We had the good fortune of connecting with Ashley Makan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ashley, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
It all started with the birth of my daughter. I had previously experienced perinatal loss and obstetric trauma, and that is what ultimately pulled me into this work. I remember stepping into this massive transition and realizing that nobody really covered the deep significance of the psychology surrounding this experience. I spent my first two years of postpartum reading everything I could find on the subject, and I made the decision to dive into community birth work right around that time.

I really enjoy the holistic approach to this transition because we’re looking at the mind and the body, not separately, but how they work together intricately, and we’re digging into understanding how our interpersonal relationships directly affect our experiences. As someone who has a lot of experience navigating the hospital setting, I’m extremely passionate about educating others on personal advocacy and hospital navigation. This may not be something that is necessary in one’s unique birth experience, but it is something we all need to be familiar with as we step into the role of being our children’s advocate. There are so many amazing aspects of this work that keep pulling me deeper and deeper into learning more, and I love sharing that with others.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I will forever be a lifelong learner, and I think that really helps in this work. After studying Birth Psychology through APPPAH, I developed a holistic childbirth education program that explores pregnancy, birth, and postpartum through the lens of Birth Psychology, as well as different types of meditation and nervous system regulation techniques, so students can create their own personalized toolboxes. I’ve experienced great success with this program in the classroom setting, and I just launched a self-paced online version for students who don’t live here in the Upstate or have complicated schedules.

After attending a Spinning Babies training, I felt the need to delve deep into the physiology and body mechanics of birth. Body Ready Method, a six-month program, proved to be the in-depth exploration I was seeking. It teaches the intricacies of body mechanics and how, with the right awareness and movement choices, we can bring balance to the body before, during, and after birth. I’m thrilled to start teaching local Body Ready Birth classes in the spring, essentially offering a mini deep dive for partner support and movement awareness in labor.

The deeper I go into this work, the more I want to explore. There are some exciting projects on the horizon, but I’m not quite ready to announce them yet. I’ve really enjoyed witnessing the community evolve over the past five years I’ve been in this field, and I’m eager to learn how to support this beautiful community on an even deeper level.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live in Travelers Rest, which is about a 20-minute drive from Downtown Greenville. We would definitely spend at least one evening walking around Main Street in Greenville and exploring Falls Park. Since I live near the Swamp Rabbit Trail, we would dedicate a day to meandering back and forth from TR to Greenville on our bikes, making a stop at Swamp Rabbit Cafe to grab fresh food on the way back out of the city.

TruBroth, located in Travelers Rest, is my absolute favorite restaurant. We would spend an evening there, enjoying tea and authentic Vietnamese Pho. Most likely, we’d spend our mornings planning out some beautiful day hikes over coffee at Leopard Forest Coffee, and enjoy the rest of our time exploring the forest.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I wouldn’t be where I am today without the education and support I received from the Association for Pre-/Perinatal Psychology and Health (APPPAH). Studying Birth Psychology has changed my life in ways I never expected — It has shifted how I connect with myself and my husband, how I parent my daughter, and how I interact with my clients and community. Birth Psychology really brought me a deeper understanding of the intricate connection between mind and body, and it brought me a greater perspective on what it means to be human.

I’m honored to have been given the opportunity to serve as Secretary of the Board of Directors at APPPAH, and I’m so grateful that I can take part in furthering education surrounding this subject and sharing the importance of supporting early human and nervous system development with the world.

Website: https://www.bodhibirthandwellness.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bodhibirthandwellness

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleymakan/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bodhibirthandwellness

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@themindbodybirth

Other: https://www.themindbodybirth.com

Image Credits
Green & Grey Photo, Leslie Lowe

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