Mindful Mama^TM simplifies the journey to becoming a mother by providing up-to-date information about pregnancy, birth and natural parenting. Written by birth professionals that parents can trust, Mindful Mama addresses the complex questions of parenting with humor and style.

Mindful Mama is committed to natural parenting and we actively promote:

o Simplicity.
o Products that are non-toxic to mom and baby.
o Products and services produced using sustainable practices.
o Companies that make efforts to green their workspace.
o Companies that actively work to reduce their carbon footprint.
o Companies that donate a portion of profits to a good cause.
o Mother-owned businesses or parent-friendly workplaces.

CLICK HERE to join our growing natural parenting community.

2% of our profits are donated to International Midwife Assistance (IMA). IMA is a charitable, nonprofit, humanitarian organization, whose mission is to raise the standard of maternal/infant care in developing nations and areas experiencing crises in maternal/infant care. IMA trains midwives and other healthcare workers and delivers medical supplies, medications, and teaching aids and is currently active in Uganda, with hopes of expanding into Haiti.

Sarah Kraft

President, Rhythm of Life, LLC (aka Emma's Mom)
Mother and activist, Sarah has nine years of professional experience in marketing, public relations, and business development. Sarah worked as the Marketing Director for Namaste Solar Electric, Development Director for Mother's Acting Up and Manager for the EDGE Girls Empowerment Program at the YWCA of Boulder County before founding Rhythm of Life, LLC and launching Mindful Mama magazine. She is a graduate of the INVST Community Leadership Program and has a B.A. in Women’s Studies from the University of Colorado, Boulder. She also has two years combined study and assistance to homebirth midwives, is a Certified Yoga Instructor and Reiki III Practitioner. Her daughter Emma was born at home in a birth tub, on April 19, 2004.

Deirdre Shelvin Bell
Managing Editor
For the past 10 years, Deirdre has used her writing and editing to inspire people to embrace and improve their health. As the managing editor of Alternative Medicine magazine (now Natural Solutions), Deirdre brought the ideas of natural wellness, mindfulness, and sustainability to nearly 200,000 readers each month. Before that she worked on the launch of several publications, including Perfect Health, the Chopra Center's monthly newsletter. Deirdre has a passion for pregnancy, childbirth, and the wonder-filled early years. She aspires daily to be a more centered and loving mom to her preschool boy (Sidamo) and infant girl (Nora).  

K. Barr Hogen
Creative Chef and Food Editor
For over nine years, Barr has worked as the Creative Chef for Odwalla, Inc. She is responsible for creating and overseeing the production of many of Odwalla's new products, including healthy beverages and the Odwalla Bar. Her career as a chef and overall foodie, started twenty years ago when she moved west to study with San Francisco's most renowned chefs and caterers, including Alice Waters, Deborah Madison, Joyce Goldstein, Paula Wolfert, and Barbara Tropp. After gaining this first-hand experience, Barr ventured to open one of San Francisco's first whole foods restaurants, Val 21. Before moving to Odwalla, Barr also worked as a chef at San Francisco's Project Open Hand, preparing special meals with love for people with AIDS.

Carol Ward, MD
Editorial Advisor, Obstetrics and Gynecology
Mother, wife, mentor, teacher, writer, gardener, seamstress, advocate, and obstetrician - Carol Ward has a private practice in Portland Maine, is an Assistant Professor at the Vermont School of Medicine, and Adjunct Assistant Professor at Dartmouth Medical School. Carol attended Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and completed her residency at Maine Medical Center. She served as Chairman for the Division of Ob/GYN at Mercy Hospital, Maine from 1997-2004 and is currently a board member of Planned Parenthood Northern New England.

Maria Lorillo, CPM
Editorial Advisor, Midwifery and Homebirth
Maria has been a Certified Professional Midwife for over 22 years, serving clients in the San Francisco Bay area. She is Vice President of the Midwives Alliance of North America and contributing editor of the Business of Being Born (book), co-produced by Ricki Lake.

Elizabeth Cook
Co-founder, Wild Oats Markets
Libby Cook has been practicing international and general corporate law for 24 years. Ms. Cook co-founded Wild Oats Markets, the second largest natural foods supermarket chain in North America, serving as its executive Vice President and General Counsel from 1987 to 2001. Ms. Cook founded the Renaissance School, a private middle school based on the Waldorf philosophy, in Boulder, Colorado. She has served on the Board of Directors for other private schools in Colorado and on the Steering Committee of the PeaceJam Foundation. Ms. Cook has received numerous commendations and awards including the 2000 Alumni Award for Distinguished Achievement from the CU School of Law, the 1998 Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, the 1995 YWCA Hall of Fame Award for Entrepreneurship and the 1992 Esprit Entrepreneur Award. Ms. Cook has traveled abroad extensively, is multi-lingual and has experience directing youth community service projects in both Central and South America. She currently focuses her efforts on the ongoing work of Philanthropiece Foundation.

Seana Lowe Steffen, Ph.D
Transformative Leadership Institute
Seana is the founder and executive director of the Transformative Leadership Institute. Seana has over 15 years experience in community, organizational and leadership development, including serving as the founding director of INVST Community Studies at the University of Colorado-Boulder. While at CU, Seana received the Moen "Walk the Talk" Award for integrating her vision for a better world with her research and teaching, and was honored with awards for "Outstanding Professor" and "Women Who Make a Difference." Most recently, she received the E-Town "E-chievement Award" for making a lasting difference in the community and beyond. As a consultant, Seana specializes in strategic planning and capacity building, with an emphasis on intentionality, balance and exceptional results. She brings rigor and ease to empowering leadership that is purposeful and extraordinarily effective.

 

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