In 1999, when I first joined the U.S. Army, I encountered yoga for the very first time. What started as a physical practice quickly evolved into a journey of self-awareness, healing, and grounding—tools I would later draw on again and again, especially in my work as a doula. After completing my yoga teacher training with YogaFit Worldwide, I knew that mindfulness and movement were more than personal tools; they were gifts I wanted to offer others.

As my doula practice grew, so did my understanding of how deeply connected the mind and body are throughout the childbearing experience. I naturally began weaving yoga and mindfulness techniques into my client care—breathwork during early labor, visualization during prenatal visits, grounding meditations for postpartum transitions. These practices weren’t just effective; they were empowering.

When I discovered Mindful Birthing, a revolutionary approach created by Nancy Bardacke, it was like finding language for something I had already instinctively known. Her book Mindful Birthing: Training the Mind, Body, and Heart for Childbirth and Beyond became a staple in my prenatal library—one I now recommend to all of my clients. It offers a compassionate, evidence-based approach to meeting the intensity of childbirth and parenting with resilience, awareness, and grace.

This September, I’m taking the next step in deepening my support offerings by enrolling in the Mindful Birth Teacher Training Program through the Mindful Birthing and Parenting Foundation. This training will allow me to become a certified Mindful Birth educator, expanding the tools I can offer families preparing for birth—not just as a doula, but as a guide in mindfulness, presence, and trust.

My birthwork is deeply inspired by voices like Ina May Gaskin, whose Spiritual Midwifery reconnects us to the ancient and sacred nature of birth, and Beverly Chalmers, PhD, whose African Birth: Childbirth in Cultural Transition has helped me center culture, history, and equity in my practice. These works, alongside mindfulness-based frameworks, have allowed me to hold space for a diverse range of birthing people with intention and care.

As I embark on this new chapter, I carry with me the wisdom of years of service, the grounding of mindfulness, and the deep belief that birth is not just a medical event—it is a rite of passage, a profound journey of the soul, body, and spirit. I’m excited to share more about my training, integrate this work into my offerings, and continue walking alongside families through the sacred experience of bringing life into the world.

If you’re curious about the Mindful Birth approach or want to learn how mindfulness can support your birth experience, I’d love to connect. Stay tuned for upcoming workshops and resources.

With warmth and presence,

Shekita Long