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Güte

@gute.immelman

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Mother • Yogi • Guide
🌸 Devoted to Motherhood
🌀 Holding space for mothers + women
to live with purpose + align with nature
🇿🇦 🇬🇧

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🍁UNTRANSFORMATION🍁

Just over a year ago I had the absolute honour of completing my yoga teacher training with the magical salt of the earth, @yogalikewater

Alongside incredibly inspiring yogis and friends I could shed layers of heavy fluff and delights - all sorts of shit - in the most interesting, sunny, hilarious, meaningful ways. The last weekend full of our final assessments was truly moving (yes, pun!) - tons of tears washed over me as an asana banana 🐳💛 And of course yoga is so much more than asanas... It is every breath and moment. Life itself. And it was a joyous and peaceful relief to sit there, untransformed.

#yoga #newlands #capetown #shadow #shadowself #dance #asana #morning #rhythm #untransformation #sensuality #being #play #mybodymytemple by @gute.immelman

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11

3 years ago

𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑖𝑠 𝑙𝑒𝑤𝑒

#thesplash #matrescence #wildchildhood #skopskop #extendedbreastfeeding taken in Waterkloof Village by @gute.immelman

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7

a month ago

Like my own thrifty chameleon wardrobe, the range of styles and vibes Elsie rocks is endlessly satisfying — and then, out of seemingly nowhere, we happen to match delightfully often 👯‍♀️ Sometimes it's premeditated, but the unplanned ones take the cake.

It astonishes me how Elsie's outfits have taken the front seat while I give about 1% of thought to mine (I should've figured out how to dress myself in 4 decades, right?)

Out of all Elsie's clothes, I'm grateful every day that I've only once bought her a piece — her Springbok outfit!😌😆 🇿🇦💚💛. I'm already an ultra-thrifter, but I've been extra blessed by so many outfits from family and friends across the globe. There's a certain kind of special in seeing Elsie in her older cousins' or maatjies' clothes — clothes from their own precious little bodies. A mush of Kairos and chronos time.

And then there are the ones made by "Ouma (Ro)nel," like the one in this photo 💘

There's a kind of magic woven into objects tailored so lovingly — imagined with excitement and cooing — that they stir some of the adventure and special moments this little lady's body is lucky enough to live.

Yet another delight in becoming a mother and suddenly finding yourself immersed in the threads of other mothers, aunties, oumas, cousins, friends — a village of people whose love becomes tangible.

A tiny wardrobe, holding a whole community. 🤍

#Matrescence #VillageOfMothers #CircularWardrobe #SlowMotherhood #ThriftyMama by @gute.immelman

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9

2 months ago

They always talk about the benefits to the baby. But what about the mother?

To be loved on such a profoundly pure and visceral level. To be nursed by the being you love most, every day and night. Slowing me down, right when I need it. It gives me permission to break away - to breathe, to meditate, to pray - right then and there in the middle of whatever it may be that distracted me from life.

And yes, there are hard moments. But has convenience ever been the thing that cracked my soul open? Hard can be worth it. And also the paradox — how easeful it can actually be: the moment I surrender. It was never the "thing" itself that was hard - but my condition, resistance, or lack of presence.

Pure connective presence. Just good ol' connective presence...

I heard that last week was breastfeeding awareness week. I'm a little late to the party — but I was probably tucked away somewhere with Elsie and tietie, happily, or in whichever way. 🤍

#Tietie #Matrescence #Breastfeedingweek #Slowmotherhood #Breastfeedingjourney by @gute.immelman

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11

2 months ago

Postpartum period or shark food? 🩸

I thought once your period arrived postpartum, your cycle was back for good.

Apparently not.

My second expected period was a complete no-show. Just the cramps.
Something I've never experienced on their own.

It turns out postpartum isn't so linear. Instead, there's a hormonal waltz unfolding between my body and my surroundings, including those nights when Elsie breastfeeds more, as prolactin peaks.

I've also learnt that it's common for the first cycles back to have shorter luteal phases (me!), which gradually lengthen as the hormonal system re-establishes itself. (Also me? Time will tell.)

I'd love for this to become a more common conversation. I've found myself doing lots of wondering and researching on my own—pondering night weaning, hormones, and what "normal" actually looks like.

If you've experienced something similar, or have knowledge to share, I'd genuinely love to hear your stories.

And another surprise... my bleed finally arrived last week—not above the water this time... but between the fish, at the aquarium! Thankfully right at the end of our visit, so chances of becoming a shark snack were relatively low. 🦈😅

#Matrescence
#Motherhoodunfiltered
#WomensHealth
#BreastfeedingJourney
#Cycleawareness by @gute.immelman

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19

2 months ago

An hour before landing, I got the most unexpected visitor mid-air ✈️🩸

My period returned! I was delighted. How is this possible if I breastfeed so much? I was so excited to harness the power of my cycle again. It felt huge. Like menarche 2.0, but bigger, not least because I appreciated the return of this bleed way more than I cared for it during my menarche. Also because it is the first mother bleed! And what are the odds for it arriving right after leaving London, where I spent my final maiden days...

How could I honour this? At home I did a little impromptu ritual with the ever supportiveness of my fairy 'helper' (who almost threw away my precious remaining earring - these I wore during birth and a lot in pregnancy, a star Oracle card). I gathered a few tokens, and of course, red lipstick.

Are any of you familiar with examples of menarche rituals, or even more apt - rituals for the bleed's return post partum? I was surprised to not find much on the latter. Honouring this beautiful sacred moment seems so vital.

Menarche, for those who wonder, is the first appearance of menstruation. Greek: menos = month/moon, and arkhē = beginning.

#motherbleed #firstbleed #matrescence #redschool #postpartumbleed cycleawareness redtent moonblood wombwisdom feminineritual ritualofthemoon ancestralhealth by @gute.immelman

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21

3 months ago

Nothing in this world could prepare me for the gushing visceral bittersweet experience back in London (and the UK) after almost a year away...

What a ride. What a pilgrimage.

How deeply grateful I am to have such grief over such beauty, such love - you all know who you are🤍✨ Tagged or not, seen or not (we'll be back!) taken in London, England by @gute.immelman

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12

4 months ago

Exactly 2yrs ago I was lying in a lofty bed, 3 months pregnant and couldn't for the life of me sleep knowing that there just entered into the world a most precious soul, 2 floors down...

I grieve with u the days past, the moments that I will forever press into my chest and into my lineage's DNA. I thank God for how things have unfolded, that I get to know this sweet curly girl that made beautiful ripples and waves around her and still do and will continue to. I dream that she will one day allow those ripples and waves inside her too, like her magnificent mama that inspired me forever.

I thought about you the entire day...

How does my dear wonderful big sis feel to have a 2yr old daughter? What are her dreams, hopes, fears and celebratory acknowledgements?

And I miss you and us all so much and wish I was there in Plett with u, thanking my lucky stars for floral adventures, silly & sacred moments together.

Happy Birthing day to you, my soul sister🤍

Happy Bday to you, dear sweet darling Noa💓

📸 Just over 1y ago in Chelsea, London by @gute.immelman

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5 months ago

Hier is die dag
Die son en die wolk
Ruisel deur die blare
Die wind is my tolk

Hier is die daggie
Die son en die wolkie
Ruisel deur die blaartjies
Die wind is my tolkie

Jy lag
Ek hurk
Jou wang soos botter
Smelt jy in my hart in
Dieper as Potch se potholes

Jou blik, jou oë drup soos olyfolie in my siel in
Dieper as gate in die seesand gegrawe

Ek meet jou nie meer nie
Want die oog lieg
En tyd is 'n skurk

Hoe kan my liefde gemeet word?
Dokter en dominee gaan vlieg
Terwyl moederliefde
deur elke onwerklikheid weef
En vleg
En sing
Deur en deur
En weer
En nog een keer

Ek weeg jou nie meer nie
Want geen skaal kan tel
Hoeveel keer ek jou nog gaan vashou
Voor my arms soos kurk kraak
en jy langer as ek is nie
Wanneer Checkers trollies nie meer jou wuifende gewriggie en flappende kuifie gaan verdra nie

Ek wieg jou nie meer nie
Want die 12-ure lange slaap-drukkie
Gaan eendag wegdryf in my drome

Elke oomblik saam met jou is heilig
En om jou te kan waarneem
Is die waarste ding op aarde
Wat ek hemel toe kan neem

Dankie vir jou wysies en wysheid
Vir ons pyn en jou peinsende bewondering
Dankie dat ons die wêreld saam kan verken
en verander met ons eenheid
Jy is my alles en my uitsondering

#dagdroom #nagdroom by @gute.immelman

67

9

6 months ago

Elsie helping me “pack”
(& unpack & pack & unpack & …)
has been one of the most adorably whimsical —
and towel-biting frustrating — experiences to date.
🚮

It’s slower, fôshô…
But I also want to be more spacious 🐌
So why not let my most brilliant little Zen master teach me?

She reminds me to stop and smell the frangipanis 🌸
To admire the beetroot stains.

Things that are so me,
and that I still get to be,
even more so as a mother.

What a ride it is, re-settling back in SA after 7 years in London — with new, ever-changing perspectives
and the absolute joy of growing my own business
supporting women and mamas 💖

#slowmotherhood #motherhoodjourney #spaciousliving #lifetransitions #womeninbusiness taken in South Africa by @gute.immelman

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11

8 months ago

✨A sacred pause. A gentle gathering.
Come sit with us, to become one.🌚🌙

Registration link in bio

#womenscircle #onlinewomenscircle #sistercircle #sisterhood #womensupportingwomen taken in Zoom Online by @gute.immelman

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12

9 months ago

I have been LOVING my daily morning dances with Elsie!👯

The smile she cracks as the first note starts gets me every time, and then... to see her boogie!💃

What a way to start our day, to LIVE, to co-regulate, to breathe to the beat😎

Come play with me!

#dailydance #mamamedicine #intensionsetting by @gute.immelman

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15

9 months ago