Meet Zaure Vuk | Ayurvedic Postpartum Doula and Montessori Parenting Educator

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

Hi Zaure, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
Originally I am from Central Asia, country called Kazakhstan. I grew up there and moved to the States in 2007. I grew up in a community-based culture where you live in an apartment building and the neighbors are considered to be your extended family! Since then I learned to appreciate close-knit communities where you feel safe, accepted, and celebrate life transitions together.
Another interesting aspect of my culture that I feel affected me the most is that my ancestors are nomads. Just like them, I feel alive when I travel, see the world, meet new people.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
For the last ten years I was a stay at home mom, homeschooling my four children. I was also involved as a head of research and development and a curriculum specialist in our family business, a chain of music and Montessori-based daycare centers in Boston. I have been studying Montessori, reading a lot of her writings. In fact, right now I am in a Montessori Leadership postgraduate program with The Institute for Educational Studies. Today I am paving a way as a postpartum doula. I serve and educate new parents and their communities about the importance for the mother to rest and be taken care of during the first six-twelve weeks after having a baby. This is the most important time in the life of a woman, as, according to Ayurveda, a science and philosophy of life that comes from an ancient Indian culture, the way she takes care of her health for the 42 days after birth will set her up for the 42 years ahead. I offer postpartum education that helps plan and organize these 42 days with intention. I also encourage women to invite their communities to come the postpartum planning sessions with them. That way they empower the people around them to help a new family, and especially the newborn mother in the most meaningful, supportive, and impactful ways.

I also guide new mothers through the transition to motherhood, matrescence. In this life-changing and transformative transition there are so many things that are being completely lost, and so many new emotions, heightened sensitivity or the baby that are present and can be very overwhelming. I support this transition through listening, holding a container for a new mother to feel safe. I also offer body treatments and meal preparation to help ground and calm the nervous system, relief stress and anxiety, and to ensure that she is resourced, replenished, and rejuvenated to continue caring for a newborn baby.
As a Montessori and RIE-inspired educator I offer resources and guidance for respectful newborn care.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I actually did have an old friend visiting me. The first place I took her was Carnelian Coffee shop! I just adore that place! And of course, Garden of the Gods is a must. We both love coffee, so Wild Goose and Loyal were definitely on the list! We also visited Manitou Springs, We enjoyed yoga at Sun Water Spa.
We both love yoga, so next time I will take her to Root Yoga Center.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I think the most influential person in my life for over a decade is Dr. Maria Montessori. Her amazing body of work with little children, her keen observations of them and their needs, and then her genius ways to meet the needs of children and to give them respect and dignity they deserve has greatly influenced my parenting and my relationships with others. And with myself. I am also deeply grateful to my doula mentors, Christine Devlin Eck, Ashlee Wilkin from Center for Sacred Window Studies, and Rachelle Garcia from INNATE Traditions. These amazing women who guide and equip those who want to serve women during the most vulnerable and tender time of transition to motherhood have impacted the trajectory of my life and calling.
I also want to shoutout to the incredible Montessori educators who are deeply influential on my approach to the postpartum time of the mothers and babies. They are Pamela Green, Karin Slabaugh, and Ruth Ehrhardt.

Website: http://www.pamperingdoula.com

Instagram: @zaurevuk

Facebook: @mama.entrepreneur