Miss Sophia Cull
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Sophia's studies began in the late 1980's with a Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology & Sociology) and grew in the 1990's with a Graduate Diploma in Health Promotion. Still not qualified to hold a "real job" she worked in multiple fields simultaneously including market research, photography of real estate, personal care attendant, disability work including occupational therapy assistant and also trained the public in First Aid. Still searching for her purpose in life, Sophia studied Massage in 1999-2000. Over the years that followed, she dabbled in numerous other courses including a Diploma of Nutrition, a Certificate IV in Wholistic Counselling & Mind-Body Medicine and also a Diploma in Celebrancy, until she found her calling in an Advanced Diploma of Ayurveda in 2015.
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Before graduating at the age of 50, Sophia's last assessment was a research project on the postnatal period of a small selection of her pregnancy massage clients and the care they received in the 10 weeks that followed childbirth. The results of that research contrasted the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda, Chinese medicine and traditional cultures around the world. Where in these countries women were supported by family and friends for at least 10 weeks if not 6 months following birth, in our Western culture our sisters were left to fend for themselves in caring for their own health and recovery as well as learning to mother (and father). The rates of medical intervention in childbirth stands high in the USA with Australia much lower but not as low as other countries. On the other hand, rates of postnatal depression scores higher in western cultures (including Australia) than our traditional (well supported) sisters. The statistic that put the icing on the cake was the 2015 WHO statistic that noted 300,000 women died in childbirth or upto 6 weeks postnatal across the world. That is 3 MCG's full of Grand Final Football Fans !!
Now here was an area Sophia could get her teeth into, she thought! What if, she proposed, in 50 years time (to mark her 100th Birthday) Australia was in a position where they were closing Children's Hospitals - because there were not enough sick children ! Not enough sick children to fill hospital wings ! Well that was a goal worth aiming for. It didn't take her long to consider where to start - if mothers could fully recover from 40 weeks pregnancy and labour, the subsequent children she carried would have a healthy start to life. The postnatal care of mothers was calling loudly from her soul.
A 12 week webinar in Ayurvedic Postpartum Caregivers Diploma from the USA gave Sophia an opening to applying her Ayurvedic Principles to the postnatal period. A training programme in the "Seven Sisters for Seven Days" as a Planner then followed, so as not to reinvent the wheel but to build on another woman's experience in postnatal care network design. A review of the Pregnancy Massage Certificate Sophia held (2011) and followed by the Pregnancy Massage Practitioner Course became part of the plan. A Postnatal massage workshop rounded off the training well. Then stepping into Doula training with a workshop in Pregnancy/Labour followed later by a Postnatal Doula workshop has led into an 18 month to 2 year apprenticeship as a Doula.
Sophia finally found her destiny, who would have guessed? Combining all her education and employment from Psychology, Sociology, Health Education & Promotion, Occupational Therapy, First Aid, Massage, Ayurveda and even Celebrancy. Roll it all into one and present it in the body of a Doula (Doula is taken from the Greek meaning "servant" !). And this is what you get.
"For the service of Mankind" was the Motto Sophia promised to abide in 1980 when she was enrolled in St John Ambulance Australia (VIC) as a 12 year old cadet. A motto she has reflected on over the years but now see's the big picture of where it has taken her. Still on the journey of life, Sophia is available, at your service and in the service of humankind. Rolled into one awesome filled, Kapha sized Doula.
Now here was an area Sophia could get her teeth into, she thought! What if, she proposed, in 50 years time (to mark her 100th Birthday) Australia was in a position where they were closing Children's Hospitals - because there were not enough sick children ! Not enough sick children to fill hospital wings ! Well that was a goal worth aiming for. It didn't take her long to consider where to start - if mothers could fully recover from 40 weeks pregnancy and labour, the subsequent children she carried would have a healthy start to life. The postnatal care of mothers was calling loudly from her soul.
A 12 week webinar in Ayurvedic Postpartum Caregivers Diploma from the USA gave Sophia an opening to applying her Ayurvedic Principles to the postnatal period. A training programme in the "Seven Sisters for Seven Days" as a Planner then followed, so as not to reinvent the wheel but to build on another woman's experience in postnatal care network design. A review of the Pregnancy Massage Certificate Sophia held (2011) and followed by the Pregnancy Massage Practitioner Course became part of the plan. A Postnatal massage workshop rounded off the training well. Then stepping into Doula training with a workshop in Pregnancy/Labour followed later by a Postnatal Doula workshop has led into an 18 month to 2 year apprenticeship as a Doula.
Sophia finally found her destiny, who would have guessed? Combining all her education and employment from Psychology, Sociology, Health Education & Promotion, Occupational Therapy, First Aid, Massage, Ayurveda and even Celebrancy. Roll it all into one and present it in the body of a Doula (Doula is taken from the Greek meaning "servant" !). And this is what you get.
"For the service of Mankind" was the Motto Sophia promised to abide in 1980 when she was enrolled in St John Ambulance Australia (VIC) as a 12 year old cadet. A motto she has reflected on over the years but now see's the big picture of where it has taken her. Still on the journey of life, Sophia is available, at your service and in the service of humankind. Rolled into one awesome filled, Kapha sized Doula.