Resources for Holistic Health and Living

August 15, 2009

Back in the day we dwelled in tribes and depended on our extended family and neighbors for support and wisdom – Nowadays we connect and learn online via facebook, text messages, email and websites.  This can sometimes make establishing a community challenging, so  I’d like to introduce you to my local and cyber tribe.  Please let me know if anything or anyone is missing or needs updating so our community can best benefit from this resource list.

Pregnancy, Birth, and Postpartum Support

Midwives

  • Haven at Home – Kerin Asher-Galloway and Callandra Clark – Nurse midwives specializing in home and water birth and serving Los Angeles and the Valley.
  • Art of Nursing – The home birth practice of nurse midwives, Amy Tinney and Sarah Shealy, Art of Nursing is also an invaluable resource of doula and montrice services as well as perinatal education.
  • GraceFull Birthing – The midwifery & natropathic practice of Elizabeth Bachner and Deborah Gleisner  supports families to birth and parent with presence, connection and choice.

OBGYNS

Doulas, Lactation Support, Placenta Prep

  • Birthwell Doula Services – The Birthwell Doulas believe that a positive family foundation begins with a beautiful birth experience.  Founder, midwife, and registered nurse Mari Oxenberg attended my son’s birth, and her skills and compassion far exceeded my expectations.
  • Mother Tree – Laura Burnett offers birth and postpartum doula services, placenta encapsulation and placenta art, herbs, and more!
  • Sarah Unkap - Doula services (both birth and postpartum) and lactation support.  Trained in the UK as a midwife, Sarah has support hundreds of women on their journey to parenthood both in and out of hospital.  Visit Sarah’s blog: SmiffyBaby.com.

For Parents

Pediatricians

While Chinese medicine can provide complete and holistic care for your entire family, I also strongly recommend that all Holistic Kid families have a pediatrician on your health care team in case of emergency or severe illness that would be better addressed with western medicine or you wish to have your child vaccinated.

  • DrFeder.com - Holistic-minded pediatrician and homeopath serving LA.

  • Contact Emily@HolisticKid.com for a complete list of holistic-minded pediatricians in Los Angeles.

Parenting Support

  • Inspired Motherhood Parenting Classes – Dani Sigal Leon -  Mom, occupationaltherapist, life coach, and parent educator- leads inspiring and informative mom’s groups for babies from 0-24 months.  Addressing the topics and issues most relevant for “beans, sprouts, and buds,” Dani’s classes not only provide a forum for processing and bonding, but also empower moms with knowledge and confidence.
  • Hari’s RIE Studio – RIE is a parenting style focused on “parent-child awareness.”  I love Hari’s welcoming space where parents (that are over the chaos of mommy-and-me sing alongs) can get valuable parenting guidance for infants through toddlers while their children explore in a safe sanctuary made just for them.

Child Neuropsychology

Dr. Erica Felsenthal - Dr. Erica, of Neurodirectives,  is a thoughtful and caring clinical neuropsychologist who can help if your child is having any academic, behavioral, social, or emotional difficulties.

Self-Care

Dentists

  • Glenn Sperbeck, DDS – A traditional dentist with holistic influences.  Dr. Sperbeck saved both me and my husband from a root canals with his skill and attention to detail.  He specializes in TMJ treatment.  His office staff is super friendly and helpful, and they accept PPO dental insurances.
  • Raymond Silkman, DDS – A holistic dentist recommended by the Weston Price Foundation and Ramiel Nagel, author of Cure Tooth Decay. Dr. Silkman’s initial fees are very expensive, but once you’re in the door, the care is well worth it and include alternative dentistry, holistic orthodontics, TMJ and sleep apnea treatments.  You can read more about Dr. Silkman here.

Yoga

  • Rachelle Luczynski– Trained in the Anusara tradition and specializing in therapeutic yoga, Rachelle is THE person to help you to realign your crooked self – before, during, or after pregnancy.  Email RachelleL@me.com
  • Work of Heart Yoga – April Kirkhart.  Wonderful yoga teacher (and mom!) specializing in combination of classical Hatha, Ashtanga and Vinyasa Flow in both class room and private settings.

Pilates

  • Laura Gideon – Private session in her outdoor West LA studio.  Also specializes in personal training and nutritional counseling.

Hula Hooping

  • Hoopnotica – Hula Hoops are not just for kids.  If fact this childhood favorite is great exercise to boost fertility, increase metabolism and flexibility, and keep you and your whole family fit!  And now, Hoopnotica’s special light-weight “Preg-O” means you don’t have to stop hooping when you’ve got a bun in the oven.

Craniosacral Therapy

  • Samara Glassman - Certified craniosacral therapist and yoga instructor.  Available for private sessions. samara.glassman@gmail.com.
  • Cranial Claire – Specializing in babies and mamas.  310-210-9993.

Massage therapy

  • Melissa Keane – Specializing in neuromuscular massage, Melissa’s skills, experience, and touch make her massage the most effective therapeutic work you have ever experienced.  melissakeane@hotmail.com
  • Nancy Marshutz - of Massage Connection.  310-990-4460.  Specializing in preand post natal massage.
  • Wat Po Thai Massage –  For deep tissue with stretching that will leave your muscles and mind relaxed without emptying your wallet.  On Santa Monica Blvd, just east of Bundy.  310-481-3948

Chiropractic Care

Counseling/Psychotherapy

Berenice Glass – In Santa Monica.  310-828-5396

Food

AbundantHarvestOrganics.com -  For fresh, organic, season California produce delivered to your neighborhood.  In addition to outstanding food, AHO farmers cultivate close relationship to the people that partake in the fruits of their labor.  The weekly box is chosen by the farmers by what’s in season, but you can add on extras including organic meats, cheese, and the best eggs we’ve ever tasted!

 

Photography

  • Kelly Kagan Photography – Kelly is a mom and photographer specializing in edgy, cool pregnancy photography.  I highly recommend Kelly to preserve your pregnancy in all it’s mother-goddess glory.
  • Little Giants Photography -  Megan Schonenbacher  is mom of two and a talented photographer of pregnancy, birth, and kids.  Megan has a great eye for photo journalistic shots, producing images that at once are natural, flattering, and stunning.
  • Orit Harpaz Photography – Mom and photographer, Orit shoots beautiful, memorable images of your pregnancy, birth, and children.  These are the photos you wish your camera took.

 

Mom Owned Businesses

  • Stringbean Co –   An online green “Mom and Tot Store” that specializes in products made in the USA!
  • GGO Clothing -   Owned by a local husband/wife team and parents of three, GGO Clothing turn out eco-friendly yoga clothes that are “extremely versatile, will make you look great, and feel delicious on the skin!”

 

Books and Film

 

IPhone Apps

  • iPeriod – For the modern women to monitor periods, track fertility, guide birth control.
  • Baby Bump – The best pregnancy app.  Keeps you posted on weekly development for you and your baby.  Has a contraction counter for monitoring labor.
  • iHomeopath – Determine remedies for acute conditions on the go.
  • My Natural Healer – Lists 10 possible natural remedies for each condition you search.
  • Safe Seafood Guide – Can’t remember what fish are endangered or mercury-laden?  This guide will help you choose.
  • Dirty Dozen – A list of the 12 produce that you MUST buy organic to avoid pestisides.

 

Websites

  • PregnancyAcupunctureLosAngeles.com - From safe labor induction methods to post partum support, our sister is site filled with information on how acupuncture and Chinese medicine can benefit you through pregnancy and beyond.
  • WestonAPrice.org -  The Weston A. Price Foundation “is dedicated to restoring nutrient-dense foods to the human diet through education, research and activism.”  This is a no-nonsense guide to optimal nutrition based on research of human populations that have gotten it right throughout history and around the globe.  Great articles on feeding babies, fats, pregnancy, and fertility.
  • SelfGrowth.com is the most complete guide to information about Self -Improvement, Personal Growth and Self Help on the Internet. It is designed to be an organized directory, with articles and references to thousands of other Web Sites on the World Wide Web.
  • PregnancyCorner.com is devoted to providing accurate and up-to-date information for future parents regarding getting pregnant, being pregnant, giving birth, health and nutrition.

 

Finding a Practitioner Near You

  • Holistic Pediatric Association – For Holistic Pediatric Practitioners including acupuncturists, homeopaths, chiropractors, MDs, natropaths, and more…
  • Acufunder.com - Licensed practitioners of Chinese Medicine and acupuncture throughout the United States.

 

 

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