Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabrielle Martin.
Gabrielle, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I grew up in Houston, TX in the Third Ward area, surrounded by lots of love and support from my parents and extended family. When I was 12, my parents separated and were divorced by the time I turned 14. The dynamic of my nuclear family drastically changed, and this resulted in me dealing with loads of anxiety that I didn’t know how to properly identify at the time. I coped with the changes by hyper-focusing on my academics and I excelled in high school. I was a huge science nerd, and pretty much everyone in my family was a medical professional of some sort, so it felt right for my major in college to be Biology with a plan to go to medical school.
After my sophomore year of college, I transferred to UH Main Campus and changed my major to Public Health as it felt more aligned for me. I became much more interested in health education, holistic health, and disease prevention versus treating symptoms of disease. In the spring of 2016 (my graduating semester), my mother became suddenly sick and was subsequently diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer. I knew my mother was 48 years old and had rarely gone to the doctor, let alone received a mammogram prior to this diagnosis. An hour after she told me, I received an email from Texas A&M University’s School of Public Health, informing me that I had been accepted into their Masters of Public Health Epidemiology program. Three weeks later (and one week before my graduation from UH), my mother passed away after having an adverse reaction to her first chemotherapy treatment.
At 22 years old, I was dealing with the most major loss of my life to date, tending to what my mother left behind, and trying to make sense of my newfound adulthood. I continued on with enrolling in my graduate program that falls and looked after my brother, who was 16 at the time. It’s been almost four years now, and I have come to understand that my mother worked so hard that she became out of touch with her health, which is common in the women of my family and many other African-American families led by single mothers. This common cultural theme of Black mothers abandoning their health due to parental pressures is what drives me and my business. Today, I work to promote health and well-being for mothers (and women in general) of my community as a birth and postpartum doula, certified yoga teacher and Reiki Master, and wellness writer.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Smooth road? Absolutely not! I have gone through some life-altering experiences and growing pains, but each experience makes me who I am. As much as I have felt joy, I’ve also known grief. It’s part of the journey. Becoming a mother two years after losing mine came with its unique set of challenges. I simultaneously gave birth to my son and experienced my own rebirth. My motherhood was the biggest catalyst in realizing that I have to take my healing, my dreams, and my purpose more seriously than ever. That, plus therapy, meditation, writing, and yoga have all saved me when I’ve felt like I couldn’t keep going.
There’s a tenet in yoga philosophy called pratyahara, or withdrawing from the external to examine one’s internal state. Observing and understanding my many layers is an on-going process. To young women starting out on their journeys, this is one of the most essential pieces of advice that I can offer. Knowing yourself intimately (and learning to love even the most “undesirable” parts of yourself) is key. When you know and love who you are, no one else can tell you who you are. Also, take your healing seriously, because the quality of your life depends on it. Prioritize the things that light you up and remind you that your life’s purpose is bigger than you can imagine.
We’d love to hear more about F.A.M. Birth Services and PranaMAMA Yoga HTX.
I am the founder of F.A.M. (From Another Mother) Birth Services, and I offer birth and postpartum doula services. My doula business is the cultivation of my education, life experiences, and passions that came to life and were inspired into fruition as a result of my graduate studies on black maternal health inequalities. F.A.M.’s mission is to enhance the quality of birthing experiences by providing education through public health best practices, continuous labor support, encouraging self-advocacy, and promoting successful communication between laboring families and attending medical professionals.
I am actively rebranding my business to include my yoga platform, PranaMAMA Yoga HTX. PranaMAMA Yoga HTX is a mother-focused yoga initiative that I developed halfway through my yoga teacher training. PranaMAMA Yoga’s mission is to: cultivate mind-breath-body-spirit connections through mindful pranayama and asana, support intuitive development throughout students’ pregnancy experiences and postpartum, strengthen the body in preparation for the birthing experience and beyond, and encourage body positivity and acceptance.
I developed both F.A.M. and PranaMAMA Yoga with mothers of color in mind, who often experience less than favorable birthing and postpartum experiences due to widespread health disparities. I work to embolden black and brown mothers, remind them of their beauty and power, and help them become reacquainted with their bodies (including active acceptance of new curves, scars, and stretch marks) after birth. PranaMAMA is also about helping mothers tap back into their sensuality, which can be super difficult postpartum.
I am most proud of the passion, resilience, and multifaceted nature of my brand. As a young black woman, I am motivated by both my personal life experiences and my love for my community. My brand’s vision is way bigger than me. I offer my clients public health research and evidence-based best practices while simultaneously supplying them with holistic health measures like yoga, Reiki, meditation, and so much more. It’s awesome to be able to apply my degrees and certifications in such a unique, complimentary way. Everything that I do is with one goal in mind, to support women in knowing that to most powerfully show up in all their roles, they must prioritize their own healing, growth, and well-being.
In addition to my brand, I also write a womb healing/wellness blog segment for Sol Grounded, an amazing online holistic health platform. In addition to blogging, I teach biweekly virtual yoga classes for all levels and types of yogis at Sol Grounded on Sundays.
What’s the most important piece of advice you could give to a young woman just starting her career?
I cannot stress this enough: build your network, your connections, your community. Get with like-minded individuals and collaborate. Be willing to share and receive resources. We live in an abundant universe, and nothing can be taken from you that is meant for you. Remember that everything that you manifest in your physical reality began energetically first as a thought. You can attract any opportunity you want into your life by believing you deserve it and working towards it. There’s power in knowing that and intentionally using it to your advantage.
Be a woman of your word. Make time for self-restoration, so you don’t burn out. Never give up on your dreams, no matter what obstacles may arise. You are more resourceful and resilient than you think.
Pricing:
- Doula Services: $375-$1000 (prices vary based on client’s selected package)
- Group Yoga Classes: $10/participant; Private Yoga Sessions:$35
- Reiki Energy Work: $50 in person, $30 (virtual/distant)
Contact Info:
- Website: www.fambirthservices.com
- Email: thedoulayogi@gmail.com
- Instagram: @thedoulayogii
Image Credit:
Jordan Hughes
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