Exploring Life & Business with Malia Michael of Wild Womb Ayurveda

Today we’d like to introduce you to Malia Michael.

Hi Malia, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
In my early 20’s I was diagnosed with Amenorrhea and hyperactive parathyroidism. At the time I was diagnosed, my doctor recommended that I get on birth control to bring my cycles back and surgery to remove my parathyroid gland in order to reduce the high risk of endometrial cancer, early onset osteoporosis, and infertility. I knew deeply that this was not the way. With all the stress around my health conditions, I decided to put my doctor visits aside and focus on bringing back my joy in life. And so I did. I picked up a job at a small pub (along with 2 other jobs), worked as much as I could, to save up as much as I could, and eventually bought a one way ticket overseas. After about a year of travel I eventually ended up in India. There was a small town near Rishikesh where I stumbled across an Ayurvedic clinic. Curious, I decided to go in. As I looked around I realized that Ayurveda must be a local medicine there in India. A man sat down in front of me and asked to look at my tongue, he continued to take my pulse and asked me questions about my health. After I left he prescribed some herbs written in Sanskrit. Within the first hour of taking these herbs I started my first menstrual bleed in 5 years. It was in that moment that I knew my path was that of Ayurveda, and it was also in that moment that I knew I had to bring this medicine to women. I went back to India two years later and checked myself into an Ayurvedic hospital north of Karnataka. I received treatments (also known as Panchakarma) for 4 months while also studying the medicine. Both of my conditions have been fully healed without means of intervention. This unexpected journey led me on the path towards women’s health and healing.

Since then I travelled from Africa to Asia and back to India, photographing women, learning about women’s culture and roles in different parts of the world. During my travels I studied other modalities more specific to women’s health such as birth doula, maya abdominal therapy, herbalism, and womb work. Currently I am a Women’s Ayurvedic Practitioner and I incorporate these modalities to weave in all scopes of transformative health and healing.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
7 years played a huge role in my mental health and ultimately in my journey. This path made me question a lot about who I was as a woman without my ability to have a menstrual cycle or conceive.  Besides my conditions, traveling to third world countries as a solo female traveler was not easy- especially on a backpackers budget. I experienced fraud, had many of my things stolen, shoes, jackets, money, camera. I was harassed in more rural areas for how I looked, especially being a young caucasian woman, I got lost more times than I can count, I slept anywhere I could, on the floors of small huts, train stations, random internet cafes in India. Every day I was pushed to my absolute limits- mentally, physically, and spiritually.  And if I had to choose, I would do it all over again, because it brought me to where I am and who I am today.

We’ve been impressed with Wild Womb Ayurveda, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am a Women’s Ayurvedic Practitioner, Maya Abdominal Therapist, and Doula. Along with Ayurveda, I incorporate other modalities such as yoga, womb wisdom, and herbalism into my practices. I have facilitated events for embracing the feminine such as red tents, moon circles, and women’s retreats. My purpose is to guide women back into the wisdom of their bodies, creating space for limitless transformation and healing.

I have created Wild Womb Ayurveda to guide women into understanding the language of their body, to remind them of their innate ability to self-heal, and to live a life of ease, grace, joy, and beauty. As an Ayurvedic Practitioner specializing in women’s health and Maya Abdominal Therapy, I help women cultivate a life of radiant wellness by focusing on nourishing the Yin (feminine energy) and use ancient Ayurvedic practices and self-care tools to help balance their unique mind and body constitution.

My purpose through Wild Womb Āyurveda is to eliminate all the taboos when it comes to women’s health, from menarche to menopause, and beyond. To educate women so they are no longer confused or defeated by their autonomy, but instead, excited to reunite with this part of themselves. I have dedicated my life to serving and empowering women by helping unveil the wisdom that has always been there and is ready to be reclaimed.

No matter what stage of life or where someone is in their health journey, Wild Womb Ayurveda is the support needed to cultivate a life of health and well-being . Wild Womb Ayurveda focuses on embodied wellness and encompasses all aspects of health including, physical, mental, spiritual, and relationship to oneself.

Offerings –

1:1 Ayurvedic Consultations ~ During consultations we discuss personalized health goals and assess the person’s unique constitution with consideration of season, lifestyle, and age in order to create a wellness plan specific to them. Women’s Ayurvedic consultations specific to female imbalances (hormones, amenorrhea, irregular and painful cycles, fertility, PCOS, endometriosis, menopause) and this includes cycle syncing, BBT charting, foods and herbs for reproductive health, self breast and womb massage, and menstrual care.

Maya abdominal therapy ~ external uterine massage that helps gently correct uterine positing, brings fresh blood flow to the uterus, balances hormones and increases fertility.

Yoga ~ offer 1:1 yoga sessions for women, pre and post natal

Offerings ~ please refer to my website on up-to-date offerings- www.wildwombayurveda.com

What sets me apart from others is my absolute dedication to the work of women’s health and healing. Since personally going through it, I have a deeper understanding and compassion for women going through their own healing journey. My approach is unlike anyone else’s because it is a fully encompassed approach to healing. I implement western science with cycle syncing to reduce stress and balance hormones, Ayurveda to assess the individual’s unique body and mind in order to incorporate foods, lifestyles, and herbs that will bring them most in balance, and the energetics to release trauma stored in the womb and to help regain confidence within themselves.

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My family and all the close women in my life who continue to support me
My partner and beloved, Matthew
Beth Sanchez my mindfulness teacher
Terra Rafeal my women’s health mentor
Shelly Torgove my women’s health herbalist teacher
Kathleen Lawler my mayan abdominal therapist teacher
Chelyn Tetreault my ayurvedic mentor
The women whom I work with at Golden Poppy Apothecary in Fort Collins
Allison Benner, my mentor, women’s health advocate, Embracing the feminine
Youssef , my healer in India
John Vargas, a dear friend that helped me get through a lot
Joseph, dear friend, teacher of indigenous wisdom
Beth Kelley my business coach

Contact Info:

• Website: https://wildwombayurveda.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iammaliaeli/

Image Credits
Sunshineladyphotography ~ Golden Poppy Apothecary