Moonlit's In Bed With... Series is a collection of intimate interviews with tastemakers, core-shakers, and the people we love. We explore what keeps them up at night, in addition to their sleep secrets.
Image by @mamanielaphoto
Elizabeth Flynn is the founder of WILD WMN, yoga & meditation teacher, circle facilitator, artist, and mama to baby Earth. 🌎 Her journey has been a long one filled with intense healing, planet traversing, creative living, vibrant highs and deep lows. On her path to freedom, Elizabeth has encountered many wild women who continue to inspire, teach and encourage her, giving life to the women she is today. ✨
When Elizabeth isn't recording her podcast, working with clients, or running events in LA, she loves traveling with her family, growing sage in her garden, exercising on her yoga mat and connecting to the natural world.
Q: We’ve listened to a few of your WLDWMN episodes and we love how you’re so open about weighing your options of living in LA or elsewhere. We absolutely understand the feeling of wanderlust but then quickly getting anxious to go back “home.” We’d love to hear more about your journey and how you ended up in LA. Would you happen to have any travel or relocating plans coming up soon?
I was born in the UK and moved across countries and cities quite often as a child - my father was a doctor and we would go where he could find work. When I was six however, my parents divorced. This meant moving again and continuing to travel between and with my parents for most of my childhood.
I’ve always loved to travel and knew that I wanted to be somewhere else when I grew up. When I was 18, I left home to study Fine Art 🎨 and found myself in Paris - my dream city! There I discovered my love for yoga which took me to Thailand - the city that allowed me to simultaneously fall in love with yoga and experimental film. I came to LA about 4 years ago whilst still dabbling with experimental film and learning more about the wellness industry. Here, I met the love of my life and we got married in Joshua Tree. I love LA and all that it brings, but at the same time, I miss being close to my family and still want to see a lot more of the world. I hope that I can take Earth with me and open her eyes to the infinite possibilities of the world. Currently, we are currently hoping to buy a home though we aren’t quite sure where yet. We're leaning towards 50% in LA, and 50 % elsewhere! In a couple of weeks time, we will be traveling to Greece and France. ✈️
Q: Tell us about WILD WMN and how you developed the concept over time. What was the biggest surprise and the biggest challenge you've faced so far?
WILD WMN was developed out of my passion for community and my need to create a platform that expressed my artistic vision whilst serving women and helping them to heal. I was so inspired by becoming a mother and needed a creative outlet - WILD WMN was that. Throughout my pregnancy and birth, I'd met women who helped me and transformed my life. I wanted to share the power of Sisterhood and the magic of the wild with a larger audience. 💞
The biggest surprise so far is how WILD WMN has developed, and how I continue to be inspired every day. The biggest challenge is the reality of being an entrepreneur, finding time to work as a mom and yet remaining present in all that I do.
Image by @mamanielaphoto
Q: What surprised you the most about motherhood?
I was surprised by how enjoyable and inspiring it is! I didn’t expect it to be this way. Becoming a mom was also a “surprise” to me as my pregnancy was unplanned, but I embraced it fully and it has been the most incredible journey.
Q: Okay, we gotta ask- your daughter’s name is Earth - how did you decide on such a unique name?
First of all, thank you. "Earth" came quite naturally to us. Before my pregnancy, I spent a lot of time living out on the land in Montana and felt a real connection to the Earth - to the ground. When Earth was in my womb, it felt like her name - I felt the connection again. 🌎
My father also liked the name when I shared it with him whilst I was pregnant. He passed away a few weeks before Earth was born, and I wanted to honor that he'd at least known her name. Earth's full name is Earth Aiyana Mishael Flynn Roberts (my father was Michael Flynn). I love her name and it feels just right. She is Earth to me - my home.
Q: Elizabeth, take us through a random Wednesday. What does your day look like?
I wake up with Earth - we sleep together. My husband normally gets out of bed a little before us. If I can, I'l sneak out of bed before Earth wakes up and have a shower. Then, we'll have breakfast together. I'll have a green smoothie and tea 🍵, she'll have a banana and a sip or two of my smoothie. Then she'll play whilst I answer emails.
I usually change and feed her before I leave to teach my noon yoga class at Mind Body Soul yoga in Playa Vista. Earth sleeps in the car and I do some social media whilst she sleeps. My husband takes care of her whilst I teach, and afterwards Earth and will I have lunch together in the park. We'll have lunch that I packed, typically leftovers from the night before. Shortly after, I'll teach a meditation class at Tom’s. In the afternoon, we'll go on a walk, visit a new neighborhood and then head home.
Back home, I'll follow up on emails, do some website maintenance and practice yoga outside. Earth has her dinner, we have a bath, and then I try to put her to bed whilst my husband cooks a vegan dinner. He usually whips up some vegetables, rice, beans or lentils, avocado and salad. 🥗 At night, I enjoy watching some sneaky Netflix before bed. I'll also drink another tea, feed Earth and then slip off to dreamland. 😴
Q: Any tips/tricks you'd like to share with us?
Multi-task. Find ways to kill two birds with one stone. Take time to be present. Love. 💚
Q: Do you have a go-to set of sleep tools that you reach for when you’re stressed out, anxiety-ridden, or just need a good night’s rest?
Yes - what’s hard as a relatively new mom is that I’m not always in control. Even if I utilize the tools or desperately need a good night's rest - sometimes my baby just needs me to be awake. 👶
My tools are lavender essential oil, making sure I’m not hungry, a hot drink ☕, cuddles with my baby (I probably need her just as much as she needs me), sex with my husband and occasionally CBD. 🌿 I do suffer from insomnia from time to time, but funnily enough as a new mom, I tend to have no problem falling asleep.
Q: Going back really quickly to the podcast. Which episodes are your favorite/good to immerse ourselves into all things WILDWMN?
I love so many episodes, especially the episodes with guests. Some of my all time favorites include my chat with Melanie Klein on body image and wildness, speaking with my mentor Britta Bushnell on mythology and wildness, and if you're into birth I share my birth story quite early on! I also have to mention the new Moonlit podcast that I did with Stephy. I love it and the Power Down Powder mask we tried out during it!
Q: What’s something you release to allow you to sleep easier at night?
Worrying about the next day. I've adopted this mantra: One day at a time. One moment at a time. Everything changes, nothing remains the same. 🙏
🔥QUICKFIRE🔥
My ideal # of hours of sleep is: 7 unbroken
But in reality, I actually get: 5 - 6 very broken (waking up every couple of hours) - it's occasionally worse but sometimes better!
Sleep season for me is: Winter ❄️
How many pillows: 1
AM or PM?: Both
Nightcap?: Chamomile tea 🌼 or golden milk 🥛
Bad sleep habit: I wear earplugs - it’s a comfort thing but I don’t think it's good for my ears. I'm also guilty of not changing my sheets enough. Yuck!
Good sleep habit: I like pitch black and silence.
Can't sleep with: Hunger or sounds.
Side/back/stomach sleeper: Stomach, but I have to sleep on my side with Earth. I dream of the night when I can spread out on my stomach again.
Mantra: Sinking deeper (for sleep). I am free (for life).