Spirit Sister Series - Alice Cougle from Darling Doula
Once again I am honoured to be holding this sacred container as we welcome another beautiful Spirit Sister to this series.
Today we are blessed to shine light on Alice Cougle from Darling Doula.
I first met this sweet hearted woman during her IVF journey at a Fertility Yoga, Teacher Training in 2015 with Bliss Baby Yoga, and since that time, we also crossed paths at an iRest training when she was in full bloom of her pregnancy, and whilst i am yet to meet her beautiful daughter Rosie, I have watched Alices journey into motherhood and witnessed her Mothering journey through her day to day sharing's on social media and I can tell you, she is one beautiful and inspiring Mamma.
Alice is a certified Yoga teacher and Fertility Doula, who draws on her own journey with fertility, IVF and birth trauma to support other Mammas out there with Conception, Birth and Post natal support.
Settle in and read our Interview with this Angel below, where she graciously shares with us a little of her story and her heart.
Let’s start with the basics, how old are you? And where did you grow up?
I am 29 - smack bang in the middle of my Saturn Return and woahh what a ride it is. Grew up in Bellingen Valley, NSW.
Where are you currently based?
Im currently based in Byron Bay and oh so blessed to be.
What three words best describe you right now and your Intention/Essence/ offerings?
Emergence, nourishment, change.
Can you share with us a little about your Journey with Yoga and or Spirituality, whatever that means to you?
I have been a yoga teacher for 10 years and I have found my strongest Yoga and Spirituality test not to be a physical practice but to be Motherhood itself.
Can you Share with us a little about what led you to begin starting your biz/ sharing your current offerings?
I am so excited to be offering Fertility Doula support, Birth support and also to be focusing strongly on Mother Care postnatally.
With a 3 year Fertility journey myself and conceiving my angel baby through IVF - I then went on to have a very unexpected birth with little to no support for what I was going through. Induction, emergency C section was so far from my dream experience and I knew then and there I would be on a mission to support other mums to feel empowered in every decision leading up to birth and to normalise a period of REST and NOURISHMENT post birth and to break the stigma around needing to be and do things a certain way during this time, or ever really !
What have been your biggest triumphs?
The change in me when I realised who I had been, how small I had been living and how much this shift of motherhood encouraged me to step up, recognise my own light so that I could truly be a positive role model to my daughter and to support other woman to do the same during this most transformative time of birthing.
What have been your biggest Fears, obstacles and challenges along the way? And what has really helped you in overcoming them?
The biggest obstacle was other people expectations, family friends and doctors alike - it was all encompassing for me on my path towards motherhood and even during early mothering. We are challenged more during this time about the decisions we have made and through my experience of disempowerment, not knowing my own power and feeling like I had no choices - it led me to really look for the inner light, learn and understand myself more fully and finally (and continuing to) realise my inner essence and then share it with those around me.
What lessons are you most grateful for in life and in what you do?
It’s cliche but I do believe we create our own reality, and everything that unfolds before us is a creation of our own doing. We are such powerful beings and with the right support and community around us to lift us up when we need it - I truly believe we can create anything we like. I say this from a place of big lessons, laying in intensive care during a reaction to my IVF drugs - I was scared, alone and felt as if my body had let me down in such a huge way. It wasn’t at the time but only years later that I can see how the lack of trust in my own body knowing was the cause, I am so grateful because it has led me to trust my innate feminine power in all I do ( still a journey here too! )
What advice would you give another facing a similar challenge?
Fertility struggle, birth trauma, feeling small, anxiety … to me, these most epic challenges are faced daily by modern day woman. My advice would be continue seeking answers until you get the right one - I had to see 4 fertility specialists before someone told us the truth.
What are the biggest challenges you face now? either personally or in what you do? or both?
I struggle with my heart, I want to help every single person and containing my excitement can sometimes mean I give too much.
We all deal with fears and insecurities; how do you combat overwhelm and self-doubt?
A big one here, it’s a daily battle for me to be honest and every day something different supports me, it’s knowing that the same things won’t always support me and trial and error. Do I need connection, Isolation, movement, stillness, fasting, indulgence? And then being 100% ok with the answer.
What do you currently most crave in life and in what you do?
Authentic connection with those around me.
What’s next for you, any exciting plans on the horizon that you would like to share?
To be the best mumma I can be, to learn from the days I am not so present and be better the next day, To pour my heart into helping those that come to me and know and trust that life happens for you if you can work with it without force or push, to truly meet those around me with truth and authenticity and offer to mummas what I wish I could have offered myself.
Spirit Rituals, can you share with us any practices or routines that you do to keep you feeling inspired, grounded and connected?
Meditation, even If it is just 10 minutes - no strict rules, laying, walking, sitting - just getting it done creates ripple affects in my life.
Movement, this is a big one for me - after being in competitive training for years - I know movement is vital but I am learning the value of grace and ease.
Authentic connection - learning my boundaries and saying really true NO’s when I mean it and big YES’s when I mean it - this here is one of the most honouring things you can do and one of the greatest things to teach our children
Who have been the most influential or inspirational people/ teachers/ Books or places on your path? and why?
I am currently reading Pussy by Regena Thomashauer and it is such a beauty - reclaiming our lost femine power and learning to trust our innate intuition again, YUM.
Brene Brown - always.
Glennon Doyles UNTAMED. Breaking through fear and being effortlessly you.
What does #iamspirit mean to you?
To me its honouring our intuition, it’s reconnecting to our innate wisdom, our lost selves returning home and filling our cups so we can overflow to those around us.
