Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Shields.
Lauren, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Meraki Mama Collective came to me while commuting home one day from work. It was a clear cut vision, I even still have the voice memo I saved on my iPhone that I recorded in fear that I would forget some piece. I had recently had my second child and moved to Marietta. I felt isolated as a mother. I was doing yoga and Pilates on a consistent basis, but I didn’t have any close friends who had small children or were even having babies. I realized a vacuum of support for women and families postpartum. There’s a lack of information and community for new mothers regarding safe and effective exercise and the mental/emotional transition from pregnancy to postpartum. I was determined to create that.
At the time, I was working as a Speech Language Pathologist with geriatric patients, but I could feel a big shift beginning to happen. I swiftly began working on MMC, creating a plan and researching trainings. Within a year, I had completed my birth doula training, my Pilates certification, my 200-hour Yoga teacher certification and had my third baby. People always ask me how I was able to do all of this and I always say that I have an incredibly supportive husband and that this journey was not just a hobby, but a soul calling. Every single day, even when things seem impossible, I have this urge to create and grow this vision to better support women in my community, so they don’t have to feel isolated.
Two years later and I am looking to expand. We have begun work to open a studio in downtown Roswell that will house our Doula Collective, offer yoga, pilates and barre classes with emphasis on prenatal and postpartum care. We plan to offer childbirth education class, workshops for breastfeeding, fertility, parenting and anything else that might support families trying to conceive, expecting or postpartum.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It’s certainly not an easy road, but its so rewarding. I see this project has a child of sorts. Along my path, I have sought out feedback from lots of people. I have seen inuitives who validated my vision and told be this is absolutely part of my path, and a legacy that I will leave. I’ve sat down with so many entreprenaurs and asked questions like, “How did you finance your business.” I’ve been really blessed to have met so many encouraging people on this journey. My struggle has really been balancing my family life, being a responsible mother and wife, and following dreams. Sometimes, that means that things don’t progress as fast as I want them to, but I value every single day with my family so that’s OK with me. I have to be really mindful of setting my family as my number one priority, and that I can’t say yes to every opportunity that comes my way. Another struggle can be sharing your dream with people who just don’t get it or those who can be quite negative. Everyone is not meant to understand your vision. Some people are too scared to step out on faith and do what you are doing. My advice for others who know have a vision, but not sure how to start is this:
1. Write it down. Write down everything you see, everything you want. Don’t worry about logistics, just write it down.
2.Write your long term goals and then write short term goals. Find a starting place. For me, that was getting certified to teach yoga and Pilates. Do some research on similar businesses. This is a great way to find a template for yourself.
3.Practice some mindfulness to fuel you! Meditate and see your business as it already exists. Know that it will come to fruition if you remained focused, practice positive affirmations and “just do the groundwork,” as one intuitive told me.
4.Make use of every minute of every day. This doesn’t mean work around the clock, but to be intentional with your time. Make time to rest, make time to work on getting things done. I keep a To Do list on my phone so that if I have down time, and I’m not with my kinds, I can jump right into completing a task. You may not realize how much you can get done in 20 minute increments here and there.
5. Be patient and know creating anything wonderful doesn’t happen over night. It takes a lot of love, work and determination.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Meraki Mama Collective – what should we know?
I am a certified birth doula and prenatal/postpartum yoga and Pilates teacher. As a doula, I guide women and their partners through preparing for their birth, I support them during their labor and delivery, and check in with them after they have their baby to help with postpartum self care and breastfeeding. Through my prenatal classes, I help women to get into their bodies, and prepare them mentally, spiritually and physically for birth through yoga and movement practice. I also offer postnatal classes that women can attend with their babies, to rebuild and rehabilitate core muscles, and process their new role as a mother with gentle yoga and Pilates. Not enough women have proper exercise prior to getting back into their pre-baby exercise routine and this results in incontinence, organ prolapse and pelvic pain. My postnatal classes are the most ideal way for women to reenter the workout world after having a baby.
What sets me apart from others is my ability to crossover all of this knowledge. I’m not preaching theoretical information, I’m attending births women, I’m sitting at their bedside postpartum. I’m listening to them, what worked, what didn’t work. I am giving my students information throughout classes to help empower them to make decisions for their care that best suites them, not for my agenda or their provider’s agenda. I am well versed and continuing to learn about all the dynamics of the childbearing year. I love helping couples to connect in my partner classes to really safeguard their relationship for birth and the arrival of baby.
Meraki Mama Collective sets out to support all birthing persons and their families in all walks of life.
What’s the most important piece of advice you could give to a young woman just starting her career?
Be the new, inexperienced person. Be open to learn, ask questions and receive feedback from your colleagues. Remind yourself to look at your field with “beginner’s eyes.” This is where true development happens. Experience is our greatest teacher.
Don’t let others’ bad attitudes affect you. This one is so tough, but you can strengthen yourself with a meditation practice and positive affirmation. It’s great to have strength to push through difficult and stressful situations, but know the difference between a stressful work environment and a toxic one.
Pricing:
- Birth Doula services $850
- Mindful Mama Package (brith doula & private prenatal yoga) $1300
- New student monthly memership at Meraki Mama Collective $85 (studio open in late April)
Contact Info:
- Address: 408 S. Atlanta St Suite 155 Roswell, GA 30075
- Website: www.merakimamacollective.com
- Phone: 217-836-2706
- Email: lauren.shields@merakimamacollective.com
- Instagram: @merakimamacollective and @boogietheboysandblue
- Facebook: @merakimamaatl
- Twitter: @merakimamacollective
Image Credit:
Pear Tree Photography Atlanta, Atlanta Birth Photographer, Meraki Mama Collective
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