#fromWomenToWomen: Finding Acceptance with Mimi Frieser

Dear Hopeful Humans,

In our quest to meet more of our amazing community, our #FromWomenToWomen series has led us to interesting people, thoughtful conversations, and an exploration of ideas we are excited to share. In a world where it’s easy to feel alone, meeting kindred souls are like bright sparks of light in the night, signalling ‘here is home, come rest’.

Let’s get cozy for our conversation with Mimi Frieser.

Mimi is a facilitator of yoga retreats who started yoga 10 years ago. Starting her life in Germany, she’s made her way to Indonesia, and now all the way to Australia, and everywhere in between.

Throughout her years of traveling, Mimi found herself falling in love with discovering all the different flavors and experiences the world has to offer. From culture to food, the different ways of living, and expressions. She’s an avid student of life who has grown to think outside the box.

One thing that’s been weighing on Mimi’s mind lately is how we often think we’re alone with our worries, and self-doubts, and inner demons, while in reality she feels that it’s the opposite. “I followed this woman on Instagram, she was beautiful – inside and out, but when she talked about her struggles of feeling she’s not pretty enough, good enough, or simply enough… It made me realize that we all share those insecurities. And it made me think that maybe it was time I accept my flaws and free myself.”

That moment of realization was a true turning point for Mimi. She now believes that a fulfilling life can be achieved by managing how we spend our own energy throughout the day. She sees worries, self-doubt, and inner demons as energy vampires that can grow and flourish if we keep giving them the space to grow. “But by sharing and speaking openly about our struggles, we revoke power from these draining, negative thoughts.”

She draws from her own experience of facilitating yoga retreats in Indonesia, Australia, Germany, and Spain. The safe, intimate space created during the retreats allowed participants to lower their shields with each other. Without that barrier, she saw that pain in all its forms is similar and fostering an understanding with each other became easier. “You know the saying shared pain is half the pain. It made me understand the empowerment that comes with sharing.”

Mimi acknowledges that it’s difficult to open up and be vulnerable. Fear of being judged is a common dread we share, and so she points out that like with many things in life – the work has to begin from within. “Self-love is very important. To know that you are worthy regardless of what other people think. Things are not always perfect, and we’re not always perfect. And that’s okay!”

Her talk of understanding the self comes full circle with how yoga has influenced Mimi’s everyday life. “I come from a personal trainer background and loved to move my body with strength-based training exercises. So yoga at first for me, was simply a good way to stretch.”

Mimi found it challenging to get into the mindset and flow of yoga. With her background, she had worked with the phrase ‘go hard and go home’ ingrained in her. Yoga forced her to slow down and to really listen. And that, she found is what finally got her to switch off. “There was really no room left for thoughts reflecting into the past or projecting into the future, so I was present. I listened to what my body was telling me it needed, and not my ego.”

Mimi is well traveled, both on this physical plain, hoping from one adventure to the next; but she is as well traveled into her own inner workings. By understanding herself better, she’s found that it has also helped her to have a better understanding for the people around her. “We read situations through a personal lens – attached to our own feelings. It takes practice to identify what’s actually happening, and what is deflected from our own state of mind.”

Mimi wearing Isabelle Moon Tangled Kiss Bodysuit in Limited Edition Plumeria Petal.

And what’s life if not a constant flow of questions and contemplations?

Sweet souls, we hope you enjoyed our conversation with Mimi! If you did, why not leave her some love in the comment section below.

Give Mimi’s Instagram a look if you want to connect with her, or why not try book a class with her if you’re in Australia!

Come join the conversation with us. What do you feel is your biggest hurdle when you attempt vulnerability?

Compassion in organic activewear,
Isabelle Moon