Spaces For Healing

Diary of a human…

What’s the most dangerous thing I’ve done today? I’ll say I’m tied between choosing to jump on our trampoline in the heavy rain pour that turned into a thunderstorm while I was outside and not tying my hair up during this storm so my hair oils & mascara dripped into my eyes. 🫠
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What’s the most freeing thing that I’ve done today? Same answer. My (mental health) therapy session got rescheduled for Thursday BUT I really needed to express myself today. Follow me… I’m really deep in binge watching This Is Us. Last night, I finished watching the episode when Randall was in the water (no spoilers, promise). I was reminded that water is cleansing. Today, I reminded myself that movement is necessary and that there are always various ways to heal.
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Every time my feet hit the jumping mat, I thought about how the sound mirrors, in some ways, the sound and rhythm of a heart beat. After a while, my jumping slowed down and I tried catching my breath. I realized that I didn’t come to a complete stop, the springs were still bouncing me. Even when I felt like I was at a standstill, movement was happening.
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If I’d taught my yoga session this evening, that’s what I would have told them. Even when it feels like nothings happening for you, it is. You just need to stay the course. Soon you’ll be at the intersection where preparation meets opportunity. Someone needs what you have to offer. Keep cultivating and nurturing it.
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📷: a google search because I wasn’t about to risk water damage for the sake of “likes”. Thanks, Little Nation!
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PS: Keep growing. We’re proud of you. 🌻 Like my son tells me, “be safe, but stay dangerous”.
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Diary of a Creative & Entrepreneur…

Truth, these photos were not taken for the consumption of social media. They were meant for me to see my progress when I start to offer these boxes to a larger audience.
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Truth, I’m currently going through the highs and lows (more emphasis on lows) of entrepreneurship. Today, I’m allowing myself to remember when I created something for the first time. A client came to me with a need and I fulfilled it.
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I’m reminded that there is beauty in taking an idea and creating it. Things don’t have to be picture perfect all the time. Just start.
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Today, I’m going to give myself grace. Remember to hydrate and be where my feet are. It’s okay if creativity is flowing differently, right now. It’s all a part of the journey.
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When was the last time that you did something for the first time? Let’s chat in the comments!
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To ensure the safety of our participants, classes for this evening are canceled. We’re going to work on a virtual option, in the near future. If you’re interested in virtual classes, please drop a comment below.
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Thank you Family Village Festival for your flexibility and continued support.

Hey! We’re looking forward to flowing with you this evening. Gentle reminder, these sessions will be outside in a shaded area. Please take care of yourself and hydrate as necessary.
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Also, if you plan to attend the yoga session, the investment for the meditation class is only $10. See you soon! ✌🏾

We have two announcements! 🚨
In celebration of the upcoming arrival of Doula Baby #100 and in the climate of the world, we’ll be sponsoring complimentary birth doula services for a family.
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Next, you asked & we answered! Join us next week as we start our weekly yoga and meditation classes. We’ll be flowing outside. The best part is, a portion of entry sales will go towards supporting a family with birth doula support and baby items. Tell a friend and bring two friends. | Feel free to join our mailing list to receive a discount code for the classes. www.spacesforhealing.net | Thank you for your support!
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If you’re interested in being considered for receiving complimentary birth support please follow these steps:

1. “Like” this post.
2. Share these flyers on your feed.
3. Follow our page.
4. Tag three friends.
5. Comment 💯 or 🌻 below.
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We’ll see you next week! 😆
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#757

Diary of a Yoga Instructor…

Good news: People have been inquiring about group yoga classes.

Truth: I hadn’t been consistent with my personal yoga practice because the past few months, of my personal life, have been pretty “interesting”. I haven’t been in communion with most of my favorite people and have been using books to disassociate and briefly escape reality. I didn’t want that spilling out on a mat if I started to consistently teach classes again.
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Rewind to last month, when these photos were taken.. I stepped onto a mat and fought with myself for majority of the class. That morning, I set the intention to “do it anyway” and that’s exactly what happened.
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Need an edge up? Show up anyway.
Need a pedicure? Go to the class anyway.
Dissatisfied with my current appearance? Get dressed and show up anyway.
Still navigating through things? Keep going.
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I’ll never intentionally spill my “stuff” on participants of my classes. I have been and will continue to do the work. I’m leaning heavily into just doing things anyway, to show up differently for myself and others. Forever a student.
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Be on the lookout for group yoga classes in July. If you’re interested in joining us, comment the day of the week that works best for you. See you soon!

Please help, if you can. 💛

🗣️ Lindenwood Elementary!!! Thank you so much for the invitation to your Career Day! I had a good time introducing yoga and meditation to the students. The rain stick will continue to be the instrument that unites us. | I’m looking forward to hosting yoga classes during the summer and next school year. (Speaking that last part into existence. 😏😉)

🥳 Today is the day!!!! If you haven’t already registered for this event, what are you waiting for? Tickets are free. | I’ll be speaking on the Williamsburg panel. Drop an emoji in the comments if you’ll be tuning in! Tell a friend to tell a friend. See you soon! (Link is in the comments.)

Did you know that consuming placenta capsules could:
•Increase your iron levels
•Help to balance your hormones after giving birth
•Provide Vitamin B which increases your energy levels
•Increase milk production
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We still offer placenta encapsulation services. If you’re interested in learning how we can support you during your postpartum period, message us today! | www.spacesforhealing.net
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Pictured: an umbilical cord keepsake and placenta capsules.
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Rose are red, violets are blue. If you get a little bit carried away tonight, we’ll be here when your baby is due. 😉 Happy Valentine’s Day! ♥️ www.spacesforhealing.net
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📸:

Midday reminder: “Do not underestimate the strength it takes to be kind in a world as cruel as ours.” -Roseanne A. Brown | Keep growing. We’re proud of you. 🌻

Diary of a Doula…

It always means a lot when clients hire me in the beginning of their pregnancy; we have more time to get to know one another and create a special bond. “Just clicking” during a consultation is one of the best feelings. Thank you for choosing me. 💛
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I adore this mama’s outlook on life, personality, and curiosity. Please drop an emoji to help me to publicly congratulate this family & welcome our Doula Baby #90! 👣🥳
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If you aren’t already, be sure to follow us on Instagram.

Diary of a Birth Doula…

In my experience, there has been a common theme of unfolding. This unfolding looks like a release of expectations of how the pregnancy and laboring processes should be. It also looks like a release of control. More importantly, it looks like an embracing of what is. This unfolding looks differently for each family but it’s still very pronounced.
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It took a lot to get to the smiles that you see in this photo. I’m eternally grateful that I was there to witness and be a part of all of their journey.
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Please drop an emoji in the comments to help me publicly congratulate these parents and welcome Doula Baby #88! 👣🥳 | If you are interested in support for your family, please visit www.spacesforhealing.net.

Diary of a Birth Doula…

Often times I get asked if pregnancy and birth support are only helpful for first time parents. Nope! This is Doula Baby #87 and she’s her parents’ SIXTH daughter! 😆 I had the opportunity to provide childbirth education and support during their scheduled C-section birth.
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Please help me to publicly congratulate this family! 🥳👣🥳 Be sure to check back in tomorrow, I’ll be sharing more beautiful moments that we had over year. | www.spacesforhealing.net

Diary of a Birth Doula,

This year I slowed down on my client load. I needed to prioritize my health so I could be good for myself then in turn be good for my families. I know I haven’t been posting as consistently so allow me to catch you all up on a few of the beautiful moments that you’ve missed. 😉
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I almost had a birthday twin this year! Doula Baby #85 was born the day after my birthday. To respect the family’s privacy, I won’t be sharing photos of their journey. However, I’m grateful that I got a chance to be a part of the process of welcoming their second baby into their arms. 👣
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Sometimes, doulas get invited to ALL of the activities; gender reveals, baby showers, sip & sees, birthday parties, etc. I do my best to make it to all of them. Typically, my response is “I’ll be there with my kiddos if I’m not at a birth”. I’m grateful that the parents of Doula Baby #86 went from being my “play cousins” to part of my Spaces For Healing Family!
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Favorite parts of this journey:
1. Being my cousin’s doula. 🫶🏾
2. Seeing the reactions of everyone at the gender reveal.
3. Having the whole birthing team join our prenatal meetings.
4. Cutting up & laughing together while trying to “walk & squat the baby out”.
5. Watching parents introduce their children to their new sibling.
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Please help me publicly welcome Doula Babies 85 & 86 to the Family! Congratulations to both set of parents. 🥳 If you need birth support, please contact us at www.spacesforhealing.net.

Midday reminder: You are someone worthy of being cared for. | Keep growing. We’re proud of you. 🌻

Dropping off the second part of my interview with the Everyday People Podcast! During this episode, you’ll be able to hear about one of my previous client’s experience. While you listen, someone may start cutting onions. You’ve been warned. 😅😌 Let us know what you think about this episode in the comments!

Ria Arnold Birth/Postpartum Doula Part 2 air Oct 22 Welcome back to the "Everyday People Podcast"! In Part 2 of this extraordinary episode, we continue our heartwarming conversation, this time with the remarka...

We’re open to supporting more families. Tag an expecting family in the comment section. | Email or message us today to book your complimentary consultation. | We look forward to being a part of your journey. 💫

Diary of a Doula…

Love is present wherever you are.
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That’s the most important takeaway that I got from this family.
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Favorite part of this labor:
•Hearing her partner retell stories about some of their favorite trips to help her stay calm.
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Please help me congratulate these parents and welcome Doula Baby #82 into the family!

Diary of a Doula…

Potential client consultations are always 50/50. However, sometimes it’s easy to tell from the beginning that I’ll be bonded to certain families forever. (Forever, ever? 😅 Okay, let me stop playing. But if you got the pun- you’re my people. 🤣) By the time I got off the FIRST call with this client, she was calling me her Hus-bae. Her definition: I’d be there to support her; kinda like her husband but more knowledgeable about birth.
(Side note: I’m still waiting for her to put that on a t-shirt for me.)
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Favorite parts about working with this family:
• Acquiring their oldest son as one of my little best friends.
•Introducing yoga & now they practice together.
• Always laughing until my cheeks hurt.
•Hearing her say that labor shouldn’t have been that much fun. (Ma’am please. 😌 I’m an amateur comedian so we were going to laugh!)
•Seeing this couple laugh together.
•Giving my client the eye (you know the one) & encouraging her to push. I used the same tone you use when you say “finish him”. 🤣
•Asking the nurse if she’d ever caught a baby & reassuring her that if push comes to shove (🤣) I would spot her. (Disclaimer: it’s not a doula’s role to catch a baby.)
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If you’ve read up to this point, thanks for coming to see/read my act. I’ll be back next week, same time. Until then, Happy Bump Day! Please help me congratulate this family & welcome Doula Baby #81 into the family! 👣🥳

Happy Friday! 😆 We’ll be hosting a FREE yoga session tomorrow morning! Our 30 minute session will be a slower flow and beginner friendly. Tell a friend and bring two friends. Remember to bring your mat, we’ll begin at 10:15am. 😉 We’ll see you tomorrow!
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Donations are welcome. 💫 Please message us if you have any questions.

Gentle reminder….💛

Things that can co-exist 🕊

Follow Healthy Spirit & Body

Diary of a Doula…

There’s no specific timeframe for hiring a birth doula. However, I love when I get to support clients throughout majority of their pregnancy. We have the opportunity to get to know each other better and there’s a different level of trust that’s established.
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I could gush over this family all day; but I won’t. I’m grateful for the opportunity to support them, sing 90s & 2000s R&B together while in active labor, and be part of such a beautiful birth.
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Favorite quotes:
1. “This is my doula, Ria. I don’t play about her & she definitely doesn’t play about me.”
2. Grandparents: “He’s such a quiet baby.”
Parents: “Yeah, we cried more than he did.”
3. “I knew you’d be my doula for at least two years before we hired you.”
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Please help me congratulate this beautiful family and welcome Doula Baby #80! 🥳 If you are interested in learning how we can support your family; send us a message today.

Ayo, Echo! This the jump off right here, man.
🗣️Play The Jump Off by Lil’ Kim.
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We’ve been gone for a minute but now we’re back at the jump off. Doulas in the hospitals, birth centers, & your home in case something jumps off! 😊😏😂
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We’ve missed you! Here’s an updated list of our availability. In-person support is available for the East Coast. Virtual support is available for the West Coast & worldwide. | If you have any questions about how we can support your family; send us a message today!

🚨Vendor alert! Vendor alert! 🚨
We’ll be among the many health and wellness practitioners and vendors that will be in attendance at this community health fair. 😆 Stop by our table tomorrow, we’ll be offering our herbal blends to help combat insomnia, anemia, menopause, menstrual pain, and depression. | See you soon!

Midday reminder: "Stop waiting for other people to clap for you before you clap for yourself." -Dr. Jackie Greene | Keep growing. We're proud of you. 🌻

Diary of a Doula…

Have you ever held your breath so much that you started to suck in your stomach? It’s a nervous hold because you’re anxiously waiting to see what is going to happen next.
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It’s taken me some time to post about this birth because it could easily have gone a different way with a tragic ending. My intention isn’t to add to the numerous amount of stories about Black women being ignored; specifically during pregnancy and childbirth. The intention is to emphasize the importance of listening to Black women and looking at our humanity and all of the factors that affect our health and wellbeing.
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Thankfully, all members of this family are safe and healthy. You can read this mother’s recollection of events for yourself.
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If you value yourself and the people you love, please invest in birth and postpartum doula support.
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Important thing to ask.. why don’t we center childbirth, breastfeeding, and parenting in the same way we prepare for weddings, vehicle maintenance, and care from a physician?