Whakapakari i a Koe: Restoring the Carer Within

Wāhine are often the heartbeat of whānau and workplaces — holding space, juggling shift work, caregiving, and the invisible emotional load. We are the ones others turn to. And yet, somewhere between mahi, tamariki, and responsibilities, we forget the most sacred responsibility of all: caring for ourselves.

From a Rongoā Māori perspective, hauora is not just physical health. It is balance across all realms — tinana (body), hinengaro (mind), wairua (spirit), and whānau (relationships). When one part of us is stretched thin, the whole system feels it.

For wāhine doing shift work or carrying heavy family obligations, this imbalance can creep in quietly — through fatigue, poor sleep, low mood, aches that don’t go away. That’s why I always return to the rhythms of te taiao (the natural world) as a compass for restoration.

Here are three simple but powerful reminders for wāhine who give their all:

🌅 Start with the sunrise (or whatever light you catch) Whether you work early or late, a moment of light on your skin can reset your body clock and mood. Step outside. Face the sun. Breathe in deeply. This tells your whole being that you are alive, here, and worthy of care.

🌿 Micro-rest is real rest

You don’t need an hour-long yoga class. You need one deep breath, taken consciously. You need three minutes with your hand over your puku, feeling your breath rise and fall. Let yourself pause without guilt — even between tasks, even in the car, even in the bathroom if you must.

💧 Hydrate with intention

Water is rongoā. It cools the system, clears the mind, and cleanses energetic fatigue. Add a karakia before your drink. Infuse it with a leaf of kawakawa or lemon if you like. Let drinking water be a ritual of returning to yourself.

At Whakapakari Ora, I support wāhine to realign with their own rhythm — not through pressure or perfection, but through remembrance. You cannot give from an empty cup. You deserve to be well, not just functioning.

Let this be your permission slip to rest, to receive, and to restore.

By Kandace Rewa Ihimaera Smiler Rongoā Practitioner | Whakapakari Ora

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