For Alicia Bekker, two very different experiences of pregnancy and early motherhood sparked a desire to help other women feel less alone. Drawing on her background in human movement science, health education and yoga, she created Empowered Authenticity, offering non-clinical support through movement, mindfulness and matrescence education. At the heart of her work is a belief that mothers deserve space to explore who they are becoming, alongside the demands of caring for their children. Through classes, coaching and community connection, she helps women build their own village of support. Here, Alicia shares the personal experiences behind her work, the realities of balancing business and family, and her hopes for a more connected, supported journey into motherhood.
The Passion: What inspired you to set up your business?
My inspiration grew from my own lived experience of navigating two vastly different pregnancies and early motherhood journeys. During my first, I was an immigrant living through COVID-19 lockdowns, far from family and without a local support network. My baby had high needs and woke every 90 minutes. I was exhausted and constantly in fight-or-flight (survival mode).
I felt isolated and overwhelmed by a preconceived idea of what a “good” mother “should” look like. I didn’t share what I was experiencing through fear of judgement. I was “supposed” to know how to be a mother, right?!
By my second pregnancy, my experience had completely transformed. Deep inner reflection, a self-leadership course and nervous system work all played a part. I finally felt brave enough to seek clinical support after I decided that my anxiety and intrusive thoughts were becoming concerning.
Through my background in Human Movement Science, Health Education and prenatal/postnatal yoga, I realised there is a massive gap between clinical discharge (like the 6-week midwife mark in Aotearoa) and the daily reality of motherhood. I founded Empowered Authenticity to bridge that gap (the same one I had fallen into).
I offer non-clinical Maternal Wellbeing support through yoga, mindfulness and Matrescence education, helping mothers to move from feeling exhausted, overwhelmed and confused to calm, confident and at peace – aligned with who they are becoming. Empowered mothers raise empowered children.
The Launch: How did you start out in the beginning?
I started at a grassroots level, driven by a desire to reach the “source” of a family’s wellbeing: the mother. I completed my Diploma in Yoga Teaching, specialised in Prenatal Yoga and trained as a Matrescence Practitioner through Matrescence NZ. I wanted to ensure that my lived experience was backed by science and research when holding space for mothers during the biggest identity shift they will ever experience.
At first, it was about creating safe physical and emotional spaces in Whangārei, offering Aqua Natal classes, prenatal yoga and Mums & Bubs movement classes. I wanted to teach tangible, in-the-moment breathwork and somatic nervous system tools that mamas could use at home when they felt exhausted or overstimulated.
The Innovation: What was the biggest breakthrough for you with your business?
After surveying mothers for over a year, I wasn’t shocked to learn that they used words like “unprepared”, “overwhelming”, “exhausting” and “confusing” to describe their experience of becoming and being a mother. I felt that way too, until I learned there was a concept that describes the rite of passage into motherhood and explains the massive developmental process that we go through when we become mothers: MATRESCENCE!
Understanding that becoming a mother is a full evolution, much like adolescence, changed everything. It was a lightbulb moment where I realised yoga alone was not going to be enough. Having a word for what you are experiencing normalises why women feel confused, overwhelmed or isolated.
Realising I could offer a structured, non-clinical “safety net” through 1:1 or even group Matrescence coaching and education transformed my practice. It grew from simple movement classes into a comprehensive, holistic maternal care framework that mothers need to decrease maternal distress.
It is such a privilege helping mamas untangle their experience, recognise the burnout, step away from “bounce back” culture and let go of the “shoulds” – those unrealistic expectations of motherhood.
Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
Balance for me isn’t about perfection; it’s about alignment and practising the exact nervous system regulation and mindset tools I teach my clients. As a mother of two energetic boys, aged five and three, I must be intentional with my energy and boundaries. That means setting boundaries for myself as well as for others.
I work around my family’s rhythm, offering no more than four yoga classes a week and a limited number of 1:1 sessions. I also use digital resources so mothers can access support on their own time.
I often remind myself (and my clients) of Dr Ed Tronick’s concept of the “good enough parent”, showing my children that their mother is a whole human who values rest, passion and presence. By practising what I “preach”, I feel even more confident to share and teach the tools I use, understanding that not all mothers have the capacity to spend an hour a day on their own wellbeing, although I wish they could.
Instead, I offer realistic, mother-friendly ways for mamas to fill their own cup, increase their capacity to cope and understand that they are doing so much better than they think.
The Drive: What challenges have you overcome?
The biggest challenges have been overcoming my own internal conditionings: the belief that asking for help equals “failing”, experiencing the isolation of raising children away from an extended family village, and navigating systemic boundaries in maternal healthcare.
When reaching out to healthcare providers, it can be tough to communicate that I’m not there to advertise a business, but rather to offer a supportive bridge for mamas before and after primary care begins and ends.
Overcoming these hurdles required turning my personal struggle into my greatest strength: building my own village and creating simple, accessible tools and spaces for other women so they never have to navigate the transition alone.
It also helps having access to a Matrescence Practitioner – someone to just talk through challenges that I may be experiencing and working together to find strategies that align with my values.
For Better or Worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
One of the biggest pros is being in the room when a mother’s nervous system visibly shifts from fight-or-flight into deep peace. Hearing from a client that her labour was empowering because she knew how to release her pelvic floor or receiving photos of newborn babies from mamas who felt held in my classes means so much.
It is an absolute honour to welcome those same mothers back into my postnatal Mums & Bubs classes and be there for them and hold their babies while they rest in Savasana. Receiving positive feedback from clinical maternal healthcare providers about the need and the benefits of my services is also encouraging.
My most valued pro is meeting the most incredible people. Mothers are so strong, capable and worthy!
As for cons, wearing every single hat – the mental load is intense! Alongside being a mother and wife, I manage everything from web design and email marketing compliance to venue setup and session planning. The mental load of entrepreneurship is very heavy and can be very isolating.
I have this massive desire and passion to make a difference, and I am still learning how to be a business owner/entrepreneur. It demands constant self-awareness to avoid running on empty, and even constant self-awareness can be exhausting.
Hopes and Dreams: What next?
I have so many exciting seeds planted! One of these includes hosting a signature workshop, Movement & Mindset for Birth & Beyond, every three months in Whangārei. It will blend gentle prenatal movement, pelvic health, nervous system regulation and Matrescence preparation.
Long-term, through The Pick (a Business Foundations Programme that I recently participated in), I am building a sustainable, non-clinical antenatal and postnatal education model to partner with local health providers, pelvic physios and community spaces.
As part of this growth, I am also developing Professional Development & Wellbeing Packages for organisations and service providers who work directly with mothers. This offering goes beyond educating providers on Matrescence and the maternal process of change; it also focuses on the service provider’s own motherhood journey.
Through experiential 1:1 and group coaching, providers get to experience nervous system regulation and values-alignment firsthand, giving them the capacity and tools to better support both themselves and the mothers they serve.
Additionally, I am building an online support network through SKOOL, offering education around the transition into motherhood, free online prenatal yoga classes and meditations suited for busy mothers.
My ultimate dream is for every mother in Northland and beyond to receive Matrescence education before birth, feel fully supported through her identity shift and know that she is worthy of care, rest and authentic connection.
Visit the Empowered Authenticity website to find out more, and connect with Alicia on Facebook and Instagram.
