Christine Eck
The Sacred Window Studies Founder

I began my practice as a response to the lack of postpartum awareness I had after the birth of my first child in 2007.  I realized how much suffering could be alleviated by the practice of postpartum caregiving as I learned in the Ayurvedic perspective.  I was studying to become an Ayurvedic consultant when I became pregnant again for the second time.  A colleague introduced me to the work of Ysha Oakes, and through her loving guidance, I was able to transform my experience the second time to one that was supported, nourishing and empowered.  I knew that applying the wisdom of Ayurveda and other ancient traditions of care to the modern day was where I wanted to direct my caregiving for others.  When Ysha Oakes passed away in 2015, I felt the strong urge to support her legacy and turn my attention to education, another passion of mine.  The Center for Sacred Window Studies was birthed as a resource for education and awareness for everyone wanting information and support in caring for themselves and for others using the Ayurvedic principles of postpartum care.

What do enjoy the most about your work?

I love being able to connect with students all over the world.  I love the richness that is gained from multiple perspectives and experiences, and the ways in which so many families are being served by the caregivers we train.  I love working together with my co-founding instructors, and the deep love and reverence we share with one another and the mission we created together.  I love directing my attention to the sattvic and balanced intention of sacred window care, which permeates into all the areas of my life.

What is the most memorable thing you can tell someone about your job?

I don't know that I can pick one!  The women I created the Conscious Postpartum Caregiver Program with live around the US.  We are connected through our studies with Ysha Oakes.  Due to the virtual nature of our program, and then the inability to meet in person for several years, our first Hands On Training Retreat needed to be put off.  We had built a robust and inspiring online program, yet we longed to offer something live in person.

In May of 2023, we held our first Hands on Retreat in the Berkshire Mountains of Western Massachusetts.  When the 4 of us finally came together before our students arrived, we simply held one another and shed the happiest and most meaningful of tears.  We had done it.  We had worked together virtually for 5 years and were finally holding one another in physical form, ready to share from our hearts with students in person.  I'll never forget that beautiful moment.  The summer of 2024 will bring about our second in person training retreat in Massachusetts, and we could not be more excited to build on our event from last year.

Based on your area of expertise, what can you share with our followers around postpartum care?

Conscious Care for the Postpartum Window can look many different ways and be nourishing in all of them.  Depending on a person's background, their preferences, their support networks, their unique circumstances, it is important to approach a caregiving plan that reflects what feels nourishing for the individual.  The Ayurvedic principles of care can be tailored for all of these variables.  It is not a rigid approach or one that requires unfamiliar foods or routines.  The most important thing is for the postpartum window to be prioritized.  The 'phrase 42 days for 42 years' indicates that what we do in terms of support for healing and balance during this sacred window of time will impact our state of wellness for the next 4+ decades of life.  It will empower our parenting, our partnering, our longevity and our sense of happiness.  We have access to many more resources on traditional postpartum caregiving that we did in past years.

Creating a plan that supports us on a physical, emotional, mental and spiritual level is not only possible but what every birthing person needs.  This can be created in simple ways or more complex.  With awareness, education and resources, we can all receive the care we need.

The Ayurvedic perspective prioritizes foods that build the digestive fire.  Digestion is severely impacted by birth, and foods need to be assimilated for them to be nourishing.  When there is undigested materials in the body, it will impact the functioning of milk production, baby's digestion and the nervous system among others.  Understanding how to cook for postpartum is a major aspect of care that is largely ignored in western culture.  

Other aspects of care that we teach in our programing include Ayurvedic touch for postpartum not only for the birthing person, but for their babies as well.  We also teach herbal support foods for postpartum and caregiving routines to support healing such as belly binding, sitz bathing and trauma reduction techniques for a healthy heart and mind.

If you were to share something about your business/work to a stranger what would it be? 

The Conscious Postpartum Caregiver Program was created to provide a perspective based on the Ayurvedic principles of healing after birth, but that honors the synchronicities of traditional care that are seen around the world.  Every person, no matter their background can receive informed support with the understanding of what is actually happening in the body during the postpartum window, and how can we decide what caregiving actions are perfect for each person based on their unique background.  We wish to empower the caregiver and the birthing person to approach the postpartum window of time with both reverence and awareness, knowing that healing is natural, and the support we offer is ushering that natural healing process along.  We speak of the Sacred Window, recognizing that this window of time is one in which the support we offer is experienced on an elevated level than at other times in life.  Every person who births goes through a sacred window.  Our mission is to create awareness and empowerment for those offering the care, as well as for those receiving it.  It is a human responsibility to care for new parents.  This tradition of care has been lost in many modern cultures, yet we are here to help bring attention back to this most foundational way of caring for ourselves and for our communities.  As we have worked with these healing principles, we see that the skillset is one that is applied again and again throughout the different stages of life. Sacred Window Care is applicable for all life transitions and can be modified for every person and every circumstance.  It is about understanding how the body becomes restored, what principles are needed and how to apply them through diet, herbal support, routines, rest and discernment.  It is truly sacred, and is a birthright for every human to understand how to give that to themselves.

See our Instagram post here.