Question 1

What is Ayurveda?

Accepted Answer

Ayurveda is a 5,000 year old (making it one of the oldest if not the oldest) ancient healing system. Ayurveda has its roots in India and the SWANA region. It sees all of nature, including humans, as made up of a combination of the 5 great elements: earth, water, fire, air and ether/space. Ayurveda doesn't heal disease, it heals the individual through balancing the 5 elements so that there is no room for disease. The overarching view is that the macrocosm is reflected in the microcosm meaning that the entire world is held within each human.

Question 2

What is the difference between an Ayurvedic practitioner and an Ayurvedic doula?

Accepted Answer

An Ayurvedic practitioner is a trained expert in Ayurvedic medicine who assesses imbalances in the body and mind and provides personalized suggestions using diet, herbs, lifestyle changes, and body therapies. An Ayurvedic doula, on the other hand, supports individuals through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum using Ayurvedic principles—focusing more on nurturing care, rituals, and general guidance specific to the perinatal period. While both draw from Ayurveda, practitioners have broader clinical training, whereas doulas specialize in maternal and newborn care. Lucky for you, I'm both :)

Question 3

At what point in my pregnancy should I get a birth doula?

Accepted Answer

This depends on the person but once you've figured out the details of your delivering provider and where your birth will take place, it's advisable to hire a birth doula. The added benefit of signing up for my Queen Mother Birth Package early is that you'll receive monthly Ayurvedic diet recommendations to support your pregnancy and there's no additional cost if you join the program early.

Question 4

Do I really need a postpartum doula?

Accepted Answer

I get it. With a baby coming and so much to think about in terms of increasing costs and just getting yourself through the birth process, it seems like a comprehensive postpartum doula package might not be worth it. In the US, maternal mental health disorders affects 1 in 5 postpartum women, That's nearly 20%. When you zoom out of a woman's life, so much of our societal focus has been on pregnancy and birth and little room has been left for the incredibly important postpartum period. Postpartum is when the reality of the identity and life shifts happen. It's a time where women are stretched thin and are going through their biggest transformation yet. The ultimate stage of stepping into motherhood. That time requires support, care and nourishment.

Question 5

Do you have certifications?

Accepted Answer

I am a lifelong student. I love learning and diving deep into topics, specifically ancient + holistic healing systems. Fun fact: when I love something, I almost get obsessive about learning as much as I can! 
Anyway, below are my trainings, certifications and degrees:

- NAMA Board-certified Ayurvedic Wellness Counselor
- NAMA Board-certified Ayurvedic Practitioner
- 225 hour Clinical Ayurvedic Internship, India
- Ayurvedic Prenatal-Postnatal Training (Garbhini Paricharya)
- Ayurvedic Postpartum Doula Certification
- Ayurvedic Skin & Beauty Workshop
- Birth Doula Training, Birthing Beyond LLC
- Childbirth for Doulas Workshop, Birthing Beyond LLC
- Breastfeeding Basics Workshop, Birthing Beyond LLC
- Intuitive Plant Medicine Certification
- Etheric Gardening Practitioner, Level I
- 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training, Senegal
- 50 hour Traditional Hatha Yoga Training
- 50 hour Ayurvedic Yoga Specialist Training
- 28 hour Rainbow Kids Yoga Training
- The Way of the Shaman Training
- The Shaman as Psychopomp Training
- The Power Soul Retrieval Training
- Bachelor of Arts, International & Comparative Politics, American University of Paris
- Master of Arts, Environmental Security & Peace Studies, UN University for Peace, Costa Rica

Question 6

What's so special about Ayurvedic birth care?

Accepted Answer

Where do I begin! It is the most comprehensive traditional system of birth care that I've seen. There are multitudes of practices, herbs, body treatments, diet suggestions, ways of relating in relationship and in the world specific to conception, pregnancy, birth and postpartum. All these practices are tailored not only to the individuals constitution but also to each phase of the conception journey! Each month different things are developing in the fetus and different shifts are happening within the mother's body which Ayurveda has accounted for. It's also very coherent, all based on the same system—not a mix of holistic practices from different systems—which makes it even more beautiful and powerful. It's also the way that many of our ancestors birthed. Talk about ancestral healing and taking our power back!

Question 7

How can I contact you to get information about your packages?

Accepted Answer

The easiest way is to book a call through the call links above on this page. If getting on a call feels daunting, I know sometimes we might feel pressure to say a certain thing (been there!), you can shoot me an email at hello@lailasahar.com. (hello@lailasahar.com.)That being said, I can assure you that the way I approach calls is zero pressure. I always want people to work with me because it feels 100% aligned on both ends.

Ayurvedic Doula Services

Fertility + Conscious Conception

Ayurvedic Postpartum Care

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