Closing of the Bones Ceremony

A sacred and ceremonial process that allows you to embrace acceptance, gratitude and stillness. A ceremony that offers you the opportunity to heal yourself, to tune into your own needs and move forward into the next journey.

Sasha also facilitates Closing of the Bones workshops.

BOOK A CLOSING OF BONES CEREMONY

As a Midwife, Sasha has completed Jenny Blyth's Birthwork Workshop and during this training, Sasha learned the art form of 'Closing of the Bones'. Jenny Blyth who is a Spinning Babies Trainer, has been trained in how to hold 'Closing of the Bones Ceremonies' by traditional women and was given permission to pass on this knowledge to other birth workers.

Sasha has been providing Closing of the Bones Ceremonies for women since 2021 and offers this service as a standard of care to her midwifery clients post birth as she believes it can have a great impact on the woman, honouring her and the journey she has been on. Facilitating this ceremony for women has been an incredible experience for Sasha as she gets to witness the woman feel into the emotions and rawness, within a safe space where she is held. This ceremony can be done at any time and may also support healing for women who have experienced the following: loss of a baby, friend or family member, hysterectomy, fertility issues, loss of a job or relationship or a significant transition in life. This ceremony is for anyone that feels called to have a Closing of the Bones. Sasha shares that is an honour to work with each woman that allows the space and time to come home to her body. If you are a birth worker and would like to learn this practice, Sasha offers ceremonial and intimate workshops through expression of interest only.

Closing of the Bones Experience:

A Closing of the Bones Ceremony is approximately 1-1.5 hour session, held in your home that includes the following:

Room set up and cleansing (sage and incense are used for this).
Explanation of what to expect and discussion on your relationship with your womb and body.
Setting your intention for the ceremony eg. calling in more self-love, “me time”, pleasure etc.
Breath awareness and hands on touch to following areas: head, feet, shins and thighs.
Reboso cloth wrapping and body movement.
Further hands on touch and hugging.
Medicine drum played over your body, focusing on your main chakra locations.
Stillness wrapped in Reboso's whilst listening to music.
Unwrapping of cloth with hands on touch.
Awareness and coming back to room.
Debrief and discussion.

Benefits of Closing of the Bones:

The bone closing ceremony is used all over the world and its purpose is to support the closing of cycles, energetic fields and returning heat back to the body. Traditionally it is offered to women after birth, as birth (both vaginal and caesarean) can be energetically opening, and Yang energy can be expelled during birth. This practice allows for stillness which is associated with Yin energy and warmth which is associated with Yang energy, offering a balance of the two. With firm wrapping it is believed that this practice on a regular occurrence can assist the bones and joints to realign post birth, as well as assist the pelvic organs to shift, the uterus to shrink back down and stimulate blood flow.

Along with the physical benefits this is a spiritual/energetic process. It allows the woman to stop and reflect on her experience and may assist with emotional healing. It may assist a mother to feel closure after birth and reconnect to her own body and her needs. Some women have reported that they felt held and nurtured and some have been able to release emotions linked to a birth or postnatal experience. Birth is a rite of passage and a deep transformational journey which continues into motherhood.

Frequently asked questions:

Do you offer a debrief?

Yes, we can discuss your experience after the ceremony however if you need to discuss further we can organise another debrief within 1-2 weeks of your ceremony.

How do I book a Closing of Bones Ceremony?

Please contact Sasha via the contact page and she will let you know her next available dates, please note this service is currently offered in your home however if you choose to book a Sacral Somatic Session or Connection Touch massage as well then it will be provided to you at a private location in Clontarf. The service area is within 40km of Narangba, further distances may be considered and will include a travel fee.

How do I book to attend a Closing of the Bones Workshop?

Sasha offers 1-2 workshops per year to no more than four women at a time. This workshop is an intimate women's circle that not only gives you the skills of facilitating a closing of the Bones Ceremony but with a focus on the importance of how we hold space and the energy we bring into this experience for the receiver. Sasha brings skills from various trainings and implements these into the training, enhancing the experience. During this workshop each attendee will give and receive a Closing of the Bones. If you are interested in learning more, please enquire via the contact page.

Closing of the Bones Facilitator Directory

Sasha has trained others in both QLD and the ACT. If you live outside of Sasha's service area you may be able to locate someone who has attended Closing of the Bones training with Sasha in the directory below:

South East QLD

- Brooke MacTaggart

Location: Morningside Email: brooke@birthmate.com.au Other services: Doula & HypnoBirthing Educator Website: birthmate.com.au

- Moran Liviani

Location: Brisbane & Surrounds Email: moran@2life.com.au Other services: Birth Doula, HypnoBirthing Educator, Lamaze Childbirth Education & Placenta Encapsulation Website: www.2life.com.au

- Lisa Griffiths

Location: Ferny Hills Email: thehomegrowndoula@proton.me Other services: Birth & Postpartum Doula, Postpartum Meals & Placenta Encapsulation & Artwork Website: www.thehomegrowndoula.com.au

- Kylie Jevons

Location: Mitchelton Email: kj@kyliejevons.com Other services: Pregnancy, Birth & Postpartum Doula, Yoga Teacher & facilitator of Mother’s Blessings Website: kyliejevons.com

- Mikaela Duffy

Location: The Gap & Paddington Email: md.centreofbalance@gmail.com Other services: Naturopathy, Abdominal Massage, Home visits for new mums & pregnancy loss Website: mikaeladuffy.com.au

- Natalie Laidley

Location: Warner Email: admin@thegraciousdoula.com.au Other services: Doula & Photography Website: thegraciousdoula.com.au

- Shari Lyon

Location: Gold Coast Email: shari@belly2birth.com.au Other services: Birth coach, HypnoBirthing & Birth debriefing

Website: www.belly2birth.com.au

- Helen Simpson

Location: Redcliffe Email: hrsimpson1973@gmail.com Other services: Breastfeeding & Postnatal support (Midwife)

- Annelet Esterhuysen

Location: Brisbane Email: anneletesterhuysen@gmail.com Other services: Bodywork, KaHuna massage & Zen Thai Shiatsu

- Aimee McKenzie

Location: West Brisbane Email: lifelaidbare@outlook.com Other services: Doula & Birth Photographer Website: https://www.lifelaidbare.com.au

- Clelia Douglas

Location: Kenmore Email: midwifeclel@gmail.com Other Services: Endorsed Midwife

- Amber Childs

Location: Logan Email: amberchilds1511@gmail.com

- Hayley Stimson

Location: The Gap Email: hayleyjohnston91@gmail.com Other services: Postpartum Doula

- Abbey Braithwaite

Location: Samford Email: abbeybraithwaitedoula@gmail.com Other services: Doula, Hypnobirthing Educator & Birth Debrief

Website: https://www.abbeybraithwaite.com.au

- Breanna Gray

Location: Logan Email: admin@womb2bloom.com Other services: Doula, Remedial & Pregnancy massage. Website: https://www.womb2bloom.com

- Sophie Thomas

Location: Pimpama Email: sophiesansaraofferings@gmail.com Other services: Closing of Bones only currently

- Claire Hoffman

Location: Enoggera Email: claire@undertakinggrace.com Other services: Deathcare Website: https://www.undertakinggrace.com.au

- Lauren Williams

Location: Clear Mountain Email: tapestryoflifemidwife@gmail.com Other services: Private Antenatal & Postnatal midwifery care, Retreats Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tapestryoflife_midwife/

- Hayley Curran

Location: Northern NSW Email: hayley.avenirlife@gmail.com Other services: Registered midwife

- Kerri Barnes

Location: Gladstone Email: kbhealing@outlook.com Other services: Craniosacral Therapy, Pregnancy massage, Pilates facials Website: https://inner-flow-wellness.com/services

Canberra ACT

- Tayla Smith

Location: Canberra Email: Tayla.smith96@hotmail.com

- Sarah Chisholm

Location: Canberra/Murrumbateman Email: hello@sarahchisholm.au Other services: Birth & Postpartum Doula, Menstrual Cycle Education

Website: sarahchisholm.au

- Kate Dillon

Location: Canberra – Tuggeranong Email: kate@katedillon.net Other Services: Womb & Fertility Massage, Lomi Lomi Massage, Shakti Yoga

Website: katedillon.net

- Emma Dorge

Location: Canberra Email: emma.dorge@gmail.com