Hello! My name is Erica, founder of The Yogi Doula in Miami, FL. I am a certified registered 500-hour yoga teacher. I have been practicing yoga since 2014. In 2020, I found out I was pregnant with my daughter and wanting to keep my yoga practice up, I began looking to practice pre-natal yoga. However, no one around me seemed to offer any classes. My local studio would just give me modifications, singling me out, which always made me feel uncomfortable. That was when my husband suggested that I should become a yoga instructor and help other women find their practice through all stages of pregnancy (and life). So, I did just that!

My dream took on a life of its own and now my main focus is supporting women through pregnancy, labor and delivery and into postpartum. Additional to offering and teaching yoga to prenatal clients, I have further my dedication to pregnant women by becoming a certified birth doula. Becoming a doula was “born” after my own birth experiences. My daughter’s birth was absolutely phenomenal besides all the uncertainties and unexpected complications that arose. The group of women that I had surrounding me were empowering, comforting and they did everything to make me feel at ease. I wouldn’t change a single piece of it. My son’s birth was entirely the opposite. I had a terrible experience with my doctor and my hospital staff. My birth ended up being traumatic and even still hard to talk about sometimes… this terrible experience really gave me the push to try and make sure no other woman ever feels that way. My hope is to empower women to feel confident in themselves, their bodies and their choices. My goal is to be a rock for them to lean on when things get challenging and to give them the confidence that no matter what, someone is on their side and will stand next to them.

I believe that the labor and birth experience is exhilarating just as much as it is terrifying. I believe that women need support, love, encouragement and empowerment to feel their greatest and most capable. In order to feel that, I feel that knowledge is always power and understanding information fully to make the best informed decision gives women that empowerment and confidence in themselves. In labor support, I feel it is important to be the voice that can help her understand and ease any fears or hesitations that she may have, but to also encourage her to follow her instincts and do what is best for her, her baby and her family.

My choice to become a postpartum doula really falls back to the old saying “it takes a village”! Having a baby is scary and bewildering. Your entire life completely changes and it can sometimes feel so lonely. Being  a postpartum doula is just to make the transition easier for women and to make it feel a little less lonely and more fulfilling without the added stress. I feel that the postpartum period is the most challenging during the early days, weeks, and in some cases, months after giving birth. This is such a vulnerable timeframe when women are most susceptible to transitioning from the common “baby blues” into the far more severe postpartum depression. Having someone to help and teach is so crucial to not feeling so alone. It can really help to not feel as though the world is resting on your shoulders and you’re doing something wrong. My theory for support is to be whatever you may need me to be. Someone who can ease the workload, explain changes in your body that you may be experiencing, and help you adjust to a new member of your family.

On a more personal note, my husband and I are the proud parents of two beautiful children. I am an avid reader and always have a book or my kindle in or on hand. I also enjoy arts and crafts and exercising, especially yoga and mat pilates. I am a true crime junkie and enjoy watching documentaries or listening to the “Crime Junkie” podcast. All of my other free time is invested into spending time with my kids and family and learning something new.