Meet Our Speakers!
Dr. Thomas Verny
Thomas R. Verny MD, DHL (Hon), DPsych, FRCPC, FAPA
Thomas R. Verny is a psychiatrist, academic, award-winning author, poet global speaker, blogger on Psychology Today and columnist for The Globe and Mail. He is the author of eight of books, including The Secret Life of the Unborn Child, published in 27 countries and the Embodied Mind, Understanding the Mysteries of Cellular Memory, Consciousness, and Our Bodies, 2021, (Pegasus, NY), published as of today in Spanish, Greek, Russian, Portuguese and Czech, as well as 47 scientific papers. He has previously taught at Harvard University, the University of Toronto, York University (Toronto), St. Mary’s University (Minneapolis) and the Santa Barbara Graduate Institute.
Over the years, Verny’s short stories and poems have appeared in many literary journals. His collected poems were published as Cordless in 2014.
In 2004 Mothering Magazine, in recognition of Verny’s contributions to the field of parenting and child rearing, named him one of their “living treasures.” In 2005 the Santa Barbara Graduate Institute bestowed on Verny a Doctorate of Humane Letters (DHL).
Dr. Sarah Buckley
Sarah Buckley is trained as a GP (family physican) with qualifications in GP obstetrics. She has been writing and lecturing to childbirth professionals and parents since 1997 and is the author of the internationally best-selling book Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering.
She is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Queensland, researching oxytocin in labour and birth and the impacts of maternity-care interventions. She has co-authored several papers on oxytocin in labour, birth and breastfeeding.
Sarah is also the mother of four adult children, all born at home. She lives on the semi-rural outskirts of Brisbane, Australia
Dr. Bryan Kolb
Dr. Bryan Kolb is a native of Calgary and is currently an Emeritus Professor in the Department Neuroscience at the University of Lethbridge, where he has been since 1976. He received his BSc and MSc from U of Calgary, PhD from Pennsylvania State University, and did postdoctoral work at the U of Western Ontario and the Montreal Neurological Institute. His recent work has focused on the development of the prefrontal cortex and how neurons of the cerebral cortex change in response to various pre- and postnatal developmental factors including hormones, experience, stress, psychoactive drugs, neurotrophins, noise, and injury, and how these changes are related to adult behaviour in laboratory animals and children.
Bryan Kolb has published 7 books, including two textbooks with Ian Whishaw (Fundamentals of Human Neuropsychology, now in its Eighth Edition; Introduction to Brain and Behavior, now in its Seventh Edition), and over 450 articles and chapters. Kolb is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and an Officer of the Order of Canada. He has 4 honorary degrees (UBC, Concordia, Thompson Rivers, Lethbridge) and is past President of the Canadian Society for Brain, Behaviour, and Cognitive Science, past President of the Experimental Division of the Canadian Psychological Association, and past Co-Director of the CIFAR program in Child Brain Development.
Barbara Harper
Barbara Harper is an internationally recognized expert on waterbirth and gentle birth, a published author who founded Waterbirth International in 1987, with one goal in mind – to ensure that waterbirth is an “available option” for all women. During the past four decades Barbara has worked as an obstetric and pediatric nurse, midwife, midwifery instructor, childbirth educator, doula and doula trainer and has used her vast experience to develop unique seminars which she teaches within hospitals, nursing schools, midwifery and medical schools and community groups worldwide. She was recognized in 2002 by Lamaze International for her contributions in promoting normal birth on an international level. Her bestselling book and DVD, ‘Gentle Birth Choices,’ has been translated into 9 languages, including a 2016 Mandarin Chinese edition.
She is working on two new books, ‘The Essential Guide to Waterbirth” and ‘The Wisdom of Gentle Birth.” Best known for her Waterbirth Certification Courses, Barbara has dedicated her life to changing the way we welcome babies into the world. She is the mother of three adult children, two of whom were born at home in water, and grandmother of two boys. She lives in Boca Raton, Florida, where she is active in the community as a midwifery and doula mentor and Blissborn Birth Hypnosis teacher.
Susana Lopes
Secretary-General of Prenatal Alliance, President of the Norwegian Association for Prenatal Education, a prenatal educator, prenatal and postnatal yoga teacher, author, speaker and advocate for pregnant moms and their conscious babies. Her present work includes guiding women to effectively release stress and anxiety from their body and improve their overall health and connection with their baby.
Raylene Phillips
Raylene Phillips, MD, MA, FAAP, FABM, IBCLC is the President of APPPAH - Association for Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health. She is also a neonatologist with a passion for the physical and emotional wellbeing of babies. After raising three children as a stay-at-home mother, she received a Master’s Degree in Developmental Psychology, became NIDCAP certified as a Preterm Infant Developmental Specialist, and then attended medical school at University of California, Davis, graduating in 2004. Dr. Phillips completed her Pediatric Residency and Neonatology Fellowship at Loma Linda University Children's Hospital in Loma Linda, CA and is currently an attending neonatologist at the same hospital as well as Medical Director of Neonatal Services and Pediatric Department Chair at Loma Linda University Medical Center-Murrieta. Raylene is an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and is a Fellow of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. Her primary areas of interest are supporting the physical wellbeing of newborns and healthy emotional connections between babies and their parents before and after birth. Raylene Phillips lives in Redlands, CA, USA.
Kola B. Brönner
Since 2022 President of ISPPM - International Society for Pre- and Perinatal Psychology and Medicin. Kola is a Graduate social worker, non-medical practitioner (psychotherapy since 1996), Systemic Constellation facilitator (recognized by and member of the DGfS), Leader of trainings in System Constellations in Germany, Ireland and Spain. Co-founder (with partner Jochem Stienen) of the JoKo - Institute for Continuing Education 2006. Chairwoman of "Lahar" Association for Conscious Childbirth and Family e.V., 11 years instructor in childbirth preparation.
Olga Gouni
Olga Gouni, an expert in Prenatal Psychology, has been engaged in Education, Research and Development of Prenatal Sciences for almost 30 years. She founded the Research Institute of Prenatal Sciences SOPHIA and the International Journal of Prenatal & Life Sciences. An active member of COST ACTION for over 12 years, author, editor of collective authorship projects, designer of educational programmes in Prenatal Sciences, Professional Education Trainer of many successful educational courses in the field of prenatal psychology internationally and the specialization program in Whole-Self Prebirth Psychology and creator of the Health Promotion Program "WELCOME" for pregnant couples with a focus on the (unborn) baby. Her vision/ mission is to synthesize and organize the acquired knowledge in the field of Prenatal Sciences and bridge the Academia with the professionals in the field of Prenatal Psychology.
Lavinia Mihaela Nanu
Lavinia Mihaela Nanu, doctor and psychotherapist, is driven by the ideal of fundamental prevention and the discovery of the most effective ways to catalyse a change in mentalities. Her aspiration is to facilitate the awareness and fulfilment of the unlimited potential that lies within the human being.
In the same line, since 2003 she coordinates the Romanian Prenatal Education Association and since 2019 the World Organization of Prenatal Education Associations (OMAEP).
In the last 20 years she has coordinated the implementation of several European projects in the field of Health Communication and Prenatal Education and the last project in progress is the construction of a Virtual Center for Prenatal Education on the www.omaedu.ro platform.
Within the projects in which she has been active, she has co-authored several chapters of communication guides for primary care professionals in relation to patients and caregivers, as well as a Prenatal Education Guide for conscious prenatal parenthood. She is also an experienced trainer in the health system and in the field of prenatal education, having authored her own training curricula which she applies particularly in the field of prevention and the development of soft-skills for health and education professionals and future parents.
Dr Charan Surdhar
Charan is a geneticist turned epigeneticist. She has a BSc degree in Microbiology, and a MSc in Human Genetics, after which she worked in the field of genetics for 13 years, identifying genetic mutations for a whole host of genetic diseases and contributed to many scientific papers as well as textbooks. Now she works specifically with genetic diseases, assisting to release the energy, in the form of emotions, beliefs and perceptions that get in the way of the natural flow of the body to bring about positive gene expression. This is the revolutionary new field of epigenetics.
She is also an author of a book (www.hebathehoop.com), and has a passion to create animated videos to explain in a simple way, concepts such as epigenetics, which you can find on her youtube channel. www.charansurdhar.com
Dr Bruce Lipton said about her work: “Thank you for your healing work, it is vital for our evolution."
Dr Christiane Northrup said about one of the animated videos called “Bursting the Bubble on Infections”: "This video is wonderful. And medically accurate. It's also done very, very, gently and respectably.”
Laura Uplinger
Laura is the Vice-President of ANEP Brazil (National Association for Prenatal Education). Since the late 1970s, she has been a proponent of the powerful influence of a mother’s inner life on the formation of her prenate. She often leads workshops and gives talks about prenatal parenting at conferences and webinars for birth professionals and the public at large in the Americas and Europe. She also addresses high schools and university students on the subject of prenatal and perinatal psychology. The name of one of her most effective workshops is "Pro Mundo Nascer Feliz" (For the World to be Born Happy).
Li Xiaofei
PhD, lecturer at the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Peking Union Medical College. I graduated with a doctoral degree from Beijing Normal University and obtained my master's and bachelor's degrees from the China Conservatory of Music and the China Academy of Traditional Chinese Opera. The member of the Youth Editorial Committee for the international journal Psychosomatic Medicine Research and a member of the Editorial Committee for the national journal Musical Instruments. Member of the Maternal and Child Health Management Professional Committee of the China Medical Education Association. Her research focuses on music therapy and music education.
Marcy Axness
PhD, is an early development specialist and author of Parenting for Peace: Raising the Next Generation of Peacemakers. Her premise is, If we really want to change the world, we need to raise a generation who are “hardwired for peace” – with brain-based capacities like self-regulation, empathy, trust, imagination and of course, intelligence. Dr. Axness writes and speaks worldwide on ways we can accomplish this, beginning before conception. She considers as her most important credential being mother to Ian and Eve, who are grown, flown and flourishing with high EQ and robust curiosity!
Dr. Hakan Çoker
MD, Gynecologist and Obstetrician, LCCE. After working in various hospitals in his home country of Turkey, Hakan decided to be an advocate for natural births, childbirth education and continuous birth support. He became a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator, HypnoBirthing Practitioner, and Active Birth Trainer, and is co-creator of the Birth with No Regret Model in which doctor/midwife/Birth Psychologist work together. In 2010, he and psychologist Neşe Karabekir founded İstanbul Birth Academy. Since than he has been a teacher for Birth with No Regret teams, childbirth education classes, doula trainings, and birth psychologist trainings.
He is the country representative of the International MotherBaby Childbirth Initiative (IMBCI) and International Childbirth İnitiation (ICI). He is also the founder of Hand To Hand For Birth Association. He is author of Natural Birth in 100 Questions and editor for Michel Odent’s books The Cesarean and the Scientification of Love, HypnoBirthing: The Mongan Method by Marry Mongan, Birthing From With In by Pam England, Mindful HypnoBirthing by Sophie Fletcher.
Carla Machado
Carla is the founder and President of ANEP Brazil (National Association for Prenatal Education) since 2010, and is also an Astrologist, Psychotherapist, Flower Essences Therapist and Prenatal Educator. After having worked as a System Analyst for 12 years at IBM, she changed gears in 1998 after the birth of her first child and became a facilitator of therapeutic women's groups that work with fairy tales and art crafts.
François Amigues
Francois is the President of the Canadian Association for Prénatal Education (C.A.P.E.), director of I.D.E.A.L. Family, member of O.M.A.E.P. and student of prenatal education since 1986. Osteopath (D.O.) oriented towards couples, pregnant women and newborns for the last 25 years. Lecturing and teaching prenatal education as well as Pediatric and Obstetric Osteopathy throughout Canada, the US, Brazil, France and Russia.
Jennifer Kozlow
Jennifer Kozlow is ICCE-IAT, CD, ITP, ICPFE, Director PREVIDA Foundation Certified Perinatal Educator and Trainer of innovative methodologies for more effective childbirth preparation courses.Author, Editor of Maternity Health publications and International Conference Speaker.
Dr. Ikegawa
OB-GYN doctor, author, and lecturer with an extensive research background on the concept of Prenatal Memory. He distributed about 3,600 questionnaires consisting of 85 questions in 2002 and 2003 and continued interviewing people with Prenatal Memory. He guides how to communicate with babies in the womb for pregnant mothers at his clinic and delivers lectures nationally and internationally about the extraordinary stories he discovered from Prenatal Memory research. Videos with English subtitles are available on the Prenatal Memory YouTube channel.
Yuko Igarashi
Yuko Igarashi is a graduated from The Evergreen State College with a BA in Consciousness Studies and is a certified Prenatal and Perinatal Educator. She launched the Prenatal Memory Global Project in 2018 with Dr. Ikegawa and Dr. Masayuki Ohkado at the Society for Mind-Body Science 28th Annual Conference. She organized and coordinated joint group presentations from Japan and China for the 2019 APPPAH International Congress and also served as an interviewer for the film "Prenatal Memory."
Ms. Reiko Kishimoto
Licensed midwife and RN. Her personal childbirth experiences in Boston revealed the delicate balance between physical and mental well-being. 2008, she founded the Kishimoto Maternity Center in Japan, focusing on comfort and happiness. Reiko stands at the forefront of a movement, fostering a community that embraces natural hormone secretion with a holistic approach supported by doulas, birth attendants, and family members. Through her work, she envisions a future where childbirth is a shared, celebrated experience, transcending cultural norms and embracing women's innate strength. Aspiring to make SAN-BA a universal language.
Babaji Shivkumar
Shivakumar Shivanetra – fondly called Babaji – is a part of the Shivanetra Parampara, a Spiritual Lineage of Bharata (India). He has been guided by Maa Skanda Meera Shivanetra. He continues to function as a mentor for parents, children and other seekers who have chosen to learn or be guided in various aspects of purposeful Life and Living. He is engaged in these activities of the Lineage/Parampara as the founder and managing trustee of Shivanetra Trust , Sanatana Life Academy ( https://sanatanalife.com/ ), Leela Gurukulam ( https://leelagurukulam.com), Garbha Gurukulam, Temple of Excellence and other associated organisations.
He is a Jyotisha Acharya – a branch of Bharatiya Knowledge System (badly translated as “Astrology”) and is also a Pre-Perinatal Educator (PPNE). Earlier in life, he was a senior executive in the corporate world – having worked in organisations like UnitedHealthcare, Metlife, Tata-AIG and Munich Re.
Anna Verwaall
Anna is a maternal-child health nurse, conscious conception & birth consultant, pre,- and perinatal educator from the Netherlands. After a long career in various obstetrical, neonatal and home-health settings she preferred to work with families and babies as a specialised nurse-educator and started her own practice in Los Angeles.
Since 2006 Anna lectures and facilitates workshops internationally about the longterm effects of the conception, womb and birth experience. She uses a combination of the latest research and findings from the field of pre,- and perinatal psychology, her own clinical knowledge and birth photography, and experiences based on working for more than 30 years in various countries attending hospital, birthcenter and home-births. Currently Anna has a private practice supporting clients integrate their pre & perinatal experiences, inspiring couples to consciously conceive and training professionals in working with early imprints. She has been a longterm member of APPPAH, the Association of Pre,- and Perinatal Psychology.
Dr Anupama Reddy
MD, pediatrician worked for over 15 years as a consultant at the neonatal department at Fernandez Hospital, Hyderabad, Telangana, where she pioneered the Kangaroo Mother Care and Human Milk Bank projects. Following her years in the
corporate world, she devoted herself to social service and charitable endeavors. She is currently the secretary of the Aaryajanani Trust.
Stefan Rippel
Healer, astrologer, and spiritual mentor in the ancient tradition of Hermetics.
Jean-Philippe Brébion
For more than 40 years, Jean-Philippe Brébion has been developing his concept throughout the world: Bioanalogy. His proposal is to consider that each of us is a Unique, Original and Singular Universe in a permanent Present.
He is the author of nearly ten books including the best-seller L’Empreinte de Naissance (Ed. Quintessence, 2004).
For him, Man enters his quantum dimension, the era of Consciousness, characterized by Non-causality and Non-duality.
Dr. Sabine Wilms
Sabine Wilms, PhD, is the author and translator of more than a dozen books on Chinese medicine. In addition to writing, translating, and publishing her work through her company Happy Goat Productions, she lectures around the world at conferences and universities, through her online mentorship programs “Imperial Tutor” and “Reading the Chinese Medicine Classics.” She also runs the world’s only rigorous intensive training program on classical Chinese for practitioners of Chinese medicine (translatingChinesemedicine.com) and hosts the “Pebble in the Cosmic Pond” podcast. Some of her favorite topics are gynecology, pediatrics, medical ethics, and “nurturing life.”
Her publications include books on Sun Simiao’s writings on pediatrics (Venerating the Root) and ethics (Healing Virtue-Power); on the Divine Farmer’s Classic of Materia Medica (Shennong Bencao Jing); on Wang Fengyi’s system of “Five Element Virtue Healing” (Let the Radiant Yang Shine Forth and Twelve Characters); on the Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic chapter five (Humming with Elephants); on the Fuxingjue zangfu yongyao fayao aka Tangyejing (Celestial Secrets) and on Qi Zhongfu’s Hundred Questions on Gynecology (Channeling the Moon). Dr. Wilms is known for her historically and culturally sensitive approach to traditional Chinese Medicine, but also sees it as a living, effective, ever-changing, and much needed response to the issues of our modern times. She lives happy as a clam with her goats, chickens, and other wild and domesticated creatures on Whidbey Island near Seattle.
Noemi Solano
Noemí Solano is a Consultant specialist in Early Language Acquisition, a Certified Prenatal and Perinatal Educator (PPNE) and an Expert on Early Care and Childhood Development. Through innovation based-education projects at schools, university training programs and lectures, she makes parents, childhood and primary educators aware of giving transcendental relevance to the prenatal period in that the mother’s physical, emotional and mental state, as well as her environment, will influence the developing unborn child’s present and future, that help promote the child´s well-being and self-realization from the beginning of life.
Angela Lessa
A Community Doula and Doula Trainer, Angela has supported Latina families for the last 20 years in New York City and the surrounding area, offering prenatal childbirth classes, new moms support groups, breastfeeding warm line, prenatal yoga, labor support, and traditional postpartum care.
Manuel Hurtado
Social media and information management professional. Master in Strategic Management of Human Resources. More than twenty years collaborating within the scope of Natural Prenatal Education. General Secretary of the National Association of Prenatal Education (ANEP) of Spain. Member of the Board of Directors of OMAEP, World Organization of Prenatal Education Associations. Founder of RIO Prenatal, the Red Iberoamericana de Organizaciones por la Educación Prenatal Natural.
Ioanna Mari
With Law and Psychology degrees, Mrs. Mari is the Founder of the Hellenic Society for Prenatal Education and a Founding Member of the World Organization of Prenatal Education Associations, with a strong presence in Conferences, Seminars and Lectures, globally.
She has taught Prenatal Education at various Universities including University of Peruggia Italy, of Sofia Bulgaria, Athens University, Ioannina University and Rethymno University, Greece.
Suzanne Arms
Suzanne Arms, American Journalist, Visionary and Birth Activist, author of the bestseller “Immaculate Deception” and Founder of “Birthing the Future.”
Pre-Summit Speakers
Michel Odent
MD, has been in charge of the surgical unit and the maternity unit at the Pithiviers (France) state hospital (1962–1985) and is the founder of the Primal Health Research Centre (London). He is the author of the first articles in the medical literature about the initiation of lactation during the hour following birth and of the first article about use of birthing pools (The Lancet 1983). He created the Primal Health Research database. He is the author of 15 books published in 22 languages. His 2015 book, titled Do We Need Midwives?, is followed by an addendum titled Will Humanity Survive Medicine? Co-author of five academic books.
Carmen Carballo Basadre
Professor of Arts, Theater and Theater Pedagogy. International writer and lecturer. Published: in Theater books, one of the stories, in Prenatal Education books, as well as numerous articles in magazines, periodicals, and in conferences and congresses in the academic sphere (universities, primary and secondary centers) and out of school, in Spain, Europe, Canada and Latin America. Prenatal Education diffuser trainer. President of the National Prenatal Education Association. ANEP, Spain. Member of the Administrative Council of the OMAEP (Organización Mundial de Asociaciones de Educación Prenatal). Member of REDIPE, (Red Iberoamericana de Pedagogía). Member of the Executive Committee of the Spanish Alliance for Perinatal and Family Mental Health.
Galina Rakova
PhD, is a Psychologist and Perinatal Psychologist, with the qualifications of “teacher,” “psychologist in the system of health protection,” and Gestalt therapist. She has combined research and clinical practice. Dr. Rakova is the author of the book Mother and child of the 21st century (2013), and the articles The characteristics of “Maternal Effects” of phenotype transmission throughout the perinatal period (2018). The Influence of Parental Relationships on Childbirth: Results of a Longitudinal Study (2020), The effects of parenthood on childbirth (2021). She runs the educational website of psychological assistance galinarakova.ru as a charity as well as a group for psychological support for parents before and after delivery and author’s course “Father & mother before & after childbirth” about psychology of relationships in families with newborns and holds individual and family consultations.
Marcio Garcia
Actor, Presenter, Entrepreneur, father of 4 children, humanized birth activist.
Xie Fei
A perinatal counselor in Beijing, China; has been engaged in perinatal mental health clinical interventions and counseling for 14 years; has authored or co-authored 11 books on perinatal mental health topics; and has been providing training on perinatal mental health-related topics to healthcare system staff and professional providers for many years.
Eleanor Luzes
Eleanor Madruga Luzes has a degree in Medicine from Fundação Técnico Educacional Souza Marques (1977), master's degree in Postgraduate Studies in Psychology at UFRJ from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (2003) and doctorate in Postgraduate Studies in Psychology at UFRJ from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (2007). She has experience in the area of Analytical Psychology, Pre- and Perinatal Psychology and Early Life Science. Affiliated organizations APPPAH Association for Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology Rehuna National Humanized Birth Network NGO Ecological Thinking NGO Soroptimist International of the Americas Brazil Region LISE Social Imaginary and Education Laboratory of the Education Institute of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro UNIPAZ International University of Peace
Carolina Allen
Founder and Executive Director of the worlds foremost international maternal feminist organization, Big Ocean Women, dedicated to representing perspectives of faith, family, and motherhood at all levels of society.
Carolina holds a B.A. in philosophy from the University of Utah with an emphasis in cultural religions and philosophy of science. Carolina’s groundbreaking work has been presented at various international conferences including the Women of the Mountains Conference, The World Congress of Families, the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, the United Nations Habitat III Conference, as well as the United Nations Civil Society conference. A native of Brazil and a fluent trilingual, Carolina has taught Portuguese and Spanish, Earth Stewardship as well as civic engagement and philosophy. Carolina is a mother of seven. She and her family enjoy living near the mountains where they homestead and homeschool. Having had a brief career as a semi-professional player, Carolina continues playing futsal and is a passionate coach.
Esther Santiago
Artist and composer, clinical psychologist, conductor, musician and music therapist trained in Prenatal Singing and Carnatic Singing. She is the creator of La Voz de la Maternidad, a methodology that unifies powerful body-mind techniques that help an embarassed woman connect in a profound way with her body and her baby. She is a pioneer and trainer of Voice as a resource during childbirth.
Kate White
Award-winning educator and an advanced bodyworker. She is trained in somatic therapies, prenatal and perinatal somatic health, lactation, brain development, infant mental health, and has specialized in parent-baby dyad care using somatic prevention and trauma healing approaches for nearly 25 years. She is a mother of two children, holds a BA and MA in Communication, is a Registered Craniosacral Therapist in the Biodynamic Craniosacral method and a Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner. Her work combines somatic trauma healing, energetic therapies, bodywork, pediatric therapies and education about the nervous system to help give families with babies and small children the best possible start.
She is Founding Director of Education for the Association for Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health where from 2013 – 2019 she created and ran the Prenatal and Perinatal Educator Certificate program, a large online educational program for professionals. She went on to found Prenatal and Perinatal Healing Online and the Prenatal and Perinatal Somatics Institute. She teaches classes online and in person, and offers training called Integrated Prenatal and Perinatal Dynamics. She has a private practice in Charlottesville, VA called Belvedere Integrated Healing Arts and offers her own seminars through the Center for Prenatal and Perinatal Programs.
Begoña Torres
Born in Madrid in 1973. She studied biological sciences and received her doctorate from the UAM. After dedicating 15 years of his working life to scientific research, she decided to explore the field of personal development and alternative therapies that became her way of life. She currently directs the Yoga and Alternative Therapies Center, Kaia Terapias, in Tres Cantos, Madrid, where she works as a Kundalini Yoga instructor and therapist. Implements energy therapies such as Reiki, Shiatsu, Metamorphic Technique, reading of Akashic Records and Past Life Therapy, Astral Healing, Bio Resonance, among others.
Valentina García Plata
Born in Paris, she has taught in France and upon her arrival in Spain, she began to work in the world of cultural management, journalistic writing and the reading of originals and translation for various publishers. In 1998 she began meditating and met her guru, Swami Shankarananda Giri, with whom she expanded the practice of Kriya Yoga. Ten years later, her teacher named her Kriya Yoga Acharya.
After the birth of his son in 2007 and his daughter in 2010, he returns to Hathayoga practice and dedicates his teaching at the Shantala Space in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Cadiz, specializing in prenatal Yoga since 2013. She works also a kinesiologist and expert in Ayurveda.
Marie-Laure Potel
A trained musician (piano, voice and djembe), Marie-Laure Potel trained very early in psychophony and prenatal singing. She offers singing workshops based on psychophony: prenatal singing (among others at the Lilas maternity ward), mother-baby, adult groups, choirs. She also works in therapeutic centers and with children and adults with disabilities.
Trainer, specialist in prenatal singing, Marie-Laure Potel has been investing for more than 10 years in exporting this practice to discover its benefits. She works to adapt it so that it can be practiced regardless of language and culture.
Gema Lérida
University Expert in Naturopathy. Birth and postpartum doula. Maternal health caregiver. Traditional midwifery student. Educator in infant massage (by the Spanish Association of Infant Massage, AEMI). Ayurveda Masseuse (International College of Ayurveda Joytinat). Member of the board of directors of ANEP (National Association of Prenatal Education). She currently accompany, as a professional, women who want to become pregnant and those who are already pregnant, to prepare as best as possible for the arrival of this new Being, to live their pregnancy with the greatest awareness, naturalness and fullness possible.
Vera Caseiro
Level 1 Yoga Teacher, Pregnancy & Post Natal Yoga Teacher, Yoga Massage Therapist. Infant Massage Instructor, Co-founder of Hold the Mama Retreats, Prenatal Alliance Group Partner for Australia. Vera is a Portuguese and Australian citizen based in Brisbane, Queensland. As an advocate for health and wellbeing, she loves helping and empowering women and families through their parenthood journeys.
Vera started studying and practising yoga in more depth when she fell pregnant herself for the first time and felt in her own skin how transformative this journey is physically, emotionally and energetically, and how it can be stressful, overwhelming and mentally challenging. Yoga helped her enjoying this time with more ease, calm and confidence. It helped her finding a safe and supportive environment to feel active, healthy, and connected with herself and her babies and open to release physically, emotionally and energetically. Vera is a level 1 certified Yoga Teacher, Pregnancy & Post Natal Yoga Teacher, Massage Practitioner and Infant Massage Instructor. With her passion for all things babies and parenthood, Vera was invited to become the Prenatal Alliance Group Coordinator and representative Partner for Australia.
Antonella Sansone
Dr Antonella Sansone, PhD, is a mother, integrative clinical and health psychologist, researcher, educator, mindfulness facilitator, infant developmental massage teacher, author, and artist. She is an international speaker, pioneer, paradigm shifter, and advocate in the field of early parenting from before conception to infancy, prenatal and perinatal health, mindfulness, and promoter of mother-infant relationship prior and post-birth. Antonella has a special interest in the impact of the pre/perinatal period on human development, attachment, mental health, human virtues, consciousness evolution and peace, integration of primal wisdom and science, psychosomatics, embodiment, body language, and integrative mind-body approaches to health-enhancement and healing. One of her main goals is connecting the academic world with the lay community and implementing services that promote evolution of human virtues and consciousness, wellbeing, peace, and life sustainability on our planet.
Antonella designed and piloted the innovative Prenatal Mindfulness Relationship-Based (PMRB) program, focused on mother (and father)-baby sensorimotor and reflective interactions in her PhD completed in Australia, which reconceptualises Attachment. The program/model promotes maternal mindfulness, interoception, wellbeing, and human connection from before birth and can mitigate the risk of postnatal depression, anxiety, and stress and their effects on child development.
Cátia Vieira
Integrative Midwife, Breastfeeding Counselor, Psycho-emotional Mother-Baby Therapist with an emphasis on peri-natal trauma, Reborn, Supports women in the maternity process
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