I have realised that it is 2 months since I last did a blog post! What have I been doing then? Primarily I have been busy teaching: so in between the courses, I have not had the time to focus on writing some blogs. Although I have had some time to work on my new book. I will write some blog posts on that soon!
However, I just want to let you know about a new doula training that one of my teachers, Samara Hawthorn, will be running in West Wales, where she lives. This part of the UK is dear to my heart and I spent some time in the summer at Sam’s place in the foothills of the Preselis: a powerful, magical place. Sam lives very close to the land and each summer invites her other shiatsu teacher, Kris Deva North, to run Qi Gong courses there. Samara runs Jade women’s circles groups based on her daoist training with Kris. Samara began her training with Well Mother in 2009 and as part of her study of supporting women she spent some time in the US working as an apprentice midwife. She also spends time with midwives in Africa. She regularly attends births Wales. I will get Samara to add a little more soon about her own journey in supporting women with shiatsu during their births. However here, she will tell you a little about the Ten Moons Doula journey.
“I would like to invite you to join a growing circle of women on a journey of depth and discovery beginning in the spring of 2015.
We will be meeting once a moon/month, for ten moons to share learning around the transformational journey of conception, pregnancy, birth and beyond..
Each moon month we will be discovering and nourishing our skills, knowledge and connection as a doula by exploring the childbearing year, whilst adding “Well Mother” Shiatsu to our birth bags.
The ten course modules will each reflect a different stage childbearing year, beginning with Pre-Conception – Drawing Down the Moon, and ending with Breastfeeding and Beyond – Closing the Bones.
We will be exploring eastern and western medical approaches to childbirth, learning theoretical and practical applications of “Well Mother” Shiatsu, and engaging experientially with the bio dynamics of embryology.
This will be a holistic approach that encourages confidence, supports intuition and establishes grounding in gentle and natural childbirth, alongside medical approaches.
Touch, being the earliest sense we develop, one of our first forms of communication, is of great importance during pregnancy and birth. From our mother’s womb, to our first moments born to the world, and months afterwards, we remain acutely sensitive to touch. Throughout our lives, whether we are aware of it or not, touch remains a primal way in which we relate. Shiatsu brings awareness to the way we touch, and how we communicate through touch.
The Practice of “Well Mother” Shiatsu offers a way for a woman, her baby and her partner to experience safe, intimate and loving touch during pregnancy, birth and beyond. Nurturing touch through Shiatsu can be a great support to pregnant mothers, their babies and families, and provides a practical system of connection for the doula to the mother, baby, and the whole family. Shiatsu encourages us to bring a profound awareness to our touch, and nourishes the connection between the mother, baby, her partner and the Doula. Practicing Shiatsu we can develop the sensitivity of how respectfully touch the mother and her baby, who are both acutely sensitive to the quality of touch they receive during and after the birth.
I am honoured to be working with Suzanne, and deeply grateful for all the teaching and support I have received from her over the years
Each month will include a reflective home study module for that “moon”, and the option to attend and assist at either a childbirth preparation class or infant massage class.
The course will be held usually on the last Sunday of each month, from 10 am to 4.30 pm, at Narberth Natural Health Centre, Pembrokeshire.
The Residential Weekend will be in my straw bale roundhouse in the foothills of the Preseli’s, Pembrokeshire.
There will be five optional extra CPD modules offered in addition to the basic course. For more information contact samarahawthorn@gmail.com.
