Three Women · Three Stories · One Shared Vision ·
Three Women · Three Stories · One Shared Vision ·
Soffía
Grounded · Wise · Playful
I live and work in Reykjavík, Iceland. I am married to Helgi and we have 3 daughters and a sweet dog.
My passion for doula work began in 2006 but I took my time and began working as a doula in 2008. I've been a doula trainer since 2012.
My mission has always been to empower women and families. Fascinated by the parent-infant interaction, I began my journey into parent-infant psychotherapy as well as couples therapy in 2018. This has highly impacted my doula work and vice versa. I feel every day in my therapy work how vital my doula perspective is.
I am a Hypnobirthing instructor and have training in Yoga Nidra. I have CBE- certification as well.
In Iceland, I offer courses on regular basis to pregnant parents to be, one on preparing for parenthood and the other on comfort measures.
In 2017 I started my own doula training that has been growing and improving ever since and I am a proud founding member of our Doula Association. I am also very honoured to be the Chair-woman of The Icelandic Family Therapy Association.
I am deeply thankful for the trust women have given me through the years and know nothing more wonderful than to spend time with like-minded women.
Mirjam
Calm · Adventurous · Sassy
I live in Dieren, a village situated between the river IJssel and the lush hilly landscape of the Veluwezoom. This is how I like living: on one side the vastness and the view, on the other, the shelter of the woods.
The births of my two children set me on my life’s path. I benefited so much from the antenatal courses I took in preparation, that when our family was complete, I started training as a prenatal teacher myself in 1999. I teach the Samen Bevallen (Giving Birth Together) program where the couple attends the entire course together. The partner’s perspective, their questions and lived experience is so different. Having them present creates a more wholistic journey for all.
In 2006, I became a doula and doula trainer. I had the honour of doing this work for over 10 years. It taught me a lot, not least of which, how vital good communication is, but it also humbled me and at the same time, made me more outspoken.
I fell completely and utterly in love with the relaxation the Rebozo could bring to birth so I dove head first and learned all that I could. With the blessing and help of Naoli Vinaver, a Mexican midwife, Thea van Tuijl and I wrote a book on the Rebozo. This led us to begin teaching workshops all over the world so I had to end my work as a doula and doula trainer.
I now work as a prenatal teacher and continue to travel all over Europe where I’m invited to teach about the Rebozo. That work is a journey in itself. At first it was mainly doulas to whom I passed on this knowledge, now I teach in several midwifery schools in Germany and increasingly share the magic of the Rebozo to professionals from different backgrounds. Doing this work, continues to challenge me to keep researching other possibilities and applications of the Rebozo. I am still as much in love with this beautiful fabric as I was in 2006 when I got to know it.
Another treasure that my work has brought me are the many contacts and connections I’ve made across the globe, which are very dear to me and from which several friendships have arisen. Bella Doula Retreats was born from these connections. Coming together, exchanging experiences, learning from and enjoying each other fills my heart with pure joy like nothing else can! I look forward to sharing this joy with you.
Mary
Intuitive · Passionate · Bold
Originally from Seattle, I now live just outside of Frankfurt with my Swiss husband. We’re the proud parents of two wonderful young adults who continue to teach us all sorts of things we had no idea we needed to learn!
My journey into this work began in 1997 in New York when I was invited to attend the birth of a dear friend’s baby as her massage therapist. She had hired a doula and when I witnessed the gentle and loving ways the doula supported, not only the birthing mother and her partner, but the medical staff as well, I knew that I had found my life’s work. I became a certified doula in 1998 and have had the privilege and shared joy of supporting hundreds of birthing people and their families in numerous hospitals, birth centers and homes in New York City, Stockholm, Sweden and throughout Switzerland.
I believe that when mind, body and soul are in harmony, birth can be calm, peaceful and pleasurable! As a Spinning Babies® Parent Educator, Body Ready Method® Pro and certified Hypnobirthing® instructor, I weave these approaches together to nurture balance in the birthing person’s body, quiet her mind and bring serenity to her very core.
As birth workers, the same holds true for us. Life is intense, busy and wonderfully messy. Learning ways to center ourselves and find balance between the beautiful work we do and our families is key to the longevity of doing it. Self-care is vital, and this retreat offers a chance to find our center again and connect meaningfully with others who share our passion for better birth!
As part of the Nurturing Birth Mentoring Team, I find that it is an open exchange of learning with each doula that I’m honored to mentor. Our stories intertwine and we have much to learn from each other. I so look forward to meeting you and to walking beside you as you share your story and we learn from one another!
