Welcome to CafeMom's monthly series, Work It, Mama, where powerful moms detail how they navigate their professions and home life.
In March, we kicked off the series with Nekesa Moody, The Hollywood Reporter’s editorial director. In April, we chatted with YouTube star and founder of BumoBrain Virtual School Chriselle Lim. In May, we are honored to highlight Jessie Diaz-Herrera, a mom to her daughter Violet, a wife, and the founder of the inclusive dance class Curves With Moves.
Finding a place in the world is life's ultimate challenge. Though many of us find our calling, we often have no idea what to do with it … until something just clicks. And if you're one of the lucky few who figures out what you want, making it happen is the next step. For this mom, business owner, Instagram star, and plus-size dancer, Jessie's "ah-ha" moments have come in waves but ultimately began when she was just a child.
At the tender age of 5, Jessie began dancing ballet, jazz, and tap, continuing until her tween years.
"I dedicated my life to sports thereafter and found hip-hop in college with our college dance organization," she tells CafeMom.
But in the dance world, she noticed something was missing: People who looked like her. That isn't to say that plus-size women and BIPOC don't dance, but there was never a seat at the table for them in a class environment where they were made to feel comfortable. So Jessie found her mission: to inspire movement and inclusion in the dance world. Hence, the birth of Curves With Moves.
"There aren't many spaces in the health and wellness community that feel welcoming to plus size and BIPOC bodies," she says. "By creating these safe spaces, we are making movement not about weight loss or body shaming, but about joy and community!"
Jessie soon found herself at the front of not just a business but a body positive movement. As the creator of inclusionary dance classes and living a fairly open life on social media, Jessie routinely inspires women to shed their shame and rejoice in their body's capabilities. Her Free the Jiggle dance classes, both in-person and online, are full of positive affirmations and just ooze joy.
Although the mom and businesswoman may make it look easy, it certainly isn't without its challenges. In addition to running upbeat classes and her own business, she's a primary caretaker for her daughter, which now includes virtual schooling.
She tries to start her day right.
"I wake up at 6 a.m. every day and start my day with a little stretch, prayer and gratitude. Then I wake up my daughter as I prepare her breakfast and heat up her lunch to pack for school. We are all dressed and out of the house by 7:15 where she starts school at 7:45 and I start work around 8 a.m.," she tells us.
"BREAKFAST IS A MUST FOR ME! I cannot go without. I'm obsessed with egg sandwiches and will make them every which way. I'll make a soft boiled egg on top of avocado and rye toast. Another day I'll make western omelette in a wrap with chipotle mayo," she says.
Another secret to her success? Routines. Routines. Routines.
"I split my responsibilities by days of the week," Jessie details. "Monday and Thursdays are dedicated to my PT consulting job, and I try to keep most of the work during these two days. Tuesday and Fridays for shoots, recording classes, editing videos, and workouts. Wednesday is typically a mix of consultant work in the AM, then time with my daughter (zoo, park, grandma's house) in the PM after school.
"It's not easy and I can't say I do it all successfully all the time, but it certainly helps that my husband has a flexible schedule and is able to pick her up most school days. I try hard to stick to a schedule, as we all thrive better with a routine. We have a family calendar which is truly our best practice. We add our work hours, meetings, friend and family meetups, classes, etc."
She also maps out time she and her husband can destress — together and separately.
"My husband and I have dedicated days where we get our own 'me time,'" says Jessie. "For example, he may have Monday nights to hang with the guys smoking a cigar. I might have a Friday night watching Drag Race at a bar in BK. Typically we give each other two nights a week to ourselves, two nights as a family, and the others as date nights or lazy nights."
Her self-care routine is one she deeply values and one she tries to implement a little of each day.
"I value extremely long showers, especially if I had a strenuous day. I will steam up my bathroom, spray some eucalyptus and citrus oils, and just breathe and try to meditate. I take a shower around 10:30 p.m. every night when everyone is already in bed and sleeping."
Considering how many moving parts are involved in her day, including converting her New York City living space into a full-out dance instruction class, penciling in this time to rejuvenate is essential.
What it boils down to for Jessie, though, is the impression she is leaving on her daughter.
"Sometimes I prioritize work emails over my parent emails. One time I missed a spirit day and my daughter was so crushed. So I went back home to get an outfit together to send back to school. I felt so bad," she says.
"I hope that she takes ownership of her body and that she learns to love it just the way she is. I hope she sees how hard mommy works to make our family goals come true. I also want her to know family always comes first. Before my business, before my side hustles, she is above it all."
