‘BLESS’: A Beautiful New Morning Retreat For Mums-To-Be

Two of my very favourite mamas, yoga teacher and photographer Stephanie Hamilton and hypnobirthing expert Jasmine Collin have created a beautiful morning retreat for mamas-to-be. Based on a traditional ‘Mother’s Blessing’, this nourishing experience is just what I’d have loved when I was pregnant with my babies.
Jasmine tells us all about it here.

When I was pregnant with my second child I was lucky enough to be surrounded by a wonderful group of doulas who organized a ‘Mother’s Blessing’ for me.

What is a Mother’s Blessing you ask?

Well a ‘Mother’s Blessing’ is a bit like a baby shower but instead of a focus on gifts it involves nurturing and nourishing the pregnant woman. It’s a time when her girlfriends and the women in her family gather together to shower her with love and attention and to help prepare her mind, body and soul for the journey of motherhood.

It has its origins in an old and beautiful traditional ceremony called a ‘Blessingway’, which is an old Navajo (Native American) ceremony, which celebrates a woman’s rite of passage into motherhood. It’s a beautiful and unique way to honour a mother-to-be, spending time with her, sharing stories and fears and enjoying rituals and ceremonies such as pampering foot massages, belly painting, stone painting where encouraging words are painted on stones and given to the mother to put around her house, and of course sharing healthy and nourishing food.

My favourite ceremony was the ‘The Bead Ceremony’, where each guest brings a special bead to create a necklace for the mother to wear in the last few weeks of pregnancy and during birth to remind her of the support and love of her sisters.

I have a very special picture of me wearing mine 2 minutes after my son Indiana was born. It helped me to feel so loved and supported – like my sisters all around the world were right there with me.

For more ideas and information about how to plan your own ‘Mother’s Blessings’ visit here and here.

But what if you don’t have anyone to organise a mothers blessing for you?

Over the past 8 years of teaching Hypnobirthing (read more about hynobirthing here) to hundreds of couples, I’ve noticed that because a lot of us are away from our families or are new to Dubai, some mums-to-be don’t have that sisterhood in place that can organise a Mothers Blessing for them.

So I’ve teamed up with my amazing yoga teacher and all round wonder woman Stephanie Hamilton from Nektar Yoga Soul Retreats and we are very excited to bring you an authentic and nourishing experience which we have called ‘BLESS’

This morning retreat will connect a circle of like-minded women through blessings of self-care rituals, bonding, and wellness and be a chance for pregnant women to connect to themselves, each other and their babies on a deeper level, encouraging feel good hormones, a sense of community, and a chance to rejuvenate their body, mind, and spirit as they prepare to welcome their blessed one.

We will spend the morning doing yoga, fear release and bonding meditations, journaling, belly blessings, making our own unique essential belly blessing oil to take home and of course sharing a yummy nourishing vegetarian meal together.

And all this for just AED 495 per person
(Plus – if you bring a pregnant friend and get a 50 dhs discount)
Location is Umm Sequim
March 19, 2018
Timings 9.30am – 2pm
Contact jasmine.collin@yahoo.com for more info and bookings

To find out more about Jasmine

www.jasminecollin.com
www.loveparentinguae.com

Read more: That Mama: Jasmine Collin

To find out more about Stephanie

www.nektarsoulretreats.com
www.nektar.ae

We both look forward to welcoming you to a unique and unforgettable morning which will leave you feeling loved, connected and blessed.

Jasmine & Stephanie x