How Two Moms Built a Joy-Filled Movement for Women Everywhere
Motherhood is beautiful, transformative…and let’s be honest, often all-consuming. For Denver-based moms Sarah Battani Sams, a business strategist and mom of three, and Elizabeth Wellington, a psychoanalyst and mom of two, the early years of parenting left them yearning for a space where women could reconnect with themselves—not just as caregivers, but as whole, vibrant individuals. That’s how Moms Feelin’ Themselves (MFT) was born. What started as a simple idea—bringing moms together to dance, move, and let loose—has blossomed into a powerful community and nationwide movement that celebrates joy, confidence, and connection.
We sat down with the dynamic duo behind MFT to talk about the healing power of movement, the importance of carving out space for yourself in motherhood, and how their sold-out dance parties are helping moms everywhere feel free, empowered, and—most importantly—themselves again!
Happiest Baby What inspired you to create Moms Feelin’ Themselves?
We wanted a space where moms could just be women again—to laugh, move, and have fun without kids in tow. So many mom groups focus on parenting or include the kids, but we craved a place for moms to reconnect with themselves and each other, outside of motherhood, where we didn’t have to talk about our children or the mundane aspects of mom life, and could reconnect with a sense of autonomy and playfulness.
What first drew you to the idea of using movement as a tool for mental health?
Movement has always been how we release stress and feel joy—whether dancing, hiking, or working out. But in motherhood, it became harder to find those outlets. We missed that spontaneous, cathartic, bonding fun of dancing with friends. Creating MFT gave us—and so many other moms—a safe, joyful way to move, connect, and feel free again.
How do you see movement supporting not only physical wellness but also self-confidence and identity for moms?
Dance is one of the fastest, most effective ways for moms to reconnect with themselves—and it’s not just fun, it’s science. Movement restores a sense of ownership over the body, which can feel lost in early motherhood (especially after pregnancy, birth, postpartum recovery and feeding!) and boosts the brain’s natural feel-good chemicals like dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin. In groups, it creates powerful synchrony and belonging, reminding moms that they are both individuals and part of a community. At its core, dance gives moms back their sense of self—joyful, expressive, and whole.
Parents—especially new moms—often struggle to carve out time for themselves. What do you say to parents who feel too tired or too busy to move their bodies?
I get it—making time can feel impossible. But when moms care for themselves, the whole family benefits. Even five minutes of movement—whether it’s a walk, yoga, or dancing in the kitchen—can help us regulate emotions, feel more joyful, and be more present with our kids. If it’s hard to do it for yourself, think of it as doing it for your family.
How has movement personally helped you through the ups and downs of motherhood?
It’s our go-to coping tool. Movement helps us feel grounded, strong, and less stressed. Sometimes that’s a Peloton ride to reset the day, other times it’s blasting a song and dancing through the overstimulation of too many little hands on us. It always leaves us more resilient and more relaxed.
How do you balance running a business with the demands of motherhood?
Honestly, we don’t believe in perfect balance—it’s more like letting priorities shift as they need to. Some weeks work takes the lead, other weeks it’s family. We try to check in with ourselves often: do we need more rest, or is it time to push? Staying flexible and listening to intuition has been key.
What has surprised you most about the journey of creating and growing MFT?
Elizabeth: I’ve been surprised by how much I love the business side of it. As a psychotherapist, I didn’t expect that. But it’s been energizing and has shown me my career and motherhood can evolve in unexpected, exciting ways. Working on something so purposeful makes me a more present, fulfilled mom too.
Sarah: You could call it a surprise, or even a shock, that I now find myself dancing on stage in front of 500 women on a regular basis, completely uninhibited, with no self-consciousness, just 100% my raw, unfiltered, joyful self. The space we’ve created allows every mom to feel seen, supported, and beautiful, and by showing up fully myself, I hope to inspire other moms to embrace that same confidence and joy. I was born to be the ultimate hype woman and MFT allows me to do that in a big way.
Looking ahead, what are your hopes and goals for the future of Moms Feelin’ Themselves?
We want every mom to know her wellness matters—not just for her family, but for herself. The response in our home base of Denver has been incredible, with sold-out shows and moms telling us they feel like themselves again, have made new friendships, and leave more joyful and present. That’s why we do this.
Now, we’re taking the party on the road—with stops in Boston, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, and LA this fall and winter, and more cities in 2026. Our goal is for moms everywhere to have an MFT event to look forward to—a reminder that their joy and wellbeing are worth celebrating. Moms can find out more about our tour at momsfeelinthemselves.com or follow us on IG @momsfeelinthemselves