INSPIRING
letterfrompublisher
EVENTS
Many moons ago, when I became pregnant with my first
child, Ina May Gaskin’s book, Spiritual Midwifery, be-
came my birthing bible. After reading the magical and
empowering homebirth stories from couples at The Farm,
in Tennessee (thefarm.org), I decided I wanted to bring the
new life gestating in my womb into the world in the same
nurturing, conscious way.
Due to complications, things didn’t work out in the
storybook way I envisioned on that blistery Michigan
night. But, being better informed as a result of this edu-
cated preparation, we did succeed in bringing forth my
beautiful son, Ziven, with the support of wonderful midwives attending us in the
hospital delivery room.
How exciting that this month we could interview Ina May, renowned as the
founder of the natural childbirth movement in America and our nation’s leading
midwife, for this Women’s Health issue. I was able to personally thank her for
the profound impact she’s had on my life. While I was disheartened to hear that
maternal death rates have risen in America, I am encouraged that activists like Ina
May are on the case (page 20); we caught up with Ina May as she was packing to
attend a conference.
Similarly, we rendezvoused with Alisa Gravitz, executive director of Green
America (formerly Co-Op America), one of several voices in this month’s feature,
“Women as Leaders,” on page 36, via cell phone, en route to her Washington,
Unique
D.C., headquarters. I felt swept up in the work this powerful organization has done
to unite green resources in the United States and educate us all since its founding
Experiences in 1982.
Available in Naples
I am fascinated that women comprise 70 percent of Green America’s board
of directors. Studies find that when women comprise 30 percent of any organiza-
tion’s leadership, the overall dialogue changes and women can make a decided
Ai Chi
difference. Enlightened leaders around the world agree that women’s strengths,
among them relationship building, story sharing and community organizing, are
WATSU
especially crucial today.
Aquaprana
As author Margaret Wheatley advises: “Change only comes when everyday
individuals gather in small groups, notice what they care about and then, take
Trance Dance those first steps to change the situation.”
Editor Linda Sechrist recently traveled to New York City to attend her second
Nature Boot Camp
United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. Each year, 5,000 women
Transformational Breath
gathered there from around the world report on gender equality and the advance-
ment of women in their countries. Linda’s experience of listening to their stories
Crystal Bowl Meditation
will serve her well, as she and four other local women facilitate the first Women
Partner Yoga
Leading the Way Conference in Southwest Florida, on May 30. Author and inter-
national activist Linda-Tarr Whelan will join local experts, exploring ways to cre-
Thai Yoga ate environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling and socially just communities
(see newsbrief and ad, pages 9 and 47).
Ahshiatsu Oriental Bar
The bottom line is that kitchen conversations have moved out into the greater
Yoga for inflexible people
community; we know our children deserve to live in a better world. We salute all
the mothers, sisters, daughters, girlfriends and mentors for the vital voice you bring
For more information
to the table and for taking time in your busy lives to make it count.
and how you can
participate, call
Happy Mother’s Day,
239-777-2475
www.Transformational-Breath.com
Sharon Bruckman
 Collier / Lee Counties
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