Program Overview
Whether it's banishing postpartum depression, healing birth trauma, or balancing me time, I'm an expert in postpartum care and can help you, no matter where you live. There is no failure in pregnancy, birth and postpartum. I will help you move with grace through potential sadness, grief, fear, and anger to embrace and heal from your experience. We'll figure it out. Here’s how we can work together:
The Happy Momma Program
Banish Your Post Partum Depression
When you are struggling with feeling overwhelmed, exhaustion, mild to moderate feelings of depression or anxiety, newborn care or breastfeeding challenges, or finding a sustainable new momma rhythm, I can help you with personalized guidance for your unique situation.
I know postpartum blues, depression and anxiety well, and have helped countless women prevent or overcome it in a wholesome, effective and lasting way.
Heal Your Birth Trauma
Personalized Support, No Matter Where You Live
If you didn't get a chance to go through the Love Your Birth Course prior to your birthing experience, and found it was not as positive of an experience as you would have liked, or even close to the birth you wanted, I can help.
Let's connect so you can heal from upsetting experiences and feelings of shame, failure, helplessness, physical and emotional trauma so you can feel stronger and be at peace with your journey.
This work together can help you to look forward to a much better experience the next time around.
Balancing
"Me Time"
It’s common to be very active with self-care before giving birth and then feel it’s impossible to balance everything after birth. It’s normal to have anxiety and fear around what might happen if you don’t get it all done and even start talking down to yourself for not 'doing enough.'
You need regular contact with someone who understands the physical and psychological levels of what is happening to support you through this. I’d love to help you with this.
What Our Mommas Say
“What an amazing offering, Anne! I know my phone call with you was so helpful in processing my trauma from birth.…” —@margotyoga
“I couldn’t have done it without you. I wish that all women could benefit from you as I did…” — Love Catherine
“Your support and wisdom through my miscarriages and postpartum lows had lasting impact on me too…” — Julie D
Mindful Hatha Yoga Class Series Online Course
$127.00
This course has 14 yoga classes plus bonus material:
Seven ~ 60-80 minute Level 1 Yoga classes
Seven ~ 60-80 minute Mindful Hatha Flow Yoga classes, building to Level 2
A soothing Gentle Slow Flow Yoga class
A Restorative Yoga class for deep relaxation
Bonus videos of an hour Live more advanced Vinyasa Class, shorter breaks of yoga anywhere anytime, use of props - like the wall, a chair, yoga blocks, yoga belts, yoga blankets and bolsters to enhance your practice, and practicing with your baby or pet..
The classes are for all people able to take them. Part one of the series will invite you to grow, strengthen, focus, train and enhance your mind, body, heart and spirit. Discover for yourself the calming, healing and transformative power of yoga - intentional meditative movement with breath.
Classes begin with meditation made simple using breathwork, gradual warm up, increasing difficulty as well as yoga play, gentle cool down, and end with restorative practices in deep relaxation. They are slow flowing, with space to explore specific poses but are meant to challenge you. Classes are different each session, with classical fundamental alignment based asana fused with modern postures and their many modifications and varied creative transitions. Classes are taught with modifications as needed. They also are fused with meditative, breathwork and visualization techniques which will transform your experience and life with regular practice.
The classes are there for you to practice a different class each day of the week or according to your own frequency, then start over again from the beginning of the series. Each class ranges from on average 60 minutes to 80 minutes, and they build on each other from Part one to Part two; following the sequence from class 1 onward is advised if it is your first time taking the series or are a beginning practitioner. Classes are mindful, at a slow safe pace, gentle but challenging, so that you build strength, flexibility & agility. They start with the basics but are for all levels of experience, and beginners too are welcome! You can use the initial classes as beginner classes, just modify as needed and use the tools and techniques as they pertain to your own life. The need to relax into intensity and the other multiple benefits of yoga practice pertain to everyone.
Once you hone your skills, you can take the Mindful Hatha Flow Part 2 Class Series that follows, doing your own modifications as needed - for wherever you are on your yoga journey. They also build on one another and can be practiced successively until you are ready to mix and match and create your own classes and practice schedule.
Additional videos are included to enhance your practice with use of the various props, as well as a soothing gentle slow flow class and a restorative yoga class for deep relaxation (great for evening!), shorter breaks of doing it anywhere and anytime, and a live bonus video of a more advanced class.
My Own Personal Struggle Postpartum
I've went through it all personally and professionally and have helped thousands of women through what I call the "Forgotten 4th Trimester".
After my last birth, I was very sick. I didn’t have any extended family nearby. I felt alone.
Women are often so lonely and separated nowadays from family and community; and there’s not as much maternity leave, so the problem of postpartum depression and anxiety just festers. One in four women are diagnosed with depression. Even without clinical diagnosis of depression and anxiety, many mommas are full of worry, overwhelmed, lack confidence, are sleep deprived and have periods when they do not feel emotionally well after having a baby. They are trying to do the best they can to be a mom and often have a hard time balancing responsibilities at work with family life and personal needs.
My story was intense...
several weeks after my last birth,
I got very ill.
I felt like I was over caffeinated - my thoughts were racing, I was extremely agitated, panicked, completely overwhelmed and unable to function. I could not think clearly or make decisions. I could not sleep. I felt faint, and was losing weight. It seemed something was very wrong. I really felt alone and felt unable to ask for help, even from my close friends. My husband did not understand and was worried. Friends and neighbors were concerned but I did not want them to know. My dear holistic colleagues and alternative providers came to my house to treat me; but nothing was working.
I was ashamed and embarrassed,
and wanted it kept secret
that I might have a 'mental illness.'
I had to go back to work as a midwife soon. My midwife suggested I see her collaborative OB. He, and subsequently a family physician, said I was suffering from postpartum anxiety and should take Xanax medication - which I did not want to do as I was breastfeeding. They said a little wouldn't hurt, but that was not what the literature indicated. In desperation, I tried it a few times but it made me feel drugged and worse. I had felt anxious before and I knew it was not simply a matter of anxiety.
It was literally torture and frightening to be in my body. My closest friend, an osteopath stayed with me through the night, doing treatments to relax my system. I wasn't able to think clearly, but do remember asking her to check my thyroid. I felt like I was dying and they called an ambulance, but I refused to leave my baby and go with them. I remember asking my friend to call my mother who lived three hours away, to pick me up. She came as soon as she could, and took me right over to the leading hospital in her area, which had a postpartum stress center. The doctor wanted me in the hospital because I was real sick and my thyroid was so elevated, but I again declined. I wasn't thinking rationally - I just wanted to nurse my baby and stay with my mother. The doctor finally agreed to monitor me closely out of the hospital, as my mom is a nurse and would take care of me and bring me to the center each day.
I had postpartum thyroiditis, an autoimmune condition in which the thyroid initially makes too much hormone, before not making enough. This explained why I felt the way I did; it also created symptoms of moderate to severe postpartum anxiety and agitated depression. The doctor prescribed medications I was so afraid to take, but I was more afraid of my symptoms. I was so ill, I just surrendered and took them, but they also made me sick. So between the illness and the medications...I was one big mess. I am so grateful for the care I received at the center and from my mother, with whom I stayed for a month, and for my husband and friends, who took care of my other kids and home during this time.
I had to stop work for
an entire year while recovering
I do not remember much of my life then. It actually took me a number of years to fully heal, using a comprehensive holistic approach. I studied and experienced the benefits of many modalities. My yoga and meditation practice were life changing. But the complete healing happened after intensive Clarity Breathwork sessions. It was the most delicious and miraculous feeling of relief I ever experienced.
It was this process and personal experience that resulted in my becoming known in our community as the midwife people would call when they had postpartum depression and anxiety.
No matter where you live,
I can help you.
There is no failure in pregnancy, birth and postpartum. I will help you move with grace through potential sadness, grief, fear, and anger to embrace and heal from your experience. We'll figure it out. Here’s how we can work together:
*Coaching sessions include access to my exclusive, private Home Sweet Homebirth Support Group and Community on Facebook. This a supportive community of women to create tribe, enable connection and bonding with likeminded mamas going through similar experiences along the journey of motherhood. You can use it to support one another or to ask for needed support when going through a hard time. You can use it to share or read inspiring, empowering, uplifting and educational content. I share exclusive posts and helpful information in response to questions and concerns brought up by the group.
Introduction to Clarity Breathwork Online Course
$47.00
Clarity Breathwork is the most empowering, transformative experience I’ve ever been through in my entire life.
Clarity Breathwork uses breath as a powerful medicine, which releases trapped trauma energy, psychic pain and stress that is stored in your body - without having to talk or think much about it.
It is a direct path to more energy and vitality, lasting inner calm and joy, better health and enhanced relationships.
What's Included:
Welcome and Overview
Breathing Exercises Companion Guide
About Clarity Breathwork
15 x Breathing Exercises with step-by-step videos demonstrating each technique
BONUS VIDEOS:
Introduction to Breathwork Positions
Breathwork Positions with Yoga Props.
Dance Your Emotions With Femme Online Course
$47.00
Dance Your Emotions with Femme! is an experience not to be missed!
It allows you to explore movement for self-expression, healing and empowerment.
It allows you to experience your body with pleasure, free from judgement.
It takes you on a luscious, invigorating and restorative journey through movement, and is for both women and men.
It is a passionate fusion of dance, sensual motion, meditation and celebration of our emotional being, designed by Dance, Health and Fitness Expert, Bernadette Pleasant.
It creates sacred, safe space for all to feel more alive and live fully as human beings.
It invites you to reclaim your power and to boldly display that power as you move freely and fabulously throughout the world.
This does not replace care from your primary provider.