Detroit Mom’s Local Love series highlights local women and the businesses they have built. We love supporting small business! Today’s Local Love Spotlight belongs to Elise Bowerman, owner of Birth Humanity.
To start, we asked Elise to share a few fun facts about herself with us:
- She was born on a Friday the 13th despite her mom’s OBGYN’s encouragement to have a cesarean to avoid this date. Her mom knew Friday the 13th was historically a sacred day of feminine energy. She allowed Elise to arrive earth-side when she was ready. She believes her birth day set the tone for her purpose of honoring “rites of passage” for women.
- She’s fulfilling her mom’s legacy of helping women tap into their innate wisdom through ancient practices. Her mom was a student of ancient healing practices. She taught Elise the value of research, independent thinking, and prioritizing holistic medicine.
- She’s the first woman in her lineage to own her own business!
We also asked Elise to share a little bit more about her business with us, too. Get to know Elise and her business, Birth Humanity, below!
How did you come up with the idea of your business, and how did you start?
“Birth Humanity is now the third evolution, having started with Elise Bowerman LLC in 2009, then evolv[ing] in 2014 to Sweet Momma Yoga. In 2023 I embraced a bolder call-to-action. It became crystal clear how beneficial gathering as women and curating personal practices are for all of us–especially mothers. I guide two very separate groups of people: women in motherhood and women who are also called to teach prenatal and postnatal yoga practices.
“Back in college I graduated (2004) with undergrad requirements to become a Dance/Movement Therapist. While in college, I got exposed to the practice of yoga. [I] found it to be a blend of ancient healing with movement in an inviting and curious way I didn’t know I was craving. This shifted my attention and [I] did not pursue a Master’s degree. Shortly after becoming a Registered Yoga Teacher (2008, guided by Linda Makowski of Namaste Yoga, Royal Oak) I became pregnant. [I] then led prenatal and postnatal yoga classes . . . and they never left my schedule.
“My personal experiences of becoming a mom to my son, Lucas (2009), and daughter, Lilly (2012), paved my dedication so other moms have a soft landing space to express, inquire, and reflect on how they would like to show up for themselves in this phase. The more I embraced the calling to guide moms at the sacred time of becoming a mother, the more my passion and business grew.
“It took from 2009-2014 to figure out how to create a sustainable yoga business that solely focused on caring for the prenatal and postnatal phases of life. My husband and I called my teaching a ‘karmic act of service’–we would lose money [when] I went to ‘work.’ All it took was one yoga studio owner, Gary Sweetapple of Livonia Yoga Center, to trust me to operate differently than the other yoga teachers in our area. And it started with me teaching in the lobby–yes, lobby–of the studio! Within a couple months we outgrew the lobby and I requested to be placed in the studio at prime-time. Through this trust I was able to create a unique experience for prenatal and postnatal yoga classes in Metro Detroit.
“In 2017 I was ready to extend the next arm of my business by creating Michigan’s first Registered Prenatal Yoga School. The #1 thing I heard (and still hear today) is, ‘There are not enough perinatal yoga teachers in my area.’ OB/GYNs and midwives run the busiest healthcare practices. So I know there are plenty of moms to support our perinatal yoga classes . . . After all, we are usually the most visited perinatal professionals moms will see; even more than their providers.”
Knowing what you know now, is there anything you would have done differently when you were first starting out?
“Give myself more grace to explore how my business would open up. I am fortunate to have an entrepreneur as a husband, Jon, and our income provider. I do not have urgency to produce a certain income level besides covering the costs of operating my business (i.e. software, manuals, props, etc.). But I do have a strong will and desire to uplevel my impact and industry standards.
“In 2014 I received insights from my prenatal yoga teacher trainer, Dr. Laurel Hicks, on ways to structure my yoga offerings–like a business. Once I created this new framework my husband knew I was onto something moms and families would be interested in. And, I would finally gain profit. Now I get to teach other entrepreneurs how to prioritize their time, measure their impact, and build a framework that positively impacts their livelihood so they don’t burn out.”
What is the best business advice you’ve ever been given?
“Keep it simple. Simplicity is one of the hardest attributes to create as a visionary business owner and operator. We are pulled in a million directions to make the vision happen. Simplicity helps me stay focused on my moms and teachers-in-training. If Jon were the COO he’d likely direct Birth Humanity to focus solely on moms or teachers; not both.
“This is where simplicity goes by the wayside for me. I LOVE to guide moms as much as I LOVE to provide confidence to those who are called to do this work. Even within my two loves, I could have 10 different programs/services–for each! Ultimately, ‘keep it simple’ translates as providing a 5-star experience for each service. I strive to meet and exceed expectations by providing a user-friendly online experience, a nurturing in-person connection, and maternal health education rooted in ancient wisdom with today’s evidence-based research.”
Have you faced adversity in business due to being a woman? How did you navigate that?
“Adversity I’ve faced in business due to being a woman has really been within myself. Growing up I saw myself as a SAHM and teaching a few dance classes a week. (I always knew I would be some kind of teacher.) It seemed like the perfect balance. Becoming a mom, navigating not earning a paycheck I was used to from working full-time, and deciding how many classes of yoga I wanted to teach each year invited more inner criticism than I imagined. I felt guilty for being away. At the same time my nerves went haywire being around the home all day, every day. I knew deep down I was meant for more meaningful and magnificent experiences. But, [I] felt trapped caring for my children and running the household.
“I have a Bachelor’s degree, lived independently for nearly a decade before getting married, have worked since I was 14 years old . . . a lot of my self-identification was based on what my job title was and what I could produce in the workforce. It has taken years of unwinding societal influences to remain steadfast as a SAHM. I’m still a SAHM and work part-time to help other moms and families navigate the often uncelebrated and under-cared for time of life: of becoming a family. When my kids are off to college I know deep down inside I will have ample opportunity to give more of my time to outside of our home. Right now, the 5-10 hours I work for others is enough.
“On a completely different note, I also have faced adversity as a white woman guiding yoga practices. Since yoga is a spiritual practice from India, it is not my cultural heritage. Through deep reflection and honoring that I am still only one of two prenatal yoga teaching schools in Michigan, I know this path is where I am called to be, for now. Having grown up in a household prioritizing holistic medicine, I found the entire practice of yoga and Ayurveda as the answer to my purpose of guiding others on how to prioritize lifestyle as a part of their healthcare. The more I explore the similarities of my Celtic roots and practices in Southeast Asia, I find both are rooted in ritual, earth medicine, and women gathering together . . . this is what I’m all about!”
How do you persevere in challenging times?
“First and foremost, I remind myself that everything is temporary. ‘This too shall pass.’ Surrounding myself with friends, family, and like-hearted women who believe in me is essential during challenging times. (I am also blessed to have incredible men such as my dad, brother, and husband who have attended my classes–when I taught mixed groups–and encourage me to follow my heart in caring for moms. They’re curious and empathetic of me forging a path holding space for women in such a tender way.)
“Most recently, I found an immense level of support in House of Reclamation’s CEO Mastermind; for my business and myself personally . . . because, after all, my business is a reflection of me. Being around women who see through an observer lens of what’s going on in my life or business helps me identify a blind spot or propel a phase of inner healing which needs to be addressed in order to move forward more boldly. Overall, collecting myself by prioritizing all aspects of health provides a foundational layer of support to give energy to any challenging time.”
What impact do you want your business to have?
“I see Birth Humanity as one of the contributors which will help name Metro Detroit as THE safest and sought after place to become a mom in the United States. Birth Humanity will do this by continuing to prioritize sacred ‘rites of passage’ all mothers go through so they may be seen, heard, and cared for. Plus, educating anyone interested in providing perinatal yoga practices so more families may benefit–in Michigan and internationally.”
What are the pros and cons of being a woman business owner in 2024?
“A pro I feel as a woman business owner today is that I do not have a sense of urgency to see my vision come to life. I am dedicated and at the same time open to how it unfolds. If I were a man, I believe there would be more pressure to ‘produce’ at a faster rate . . . whatever ‘produce’ may mean. I also love sharing a room with other women business owners. It’s super special and something rather new in our collective history. I am blessed to have women like my mom pave the way so I may have a guiding light as to ‘not be the first’ for everything.
“A con, and it may be a personal belief I’m still healing, is that women have a harder time getting others to financially invest in them. Providing a spiritually-led business is one that often is undervalued, as it is invisible work. I do see this shifting as more are aligning themselves with inner-work.”
What knowledge would you share with someone who wants to become an entrepreneur?
“For anyone who heeds to the call of entrepreneurship: surround yourself with other entrepreneurs. No matter your business or purpose–learn from those who have been there and walk alongside those who are in their own work. There’s plenty of room for all of us. Our economy needs your talents, skills, vision, and more small businesses who provide exceptional products and services.
“You also, likely, don’t need social media as much as ‘they’ say to be reputable or financially successful when you are first starting out . . . or possibly ever. Depends on your business goals. Know your business goals. Why are you in business? To make a certain amount of income, build your reputation, create an impact or movement, or something else? There are TONS of intelligent and financially comfortable entrepreneurs who may have never heard. On the flip side–you may just need social media and no website to create your impact. Get clear on your business purpose and create boundaries with social media.”
What do you do for personal and professional development?
“I believe there is a healthy self-awareness each of us must reflect on for the reason why we are investing, listening, or learning from someone. Our society banks on people being in the ‘learner’ seat. You must learn about this in order to be the expert at that. It is true, however, the rabbit hole of constantly learning with little opportunity for application can make one feel inadequate, not ready, and the trending term–like an impostor.
“Every couple of years I will invest in guides and mentors for whatever area of interest calls to me. I typically am drawn to women who honor the wisdom of feminine energy, prioritize their own reflective work, center their marriage, have children, and are in their career at a leadership level. This year I invested in House of Reclamation (formerly, Retreat to Reclaim) with Elizabeth Lewis and Lauryn Laszczak. Along with them the past couple years I completed two courses with Usha Anandi of Womben Wellness. And, [I] am an active member in Sarah Jenks’ Holy Woman community. I apply what I learn, in addition to books I read, with the vision of enhancing Birth Humanity or myself.
“Much of my personal and professional development is in reflective work. [Meaning], having time in my daily life to truly care for myself and reflect on what is going on. Tuning out the noise of everyone else’s ideas of me or what I may think they think of me helps me listen clearly to my intuition. When the noise is quieted I see and feel what is necessary to do next. Whether it’s for myself, family, or business. I love quiet time.”
What mantra or quote do you live by?
“‘Be the change you wish to see in the word,’ summarized from Mahatma Ghandi: “We but mirror the world. All the tendencies present in the outer world are to be found in the world of our body. If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. This is the divine mystery supreme. A wonderful thing it is and the source of our happiness. We need not to wait to see what others do.”
“Within my whole being I believe so strongly how each of us are cared for when we are in our mother’s womb and then greeted earthside impact our personality, ability to trust, and to be loved. I know this is the root cause of many dysfunctions in families which now have intensely rippled into society, like not protecting or prioritizing care for women and children, emotional dysregulation without abandonment, and avoidance of duties in this life. ‘Be the change’ reflects my personal journey of healing the Mother-Daughter Wound without (and then later with) my mom’s presence. And, honoring my most important role: mother.
“A favorite technique I love to teach is the mother/womb/baby dialogue. It’s never too early or too late to begin a line of communication to prevent the future need for repair. Or, to begin a healing conversation when it is necessary. We will bring peace on earth when babies are seen as conscious beings who receive loving care while in the womb. And, are greeted earth-side with tender gentleness.”
What’s your favorite place in Detroit or Michigan?
“Grand Haven became an accidental family tradition for my husband, kids, and myself. Every summer we would spend a long weekend or week on the west side of Michigan. The beach is beautiful and the people are low key. No makeup necessary, just a bathing suit, cover up, and flip flops. Now, we live on a lake and get to boat all summer. So we make sure to at least do a day trip to get some Pronto Pups.”
Where can our readers find you on social media?
You can follow Birth Humanity on Facebook, Instagram, and on their website!
