Meet Malia Michael | Women’s wellness coach, Ayurvedic Practitioner, yoga instructor, Maya therapist, herbalist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Malia Michael and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Malia, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
For all of my early adulthood I struggled with my health, from hyperactive parathyroid to amenorrhea, and more. I have been told that my conditions could potentially lead to infertility, osteoporosis, and even endometrial cancer. During this difficult journey I had discovered Ayurvedic medicine that had eventually cured me of all my ailments. Humbled by my own healing, I decided to study the medicine of Ayurveda and women’s health and to eventually create my practice of Wild Womb Ayurveda. Through creating my business, I strived to be the support for women, to allow them to be heard, to advocate for their bodies, and to empower them in their health journey. .

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am an Ayurvedic practitioner, yoga instructor, and Maya abdominal therapist (uterine massage). My purpose through my work is to deconstruct the taboos around women’s health and healing from menarche to menopause, and beyond. In my practice I offer different modalities such as Ayurveda, herbalism, and womb wisdom to help support and educate women so they can begin to transform the relationship to their body, become empowered in their health, and to reunite with the wisdom of true health and harmony.

What sets me apart from others in my field is that I have personally lived through serious health challenges and was able to fully heal my self with the practices that I implement in my work today. It was a long and difficult road to get to where I am today, I traveled to many foreign countries, from Africa to India, to understand their local medicine and to learn about women’s healing so that I could one day implement this wisdom to heal myself and to heal others. My journey brought up a lot of criticism and self doubt within myself as well as others who were close to me. After seven years I was able to overcome these challenges, heal myself from all of my ailments, and to bring this rooted and ancient healing to women in my community.

My purpose through Wild Womb Āyurveda is to support and educate women so they are no longer confused or defeated by their autonomy, but instead, excited to reunite with the part of themselves that is balanced and healthy. I have dedicated my life to serving and empowering women by helping integrate these holistic and whole body practices in their daily life so they can connect with greater sense of body awareness and a deeper connection to their truest, most embodied (and radiant) self.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love this question, though a bit hard to answer because there are so many things that I would do! I live in Fort Collins, Colorado which in an agricultural town with lots of natural parks and beautiful areas for biking and hiking. Here’s what I would do in a day-

I would start off the morning by packing a picnic (in my new picnic basket) and then taking my old bikes out for a ride along the poudre river where we would eventually find a spot to put a blanket out and eat lunch. We would probably spend most of our midmorning there. Afterwards we would stop by Me Oh My pie and grab a homemade slice of the best pie in all of the state. Next, we would drive through Bellview to see the horses and pastures and to horsetooth reservoir for a beach hang and maybe a little dip (assuming this is summer). By this time it will probably be around 4 or 5pm and we could go walk around the Old town and visit some small local owned shops. If we are lucky, Wild Roots will be having a women’s circle that evening where we get to gather in ceremony with other women and do a little nature craft to take home.

Some main things I love in Fort Collins are
Extra large streets for more bike ride joy
Golden Poppy Apothecary- for all your herbal needs
Tasty Harmony- vegan restaurant
Kansas City Kitty- for cute and trendy clothes
Red fox meadow- natural area
Poudre trail- for biking, walking, or reflecting
Mishiwaka- outdoor music venue in the poudre canyon along the river
Simple little alleyway walks to peek at everyone’s beautiful gardens
Devils backbone- hiking

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many people that have brought me where I am today. My biggest mentors in my life journey would be my mindfulness and Buddhist teacher, Beth Sanchez along with women’s health herbalist and Maya therapist, Shelley Torgove for introducing me to womb work. Rolfer and women’s health advocate, Allison Benner and my current mentors, Ayurvedic doctor, Chelynn Tetreault and midwife, Terra Rafael. And lastley, all the women at Golden Poppy Apothecary in Fort Collins. Though have not met personally, Dr. Aviva Romm is also a huge role model for me and my work.

For books,
Wild Feminine by Tammi Kent
Wild Power by Alexandra Pope

Website: https://wildwombayurveda.com/about/

Instagram: @Iammaliaeli

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/malia-michael-b10806250/

Image Credits
Sunshine Lady Photography