As supportive as my partner and mother were, I know that it was a very taxing experience for them. Having a support person such as a doula to help guide me through the experience, who was mentally and physically prepared to be there by my side, could have made a big difference and made the experience less traumatic. This sparked a desire to be that person for women and led me to complete my birth and postnatal doula training in early 2020 with Julie Clarke from Sydney Australia. I now offer services as a Birth & Postpartum Doula across Northern New South Wales with an emphasis on yoga, mindfulness, breathwork and emotion regulation.
Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
We all have that inner voice inside of us that knows what’s best in any given moment. If I hear that voice say I should be spending more time with my partner, or that I must check something off my to-do list, then I listen to that. I know many people will relate when I say that running your own business means it’s easy for our work and home life to become entwined. Whether I’m working, studying or spending time with my family, I try to be present by practising mindfulness and removing unnecessary distractions. I have a love/hate relationship with social media as I feel it can sabotage our ability to switch off as well as our ability to maintain a healthy sense of self, so if I find I need more time to connect with myself and my family, I temporarily delete the apps from my phone or leave my phone at home while I go for a walk or a swim in the ocean.
The drive: What challenges have you overcome?
Like many people, I’ve been through a lot in my life. In my mid-twenties, I went through a particularly challenging time in a physically abusive relationship that broke me emotionally and spiritually. It led me to stop teaching and enter a season of uncertainty and depression. I lost my confidence and felt defeated, but in walking away from that relationship after four years, I knew in the back of my mind that it was providing me with a valuable life lesson in the importance of backing and advocating for myself. It also reinforced why I wanted to work with women, for it was never about helping someone get into a complex yoga posture or be able to hold a headstand, that’s all well and good, but what I really felt called to do was empower women to have the strength and resilience to overcome those dark, messy and disruptive life experiences – to have the tools to rise above their adversity and do good in this world. Shortly after this chapter in my life came to an end, I packed everything I owned into my little Kia Rio and drove to Northern New South Wales, where I eventually met the love of my life, started a family and found my way back to teaching and the birth of my new business.
For better or worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
The pros are having full creative control; you can see the fruits of your labour and allow your business to grow and evolve as you do. The cons are that it’s all on you – your success as well as your setbacks. You also have to invest in your business with no guarantees that it will work out, which takes a lot of self-belief and commitment.
Hopes and dreams: What next?
I’ve recently launched my new business offering Doula Services and Mindfulness Consultations for women across Northern New South Wales. I’m also working alongside the beautiful Meaghan Amor in her new space, A Place called Birth, in Currumbin, Queensland, offering Yoga and Mindfulness classes twice per week for both men and women. These classes are designed in a way that is suitable for everyone, including those navigating pregnancy or an injury. In the future, I envision creating some kind of free or affordable program for young people to have access to yoga, mindfulness and good mental health care as they approach birth and motherhood. You can follow along with my journey by following my socials and subscribing to my monthly email newsletter on my website.
Visit Erin’s website to learn more about the services she offers. You can also join her supportive communities on Facebook and Instagram.
