Last night I began my 2nd series of The Birth Journey classes at my yoga studio in Haleiwa. I have been really passionate about birth ever since I gave birth to my son 6 and a half years ago. I had no idea how transformative the experience would be and how I would be a changed woman after giving birth. Becoming a mother has been the most spectacular gift this life has offered me.
After completing prenatal yoga teacher training a little over a year ago (January 2013) with my beloved teacher, Gurmukh, I realized that I needed to share my passion with other people, and to be a birth educator. I began by teaching prenatal yoga to a group of friends on my lanai (porch in the Hawaiian language), my boyfriend (who was so supportive that he dressed up as a woman) and shortly after on a yoga platform at a local organic farm overlooking the ocean and surf break V-Land (thank you Jenny and Nate at Positive Energetics for providing a beautiful space), and then soon after at my new yoga studio in the quaint little town of Haleiwa about 20 minutes from my home.
Prenatal yoga on my lanai with my beautiful pregnant friends Kendyl and Chanel.
Dusty dressed up as a pregnant wahine! Thanks for the wig Mom!
Yoga at Positive Energetics at V-Land
Beautiful pregnant women at the Noelani Studios in Haleiwa
I have loved connecting with the women in my prenatal yoga classes, and encouraging them to be in their bodies and in their power as women. There is a magical motherly intuition that kicks in when we are pregnant, and as we continue on as mothers. Sometimes, in our modern day culture, it is hard to tap into that space of knowing, and we continually search for answers outside of ourselves…from our doctor, from our neighbors, or from even strangers. But their experiences are different from ours; we all have our own journey and our own paths we must follow. In my classes, it is my wish to guide women to get back in touch with that inner wisdom and listen to their own bodies and their own truths.
I continued on the birth education journey to complete a doula training, and then to find Sacred Pregnancy Workshops, and attended a Teacher Training on Maui with the creator Annie Daulter. I was immersed in the knowledge of how to share this special journey of pregnancy and birth with women in a way that empowers them to birth with choice, with allowance to surrender to the magic of birth. The 22 of us gathered each day for 5 days in learning, in sharing, in growing, and although many of us didn’t know each other before the trip, we were all best of friends by the end.
Photo by Alyssa Wood-Tozzi
Photo by Canary Lane Photography
Some people traveled from Finland, Canada and even Oklahoma to share the experience. By the end of the trip, we were doing full moon naked yoga, and I was the instructor. What a trip!
And so…I begin the journey with 8 lovely couples. I will be teaching four classes total, on Friday nights from 6:30-8:30pm. We will be discussing birth plans, birth positions, we will be drawing our idea of pregnancy/birth, dance with our babies and partners, and connect with ourselves and each other, among many other things.
I am so excited to share this journey with my students. To empower, to educate, to change the vision of birth as we know it.
I will be sharing more birthing information on my blog as the journey continues…
Namaste…Om shanti Om
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