This ain’t no head trip!

When was the last time you stopped to think about what was next on your to-do list? If you are like most of us, it was probably just a few seconds ago.

But when was the last time you stopped to consult with your body, to feel what you were going to do next. If you are like most of us, you are probably thinking, “Ummm… I don’t remember.” (or Ummm….never!)

There are no two ways about it. We live in our heads. Even those of us that know, in our heads, that our body contains a whole lot of wisdom, forget to go there looking for it.  And even when we do, chances are we aren’t quite sure we understand it, or believe it. I know I personally struggle with this all the time.

Childbirth is a full throttle body trip. We can use our heads to prepare, fill it with all kinds of information to empower us, help us relax, but when it comes down to it we need to be able to surrender ourselves over to our bodies. Raw. Primal. Body trip.

That can be pretty scary if you aren’t used to handing over the reins and it isn’t the sort of thing you can just order your mind to do. It is the sort of thing that takes practice and as we know, practice takes time.

For me, learning to connect deeply to my body, the wisdom and the pleasure within, was the leap between a beautiful Zen-like birth experience and a physically ecstatic one.

Let me tell you, deepening your connection to your body and your sensuality is an on-going process. That is why I was so excited to read my friend Maya’s email. Maya knows she will be a mother someday and has already begun to integrate this information through her participation in the Ecstatic Birth Foundation Series.

Dear Sheila,

To be honest with you, in the beginning I really only took the Ecstatic Birth [Foundation Series] because I wanted to support you in your new venture. I’m not married, and although my boyfriend and I are planning a family, that day is still a ways off. I can’t tell you how glad I am that I have this information NOW! Listening to each speaker infused me with a whole new image of what the journey of pregnancy and labor can be! I feel like I can begin integrating this in my life today and allow them to…shall I say “gestate” until the day that I am creating my own labor experience.

I think any woman, no matter how far off childbirth may be for her (and even women who don’t want children but want a different way of looking at the powerful, perfect way their bodies have been created!) can benefit from this class.

I got so inspired that I am taking a birth doula class so I can support other women and learn more for my own journey! I can’t WAIT to hear what the new crop of teachers have to share and I look forward into diving into another Ecstatic experience with the other women who come along for the ride!

Thanks so much Sheila! You have given me such a gift and I am so grateful for you and all of the generous, inspired, passionate teachers!

Maya Gangadharan

It thrills me that Maya has this information NOW before she is even pregnant and that she gets how valuable this is. Let’s face it, our culture isn’t exactly teaching this to us- quite the opposite, actually. No matter what our mind knows, our bodies, whether we like it or not, have already integrated our cultural conceptions of fear and pain about childbirth. So, for those of us that have the AUDACITY to desire to birth from a connected, empowered place with love and joy and pleasure- the sooner we start, the better it is.