Embodying Your Story

About this event

What is your postpartum story? If you have a birth story, you have a postpartum story too--and while they overlap, they're not the same.

"I felt completely alone at a time when I'd never been in greater need of support."

"I suffered in silence, never telling anyone about my real thoughts and feelings. They would have judged me, or worse--not believed me."

"I was ashamed to accept the help my community was offering. I had to prove to them, and to myself, that I could do it all."

"I would stare at myself in the mirror and not recognize the woman staring back. I had no idea who I was, or if I'd ever feel a sense of me again."

Most of us were told that the impact of birth ends upon the delivery of a baby. We were sent home, expected to "bounce back," "return to normal," and not make a fuss. The postpartum period, or fourth trimester, has been overlooked, misunderstood, and bypassed by our fast-paced, modern lifestyles. This often comes at a terrible cost to every layer of our personal, and societal, health and well-being.

Welcome to Embodying Your Story, a creative workshop for any and all bodies that have birthed babies.

We believe that there is no expiration date on postpartum healing. We often carry our postpartum stories with us forever in our minds, bodies, and spirits. If those stories have not been honored and integrated, no matter how much time has passed, we can prolong the postpartum healing period indefinitely, which can cause us to live disjointedly.

This event will lovingly and playfully invite you to identify, explore, and possibly even begin rewriting the stories you've been carrying, helping you to embody the most empowering narrative possible. We'll be writing, discussing, moving, meditating, breathing, laughing, and playing! Here's what you need to know:

Who are the facilitators of this event?

Shara Jackson Harper is a mother of five, birth doula, childbirth and postpartum educator, and mental health therapist. She specializes in the intersection of the hormone cycle, women’s life transitions, and mental health.

Julie Middleton is a Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and Restore Your Core®️ movement teacher with a passion for supporting other human BE-ings on their unique healing adventures with curiosity, play, compassion, and pleasure as our guides.

Stephanie Sorensen is a Birth & Rebirth Mentor who offers guidance and support during significant life transitions. She is a Yoga Therapist and Postpartum Doula with over a decade of experience.

What can we expect to experience?

Participants will be guided through three unique and inspiring sessions, each one led by a different practitioner. There will also be breaks for hydration, healthy snacks, and mingling.

What is the schedule?

• 1-1:15 Welcome & Introductions

• 1:15-2:15 Session 1: "The Storied Layers of Self" with Shara Jackson Harper • The stories we're telling about ourselves affect all the parts of Self, especially our mental health. Learn how to lean into a more expansive story through self-awareness and self-compassion.

• 2:15-2:30 Hydration, snacks, and mingling

• 2:30-3:30 Session 2: "Your Body is a Storyteller" with Julie Middleton • Our bodies are storytellers; every life experience and the resulting emotions, stress, or trauma informs the ways we move and breathe. And how we move and breathe can have an impact on how we navigate life experiences. During this session, as you move with curiosity and playfulness, your body can become a wise and creative co-author in the stories you choose to weave going forward.

• 3:30-3:45 Hydration, snacks, and mingling

• 3:45-4:45 Session 3: "Metamorphosis Mythology" with Stephanie Sorensen • Your postpartum is as meaningful as your myth allows it to be. What is our cultural postpartum myth? How is it serving you? What if you could write a better myth? Come explore your very own metamorphosis mythology through guided meditation and creative writing.

• 4:45-5 Grounding & Goodbyes

Examples of past workshops:

What is the cost?

We are offering a sliding scale from $75-$175. We invite you to pay what you can. Should you feel inclined to pay above $175, the surplus will help sponsor deserving participants.

What should I wear and bring with me?

Wear comfy, flowing clothes that allow for movement and stretching. The beautiful Bodhi Yoga loft graciously provides back jacks, yoga mats, blankets, bolsters, blocks, belts, and eye pillows. All you need to bring is a notebook and pen/pencil. Though we will have infused water and allergen friendly snacks available, you're encouraged to bring your own snacks and/or water bottle to suit your dietary needs and preferences.

Where does this event take place?

Bodhi Yoga Studio

2230 N University Pkwy

Suite 2E (upstairs loft)

Provo, UT 84604

Upon entering Cottontree Square at 2230 N and 400 W, turn right into the third parking lot entrance on your right, next to the Cottontree Family Practice. Alternatively, you can park on the street if spots are available. Follow the sidewalk through the little courtyard with the pergola, then head straight up the stairs and you're there! Unfortunately, there is limited accessability with no wheelchair ramp or elevator.

Are infants allowed?

Nursing infants-in-arms are welcome if no other arrangements can be made. Mobile babies and toddlers will be much more comfortable at home with another trusted caregiver and are not suitable for this event.

We acknowledge:

This is not a trauma-processing event or group therapy session. While topics related to the postpartum experience will be interwoven throughout and emotions may naturally arise, the focus will be on present-moment awareness, self-connection, and supportive practices rather than processing past traumatic experiences.

Your participation:

Throughout the workshop, you will be invited into a variety of experiences. We encourage you to listen to your body and honor your needs. Every activity is optional, and you are welcome to participate fully, modify an experience, observe quietly, take a break, or step out as needed. There is no "right way" to engage.

We look forward to this empowering and transformative experience.

Warmly,

Shara, Julie, and Stephanie