Welcome to Postpartum Matters!
Sacred traditions meet practical wisdom for new moms. Every other Wednesday, get 10-minute reads blending Ayurveda and Cantienica for easy self-care tips.
Hey there! I'm Susi, and I'm so happy you found your way here. Let me tell you a bit about who I am and why I started this newsletter.
My Story: From Preparation to Perspective
As a Cantienica Instructor and Ayurvedic Practitioner, I believe that the body is designed to recover naturally after birth. However, I've learned that in our modern lives, we can never be prepared enough for postpartum. I discovered this the hard way. After being told not to do anything for 6 weeks and enjoying my baby bliss bubble, I soon realized I had overlooked my body's true needs when I tried to jump back into usual activities as if pregnancy had never happened.
The casual "everything's fine" approach at the 6-week medical check-up and the standard "rehabilitation" were a wake-up call! They left me frustrated and longing for a holistic perspective that addressed what I was really struggling with: a tilted pelvis, diastasis recti, anxiety, and an overall lack of strength. I needed care that considered not just my immediate state, but my future health too.
The often-touted "village of support" isn't a reality for many of us, and even with my knowledge, I struggled without proper guidance. This experience revealed the gap between ancient wisdom and modern practices, inspiring me to adapt time-honored techniques for self-healing in our modern context that I want to bring to you.
As Julia Indichova wisely noted, "If we stumble into motherhood without adequate preparation and support, we remain the overfed but undernourished, highly medicated, economically rich but spiritually impoverished Prozac nation that we are today."
My vision for Postpartum Matters is to provide the most comprehensive, accessible guide to holistic postpartum care. I want you to feel supported, confident, and capable and show you what's possible for you after giving birth.
What I Do
I wear a few different hats in my mission to offer holistic postpartum care:
Midwife-in-Training: I'm learning to guide women through their entire journey of motherhood - before, during, and after birth. While preparation ideally begins before conception, it's never too late to start. That's why this newsletter focuses on the crucial postpartum period. (You'll find out why it's so important below!)
Ayurvedic Practitioner: I practice Ayurveda, the ancient "Science of Life" from India. While it addresses various health concerns, my passion and personal healing journey have led me to specialize in stree roga and prasuti tantra (women's health and maternal care).
Cantienica Instructor: Cantienica is a modern approach to body alignment and posture, with a strong focus on inner muscles, particularly the pelvic floor. I view this method as a way to "close the bones" after birth, addressing any misalignments that may have occurred during pregnancy or delivery.
Why This Matters
The Postpartum Period: A Time of Transformation
Postpartum Matters is about taking timeless wisdom and making it work for you, right now, in your everyday life. Whether you're reading this in between feeds or during a rare quiet moment, I'm here to offer practical, self-healing tools beyond the traditional 6-week window (because postpartum is much longer than this) that don't require a team of supporters or weeks of uninterrupted sleep.
In each issue, you'll find:
Ancient and modern perspectives on postpartum challenges
Ayurvedic practices for individual needs
Simple, nourishing recipes
Physical recovery tools for ALL your postpartum needs, but def not limited to pelvic floor health
Holistic tips for taking care of yourself lovingly
And other internal body system shits often overlooked!
Let me breakdown whats to come…
What to Expect in Each Newsletter: Ancient Lens, Modern Practice
Each newsletter is designed to help you navigate your postpartum journey using both ancient wisdom and modern techniques - it's where the Sacred and the Science meet harmoniously. Here's what you can expect in every issue:
1. What Matters This Week
Each issue explores a common postpartum challenge, covering the entire spectrum of experiences. From physical concerns like diastasis recti to emotional challenges such as postpartum anxiety, we'll address the multifaceted nature of postpartum recovery. Whether you're struggling with breastfeeding or seeking to reconnect with your changing body, we offer insights and practical solutions tailored to your unique journey.
Topics include:
Physical recovery
Emotional and mental health
Nutritional challenges
Internal body system shifts (such as Hormonal challenges)
Practical hurdles of balancing self-care with baby care
2. Ancient Answers: Ayurvedic Wisdom
Ayurveda deeply influences my approach to postpartum care. This holistic system views a new mom's health as connected to everything around her. It recognizes the postpartum period as a significant life transition with personal demands. We'll explore postpartum challenges through Ayurvedic eyes, often catching issues before they become visible problems, and tap into this ancient wisdom to support your unique journey.
Key areas:
Ayurvedic perspectives on postpartum issues
Nutritional tips for new moms
Natural remedies and herbal support
Daily routines and lifestyle adjustments
Therapeutic body care for you and your baby
3. Modern Practice: Cantienica Approach
The Cantienica method complements Ayurveda's holistic approach with specific exercises and movements tailored to address common postpartum challenges. Focusing on body realignment and posture improvements, it primarily targets physical recovery while working in harmony with Ayurveda's healing principles. This section empowers new mothers through personal care and targeted exercises, shared via short instructional videos.
Focus areas:
Posture and body alignment adjustments
Repetitive strain and overuse issues
Pregnancy and birth-related physical changes
Exercises for rebuilding strength, stability, and endurance
Note: Some issues may focus more heavily on either the Ayurvedic or Cantienica approach, depending on which is more relevant to the problem at hand.
4. Practical Hacks
This section provides easy-to-implement tips for integrating Cantienica exercises and Ayurvedic practices into your daily routine. These practical hacks make consistent postpartum care achievable amidst the demands of new motherhood. By offering simple, effective strategies, I help you tap into natural healing and achieve good health on your own terms.
Examples include:
Quick recipes
Simple exercises
Daily rituals
5. Your Questions Answered
In this section, I will address a question from our community, helping tailor the content to your needs and concerns.
6. Quick Things to Click On
In this section, I'll share some personal recommendations and current indulgences. For moms who have 2 minutes and want to click on THAT ;) I got you.
7. Let's Connect!
Hey mama, I'd love to hear from you! This newsletter isn't just about me sharing – it's about building a community of strong, supportive moms. So, why not hit reply and tell me a bit about yourself?
How old is your little one?
What's been your biggest postpartum challenge so far?
Is there a topic you'd love to see covered in a future newsletter?
Stay tuned for the first issue, where I'll tackle a common postpartum challenge and show you how to approach it from both ancient and modern perspectives!
With love,
Susi