About me and my own journey as Doula
I was born in Mexico, in a region with deep indigenous traditions called "Huasteca". There I grew up leaning from my mother and grandmother to understand health and sickness from a hybrid mestizo perspective.
My grandmother used to heal us with her hands, herbs, songs and using local practices she was taught from generation to generation. My mother is a retired psychologist now dedicated to produce herbal remedies.
I grew up being healed this way and watching others being healed like this. I still use many of these practices to heal my self, my family and others.
Growing up in a culturally rich region, I was keen and open to understand the world from a culturally diverse awareness. I decided to study Social Anthropology and dedicated my academic research to understand culturally hybrid (indigenous and new) agricultural techniques and rituals.
Over the years I studied Aromatherapy and hot stones massage technique. I have used these for my own personal use, and I have use them regularly too on family and friends for more than 10 years.
In Mexico, I worked in arts site management and in the environmental charity sector. For many years, I worked as an ecotourism community led project co-ordinator. I used to design trekking routes, traditional food menus and riding horses as part of my job! .. (among many other things)
In 2013 I studied one of the best Masters Programmes in Mexico (I like to say). I personally translate the name into something like "decolonial social studies". I wrote my thesis about collective action and community-led forest conservation.
In 2015 I was living in London and became a mother. I was quite impressed about this powerful event in a woman's life. And I realised how important it is to have someone by your side in order to have an empowering yet humbling positive birthing experience.
In 2017 I knew Thando Zwane (Paramana Birthkeeper) at a west-african dance class (Wuntanara). I was very curious about what she does as a Doula and she pointed me in the right direction. That year I trained with Liliana Lammers (Paramana Doula) and Michel Odent.
In 2019 I did a certified training by Doula UK with Kate Woods (Conscious Birthing, Doulas Without Borders).
Side by side, while preparing myself to become a Doula. I have also been busy working in the women's charity sector in London. I have worked for organisations such as Latin American Women's Rights Service (LAWRS), Refuge, at Women's Health and Family Services (now Sister Circle) co-ordinating the Maternity Mates programme in Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest. I currently work as the Community Services Manager at Birth Companions.
