My two passions in this world are Birth and Dance - Both celebrate female strength and wisdom. Little did I know when starting my journey in the birth profession, that I would one day be able to integrate it with my dancing career.
I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. There I started studying different forms of ethnic dance, the strongest influences being capoeira, flamenco and Hawaiian Hula dance. When moving to Israel at age 20, I delved more deeply into Middle Eastern dance (belly dance).The fluid, sensual and rythmic movements came natural to me and felt very familiar. It wasn't long before I was performing and teaching. A few years later, I became a doula. I loved being with and supporting women during this powerful moment of bringing a new life into this world. It became clear to me that I was meant to be a midwife and that is when the journey began. I never stopped dancing throughout my nursing and midwifery training. As a doula, I knew the importance of movement during labor and I saw that women, if left to their instincts would naturally move their hips while in labor. During my midwifery training I came to understand the anatomical benefits of belly dance movements and their role in helping to cope with and encourage the progression of labor. I believe that the more a women practices the movements of bellydance she will have an easier time relaxing into them during labor. With the births of my two sons I was able to dance through and between the contractions. This was a priceless tool. It is clear to me that my calling is to integrate these two passions of mine.
Since returning to the Bay Area with my husband and two boys , I have worked as a labor and delivery nurse at Alta Bates in Berkeley and teach childbirth preparation as well as teach new nurses tools to support women in natural childbirth.. Although I have a passion for supporting women through unmedicated childbirth, I am trained and experienced to work with women who choose medication or are high risk. I respect each women's choice and prioritize supporting them along their individual journey. I try to incorporate my knowledge and help empower women through trusting their bodies in each situation. My vision is to share with women, couples and those who support women through labor, the wisdom that I have learned.
Much love,
Mikelle Emanuel - Shoham, RN, BSN
Israeli Nurse Midwife
Bellydance instructor with over 20 years of teaching and performing experience
http://www.myspace.com/queenemanuel
I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. There I started studying different forms of ethnic dance, the strongest influences being capoeira, flamenco and Hawaiian Hula dance. When moving to Israel at age 20, I delved more deeply into Middle Eastern dance (belly dance).The fluid, sensual and rythmic movements came natural to me and felt very familiar. It wasn't long before I was performing and teaching. A few years later, I became a doula. I loved being with and supporting women during this powerful moment of bringing a new life into this world. It became clear to me that I was meant to be a midwife and that is when the journey began. I never stopped dancing throughout my nursing and midwifery training. As a doula, I knew the importance of movement during labor and I saw that women, if left to their instincts would naturally move their hips while in labor. During my midwifery training I came to understand the anatomical benefits of belly dance movements and their role in helping to cope with and encourage the progression of labor. I believe that the more a women practices the movements of bellydance she will have an easier time relaxing into them during labor. With the births of my two sons I was able to dance through and between the contractions. This was a priceless tool. It is clear to me that my calling is to integrate these two passions of mine.
Since returning to the Bay Area with my husband and two boys , I have worked as a labor and delivery nurse at Alta Bates in Berkeley and teach childbirth preparation as well as teach new nurses tools to support women in natural childbirth.. Although I have a passion for supporting women through unmedicated childbirth, I am trained and experienced to work with women who choose medication or are high risk. I respect each women's choice and prioritize supporting them along their individual journey. I try to incorporate my knowledge and help empower women through trusting their bodies in each situation. My vision is to share with women, couples and those who support women through labor, the wisdom that I have learned.
Much love,
Mikelle Emanuel - Shoham, RN, BSN
Israeli Nurse Midwife
Bellydance instructor with over 20 years of teaching and performing experience
http://www.myspace.com/queenemanuel
