mean to move at an infant pace? Understanding brain wave states in babies and beyond…

This piece is inspired by taking the Physiologic Baby Care course with Rachelle Garcia Seliga of Innate Traditions

One of the greatest gifts I could’ve given myself [ever] was the gift of a long maternity leave with Uma, who is now approaching 15 months.

I had never ever been in a place of in between when in comes to jobs/career/business. Since I was 14, there has always been the next thing…but when I stopped nearly every professional project and nearly all client work in June 2022, I didn’t have a plan. I just knew I needed this time for me and for my babies.

This might’ve happened for you once, too:

The birth of a child.
An illness.
A death.
A partner’s move.
The birth of another child.
A state of dis-ease.
A chosen sabbatical.
A burn out.

You choose to slow down. Or you’re forced to. Maybe it’s privilege, maybe it’s simply the Divine showing you another way. Will you trust her enough to take that path into the unknown? Side note: Let us get out of the patterns of forced slow downs, yes? Far more painful.

In those months leaning into family life and motherhood, I finally learned to slow down to the pace of an infant. It’s something that I attempted with Bodhi (who is now 5), but didn’t quite allow for myself. My nervous system was wound too tight to allow for a full surrendering into slowness, stillness, not doing-ness.

There’s a friction that happens during early motherhood for many and it’s this: What our babies’ physiology requires is a monumental slow down of the fast paced, frenetic lifestyles we’ve become accustomed to. Our babies need this slower, reverent approach to life whereas our overall culture demands speed, productivity, tangible outcomes, linear time, measurable results, full calendars and so on.

Damn. What new mother wouldn’t feel anxious and inadequate?

Yet, this friction is the gift of postpartum. It’s in nature’s design.

And, if we really follow our instincts - whether it’s in early motherhood or another pivot point in our life - we know there is magic and wonder in the slow down. In moving at an infant pace, also known as an Earth pace. Earth does not rush. She does not demand. And, yet she continues to nurture us.

Did you know that babies live their days for the most part in the Delta brave wave state? Delta is the slowest brainwave frequency. It’s often connected to other realms and the spiritual world, to mystery. They are typically accessed in deep, dreamless sleep (though experienced meditators - like Tibetan monks - can access them, too); and are responsible for improved immunity, relaxation, reduced stress levels, improved healing capacities and so on.

Babies live here naturally during infancy up to two years old. Perhaps that’s why we’re so drawn to babies. They are literally close to God.

Toddlers and young children up until about age seven live in the Theta brain wave state. Living from Theta looks like living in places of wonder, high creativity, imagination. It’s deeply healing and meditative. As adults, we access Theta in our dreaming states and in practices like Yoga Nidra. When we’re in Theta, we experience deep relaxation and stress relief, connect patterns and meaning in the subconscious, begin to connect with universal consciousness, increase connection with intuition, generate mind and body healing and so on.

And, yet…as a society we do NOT encourage this type of frequency. We see and hear the messaging of operating predominantly from Alpha or Beta or Gamma brain waves and are pressured to feel inadequate when we don’t want to constantly live that way. Alpha, Beta, and Gamma look like the high information processing, thinking, doing, receiving visual stimulation, so on and so forth.

Healing doesn’t happen there.
The reprogramming of neural pathways doesn’t happen there (i.e. re-learning how to live with ease and joy).
Meaning making and connecting with the Universal consciousness doesn’t happen there.
Stress and anxiety reduction don’t happen there.

Of course, we need to be in Alpha, Beta, and Gamma some of the time. Just not always. And certainly not because it makes us feel better about ourselves and/or more worthy.


Unraveling from this way of life takes time. It takes a while.

It is a process to unlearn and re-wire our own nervous systems, which changes how our brain processes information and informs how safe we feel in our bodies. It’s a practice to pull ourselves out of the constant fight/flight/freeze/fawn modes we’ve become accustomed to.

It takes time and it’s worth it.

Postpartum is a gift. It’s a huge gift.

This doesn’t undercut the massive amount of isolation, overwhelm, and lack of support that most postpartum mothers experience. Of course not. Because that is real and awful, and perhaps all of us can make vows to check in on those who have young children more regularly.

But, rather this reframe of postpartum and early motherhood as a gift, as a way to sit close to these tiny humans who radiate presence, healing, unconditional love, and wonder (as proven by their brain states)…maybe this is a way to chip away at the status quo that demands us “get back to work,” “bounce back,” and all that other nonsense. I hope this also translates to those who aren’t in postpartum, but other necessary slow downs and pauses in life.

Embracing an infant’s pace, an Earth pace has radically changed my life:

I notice it in the way I approach my morning practice.
I notice it in the way I speak.
I notice it in the breaths I take with my children at hard moments (and the grace when I don’t handle something as well as I could).
I notice how it shows up as a quiet confidence when working with clients.
I notice how it looks like a walk outside, drinking in the sunshine and fresh air and smells in between computer tasks.
I notice it in the way I put on clothing, how I adorn my body.
I notice it in the way I experience meditation, how I commune with the Divine.
I notice it in the way I play - like really play - with my children.
I notice it in the way I approach writing (or not).

Imagine how differently our health would shift if we accepted a slower pace, an infant’s pace, an Earth pace of life. Imagine how children might grow up. Imagine the ability to lean into internal knowing to make radical changes and unpopular decisions, trusting an instinct deep within that everything will turn out fine, better than fine.

That’s what I imagine. I never wanted a “new normal” in all these recent years. I wanted that bigger pause to serve as a giant wake-up that we can reimagine birth, postpartum, mothering, parenting, working, creating, serving in a way that gives to Self, community, planet, and Spirit. And, I’m here for it. Forever.

What about you?
Jai Ma.
With love,
Leanne

P.S. With slightly hesitant fingers, but with the love in the above essay in mind, I’m letting you know that I’m starting a non-profit. Stay tuned for what’s happening and how, because I’ll need your help. It’s in the perinatal space. Perinatal yoga training will be a part of it. It all comes early Spring. Jai Ma. Send me an emoji to share the energy! 💃🏽