Isabella Ridler teaches and guides women to thrive prior to conception, during birth, postpartum and through motherhood. She walks the path alongside women, co-creating a place for them to arrive fully nourished in mind, body and spirit. Her aim is to allow women to thrive rather than survive through the journey of motherhood. Having experienced a beautiful, spiritual birth with her partner, she felt something was missing: a self-aware woman rooted in spiritual practice: someone whose calling it was to support mums-to-be through this time. Following a path of healing and truth prior to motherhood, she felt inspired to become this woman. Here Isabella talks to The Natural Parent Magazine about the passion behind what she does, how she balances work and family life, and her hopes and dreams for the future.
The passion: What inspired you to set up your business?
My experience with birth was alone, free birthing at home (by choice) with my partner and our dog in a cottage in rural England. It was a really beautiful, profound spiritual experience.
But, quickly after birth, I remember suddenly having this baby in front of me, this adorable baby suckling on my nipple and feeding. And I sat there, not having yet birthed my placenta, thinking I wished I had another woman with me. I knew I could have typed in ‘midwife’ or ‘doula’ online and would have found an endless number of women, but I wasn’t looking for this. I was looking for a gem.
I was looking for a woman rooted in her spiritual practice, not someone involved in the medical system. I wanted an incredibly self-aware woman who didn’t believe I needed saving. I didn’t want anyone carrying fear into my sacred birth space! I desired someone who had gone through a healing journey, a woman who had understood ancestral nutrition and was rooted in the essence of her true self. A woman who was supporting women during this time because it was her calling, not her training.
Part of my inspiration for setting up my business was to be the woman I sought.
The launch: How did you start out in the beginning?
I wanted it to be the right match when working with women. I didn’t want to fight through a mama’s journey. So starting for me was having this boundary, and that’s how people found me. That’s how I always dreamed it to be!
The innovation: What was the biggest breakthrough for you with your business?
Having already travelled nomadically for a while has allowed me to understand that I don’t just have to offer services to women in my country of birth. My biggest breakthrough was understanding that I could support and reach women worldwide.
Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
I’m naturally more in my Yin by nature. The Yin, to me, is feminine, so having a feminine approach to business is really important.
It’s funny, really. The more I nourish myself with nutritious meals, bubble baths and slow down, the more my business flourishes because when I do show up, it is in love, and I feel good!
I once had a great teacher, Lili Frances Kerr, who showed me a more authentic way of having a business by using your voice and storytelling. Knowing this has given me much freedom and balance in work because everything I’m sharing is something I’ve already lived through.
