In the span of just a few years, Jazmina Urriola moved to a new country, lost her mother, got married, had a baby and was thrown into the collective stress of the COVID pandemic. She felt swallowed by depression and as she worked her way out, she looked around and noticed she wasn’t alone. So many others were struggling too, particularly moms.
“Motherhood is eye-opening in that you see how many other people also feel like they’re being pulled in so many directions,” she said. “Women need more help navigating everyday stress, life’s ups and downs, feeling more at ease.”
This month, Urriola launches a revamped version of the mobile app inspired by her experience, Allayya. It’s tailored to women and moms, with self-care tools crafted by female therapists, from psychoeducation to mindfulness exercises.
Urriola tells us how incorporating these skills and coping strategies into her own life make a difference as a special needs mom, partner and entrepreneur.
Interview with Jazmina Urriola
DFWChild: How did you find your way from biotechnology to app development?
Jazmina Urriola: I have always loved all things biology, but during my Ph.D. I realized I was not meant to be in a lab all day, all week. I did some work with the National Secretariat for Science in Panama, then moved back to Texas, got married and had Enzo. When I was ready to go back to work the pandemic hit and no one was hiring. It was a moment when I started thinking about the concept of the company.
DFWChild: What gave you the idea for a wellness app?
Jazmina Urriola: It is inspired by my personal journey and the need I’ve seen in other women. In 2017, I had moved to the U.S. with my husband after losing my mom to leukemia. I was adjusting to a new culture, while becoming a mom, mourning my mother, being a caregiver, then COVID—it took a toll on me. I felt stressed, anxious, inadequate. I started experiencing depression, and eventually I realized I needed help.
Therapy was a game-changer but to complement that, I started exploring some mental wellness apps. There are so many on the market, but the mainstream ones didn’t resonate with me—they didn’t speak to my needs as a woman. I felt that they were sort of based on unproven, mystical approaches.
I’m a scientist at heart, and I didn’t feel they were effective or safe. Then realizing so many other women and moms were struggling too, I decided to create a new app.
DFWChild: What advice would you give to an aspiring entrepreneur?
Jazmina Urriola: Entrepreneurship can be very lonely. There are often more lows than happy moments and that can feel exhausting, like no one understands. It’s important to find other entrepreneurs—your people—who can relate.
“When I became a mom, I thought about things I was going to teach Enzo, not realizing that I was going to learn so much from him.”
DFWChild: Your son Enzo was born with dwarfism. What’s that journey been like?
Jazmina Urriola: I was around 30 weeks pregnant when the doctor noticed that his legs were not growing, but they didn’t know exactly what he had. Those were tough times because we didn’t understand. We worried, is he going to be able to walk? We were thinking of all the worst-case things. Then about a week before my C-section they explained the diagnosis: achondroplasia, the most common form of dwarfism. Then we were like, “Oh, that’s it?” It’s not a big deal, but it’s been a long journey.
Enzo is sweet, happy, driven and motivated. If he wants to do something, he’s going to do it. Obviously, he has this condition but for us, it’s not something that I even think about day to day. He’s just my son. I love how great he is at showing everyone how capable he is, and that he doesn’t have to be treated differently. I really respect him.
DFWChild: Has raising a child with a disability made you view the world differently?
Jazmina Urriola: Having Enzo opened my eyes to how inaccessible the world can be—restaurants, malls, airports are really challenging for someone his height.
As a society we’ll say, “Let’s make the world a kinder place, a more inclusive place,” but as a parent of a child with a disability, it’s not just a trendy phrase. I think a lot about representation—or lack of—and how I want Enzo to grow up and see himself represented. I want him to know he can grow up and have a successful, fulfilling life personally and professionally. I want him to know that everything is possible for him.
DFWChild: What have you learned from motherhood?
Jazmina Urriola: When I became a mom, I thought about things I was going to teach Enzo, not realizing that I was going to learn so much from him—about myself, about society. He’s even helped me improve my English (laughs).
I’ve also learned there are so many misconceptions around disabilities. There might be this idea that it’s like a tragedy, but I wouldn’t change Enzo for anything. I can’t speak for every parent of kids with disabilities, but I don’t think most parents would change their kids either.
DFWChild: How do you manage your own mental health?
Jazmina Urriola: I focus on the non-glamorous inner work that has nothing to do with bubble baths and yoga. I’ve learned to cultivate self-compassion, and I think that’s crucial, especially for parents.
DFWChild: How do you and your husband split parenting duties?
Jazmina Urriola: We implemented a “day off” strategy on the weekends, where we decide who gets to take what day off, meaning not focused on taking care of Enzo. On Saturday, if it’s my day off, I know my husband is taking care of the parenting duties and I can take time to do other things; I can go do my nails or even just lay in bed. And if Saturday was my day off, then Sunday is Manuel’s. It’s helped us to know one day a week we have the option to devote the entire day to ourselves. We can have a break.
DFWChild: What traits do you hope to pass to Enzo?
Jazmina Urriola: I hope he’s a go-getter. Both my husband and I strive to work towards goals; we’re not afraid to be seen trying. That’s something I want for him.
Jazmina’s 5 Places & Practices for Recentering
1. Date Night Restaurant
Maison Chinoise in Dallas is a favorite restaurant for date night or a family meal, in part because it reminds Urriola of home. “In Panama, we eat a lot of Chinese food, which might surprise some people. There is a rich Chinese heritage in Panama, dating back to when they arrived to build the railroad,” she explains. “Imperial Peking duck is our favorite to share—it takes me back to my childhood and brings back so many fond memories of my mom.”
2. Daily Breathwork
“I struggle with news anxiety. A few months ago, I was so overwhelmed by a story about a school shooting that I couldn’t remember any of the recommendations my therapist had shared during my appointments. I was sitting at a restaurant, breathing hard, anxious, wanting to cry, waiting for my food,” says Urriola.
In these moments, she uses breathwork, which she explains can “significantly help by boosting oxygen flow to your brain and stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system. This part of your autonomic nervous system is responsible for calming your body, like lowering your heart rate after a stressful moment.
By practicing slow, deep, intentional breathing, you can effectively relax your nervous system. It’s a simple yet powerful tool you can use anytime, anywhere.” For managing daily stress, Urriola suggests trying a 10-minute daily breathwork routine.
3. Back to Nature
“In the springtime, we absolutely love visiting the Dallas Arboretum. With all the varieties of flowers in bloom and plant species, it’s such a treat for the eyes and the mind. We walk around, lay on the grass and soak in the beauty of it all. It’s simple yet brings us so much joy. It’s one of those places that never gets old for us as a family, and for Enzo, it’s like a little adventure,” says Urriola.
“We’ve even created a little tradition: starting the day at the Arboretum and then heading to a small Cuban restaurant nearby called Havana Cafe for lunch. We’re always on the hunt for great Latin American spots, and this one never disappoints.”
4. Preparing for Baby #2
Urriola is keeping her expectations real when it comes to welcoming a new baby, knowing that Enzo might experience moments of jealousy or behavior regression when his little sister arrives.
RELATED: When Your Toddler is Jealous of Their Baby Sibling
“I’ll aim to meet those moments with compassion and understanding. I’m also reminding myself to take it one day at a time and focus on what matters most. Part of that involves setting healthy boundaries—like limiting visitors during the postpartum period—to preserve my energy and ensure I can be more present.”
5. Space for Mom
As Urriola launches the newest version of Allayya, she’s most excited about the app’s new journaling tool. “This journal will allow users to express their thoughts and reflect on their journey in a way that feels personal and authentic—whether through text, voice memos, photos or even doodles,” she says.
RELATED: Mommy Burnout: Why Moms Are So Overwhelmed & How to Fix It
This article was originally published in February 2025.
Top photo courtesy of Morgan Elizabeth Photography
