1.  Mindfulness for Doulas:

• 10/14/22, 5 - 7 PM to 10/15/22, 9 AM to 5 PM
• Virtual
• Sliding scale $75 - $125, Scholarships available upon inquiry
• Scroll down to bottom of page for class content
• Click here to register​

2.  Mindfulness Birthing Education Weekend Course:

• 8/05/22 - 8/07/22
• Virtual
• Sliding scale $45 - $400, Scholarships available upon inquiry
• Scroll down for class content
• Click here to register

3.  Mindfulness Birthing Education Weekend Course:

• 11/11/22 - 11/13/22
• Virtual
• Sliding scale $45 - $400, Scholarships available upon inquiry
• Scroll down for class content
• Click here to register​

Donations

Testimonials

Weekend ​Class Content

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Pregnant Belly Outdoors

Hands on a pregnant belly

Parents with Newborn Baby

Homework and Participation Expectations

For All Class Participants (including partners):​

• Readings and videos prior to weekend course
• Attend at least 70% of lessons​
• It's encouraged to attend a minimum of 2 drop-in meditations outside of class time

​

Sample Class Curriculum for Weekend Birthing Ed Course

(curriculum subject to change, includes approximately 14 hours of instruction time)
Prep for Lesson 1

• Start reading pdf of Chapter 2 of “Full Catastrophe Living” by Jon Kabat-Zin.  Pdf will be provided.
• Gather Supplies:
  • ​Order book 1 month before class: "Mindful Pregnancy & Birth" by Riga Forbes; available on Amazon Kindle and in hardcover:  https://www.amazon.com/Mindful-Pregnancy-Birth-Mindfulness-Forbes-ebook/dp/B077GKF9YK/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=mindful+pregnancy+%26+birth+Riga+Forbes&qid=1565390962&s=gateway&sr=8-2 
• Optional Prep: Minimum of 1 minute/day of breath awareness, noticing the sensations of the inhale and the exhale. 

Lesson 1
~ What is Mindfulness?

• Usefulness w pregnancy, labor, birth, postpartum, breastfeeding/chestfeeding, and parenting?
• The Research
• ​Guidelines & Basics of Mindfulness
• Breath Awareness
• ​If time allows:   Acceptance Exercise 

Lesson 2
~ The Challenges of Stress & Cultivating Care

• Developing positive habits of mind
• Discuss attitudes of mindfulness​
• Training the body to respond to stress with relaxation​: Body Scan
• Cultivate generosity of spirit towards self and others others: Loving Kindness or Metta Meditation

Lesson 3
~ Intro to Stages of Labor
~ Intro to Mindfulness in Labor
~ Additional Mindfulness Techniques for Labor

• Pain as an object of meditation, types of pain
• ​Counting the Breath; Mantras
• Informal practice (Waking to this Moment): Lunchtime Meditation

Lesson 4
~ Continue discussion of pain:

• Massage exercise​
• ​Pain Meditations

~  If time allows:   "I’m Not My Thoughts  (unless I choose to be)"

• Discuss the observer/inner-witness
• The Nature of Thoughts
• Thought Bubbles

Lesson 5
~ Being with Fear
~ Being with Difficult Situations

• Options for responding to difficult situations
• Loving Kindness / Metta continued
• ​Forgiveness; RAIN / Compassion Break; ​Circle of Benefactors
• Open Awareness Meditation

Lesson 6
~ Labor and Birth

• Practice labor and birth coping skills with Ice Contractions​
• Conscious intentions and goals without attachment to outcome
• If time allows:  Deep listening Exercise

~ Mindful transitions and good-byes 

Sample Class Curriculum for Doula Course

(curriculum subject to change, includes approximately 8 hours of instruction time)
Prep for Lesson 1

• Read pdf of Chapter 2 of “Full Catastrophe Living” by Jon Kabat-Zin.  Pdf will be provided.
• Read pdf of "Standing at the Edge" article. Pdf will be provided. ​
  
• Order book 1 month before class and read Chapter 1 of: "Mindful Pregnancy & Birth" by Riga Forbes; available on Amazon Kindle and in hardcover:  https://www.amazon.com/Mindful-Pregnancy-Birth-Mindfulness-Forbes-ebook/dp/B077GKF9YK/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=mindful+pregnancy+%26+birth+Riga+Forbes&qid=1565390962&s=gateway&sr=8-2 
• Optional Prep: Minimum of 1 minute/day of breath awareness, noticing the sensations of the inhale and the exhale. 

Lesson 1
~ Introductions and Group Guidelines
~ What is Mindfulness?

• Basics of Mindfulness
• Intro to Mindfulness in Labor
• Intro to supporting a client who took a Mindful Birthing course
• Intro to how to utilize mindfulness for self-support as a doula  
• The Research: video
• Breath Awareness and/or Body Scan

Lesson 2
~ Discuss attitudes of mindfulness
~ The Challenges of Stress & Cultivating Care

• Developing positive habits of mind
• Training the body to respond to stress with relaxation: Body Scan

~ Cultivate generosity of spirit towards self and others others: Loving Kindness or Metta Meditation

Lesson 3
~ Continue Mindfulness in Labor
~ Additional Mindfulness Techniques for Labor

• Pain as an object of meditation, types of pain
• Counting the Breath; Mantras
• Informal practice (Waking to this Moment): Lunchtime Meditation

Lesson 4
~ Being with Fear
~ Being with Difficult Situations

• Options for responding to difficult situations
• Loving Kindness / Metta continued
• Forgiveness; RAIN / Compassion Break; Circle of Benefactors
• Open Awareness Meditation

~ Conscious intentions and goals without attachment to outcome
~ Mindful transitions and good-byes 

Lesson 5, Extras if Time Allows
~  If time allows "I’m Not My Thoughts  (unless I choose to be)"

• Discuss the observer/inner-witness
• The Nature of Thoughts
• Thought Bubbles

~ If time allows:  Labor and Birth Ice Contractions
~ If time allows:  Deep listening Exercise
~ If time allows:  Mindfulness in Postpartum, Breastfeeding, and Parenting