Meet Vanya — Founder of Cherished Life
Doula, Perinatal Yoga Educator, and Maternal Wellness Guide
Cherished Life was born from a deep belief that pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood are transformative seasons — not problems to solve but experiences to be supported, embodied, and understood.
I draw on more than 15 years in maternal wellness to guide families in ways that are intimate, holistic, and deeply rooted in presence and agency.
I am a holistic birth doula, prenatal yoga teacher educator, and maternal health advocate. My path into this work began with a fire for holistic wellness — first through yoga, then through education, coaching, and advocacy — and eventually led me to support families throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum transition.
My Approach: Embodied, Relational, and Evidence-Informed
I believe that support should meet you where you are — with clarity, nervous-system grounding, and genuine presence. My work is not about telling you what to do, but about helping you feel what is true for you and guiding you to that strength.
Across childbirth education, doula support, and prenatal yoga, my focus is always the same:
- Empowering you with understanding, not fear
- Honoring your choices with evidence and clarity
- Centering your body and nervous system as sources of wisdom
- Holding relational space, not rehearsing scripts
This philosophy shapes every aspect of Cherished Life.
Where I’ve Been and What I Bring
- 15+ years teaching yoga, workshops, and trainings throughout Atlanta
- Certified yoga instructor, with 200-hour, Kemetic, and multiple prenatal certifications
- Perinatal yoga teacher educator
- Holistic birth doula and childbirth educator
- Former Yoga & Meditation Professor at Spelman College
- Advocate for maternal wellness in community and clinical settings
- Mother to two vibrant children, whose lived experience continues to inform, ground, and inspire my work
I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Spelman College and a Master of Arts in Communication Management from the University of Southern California, bringing both heart and rigor to the work I do.
Why This Work Matters
Too often, pregnancy and postpartum care focus on the mechanical or clinical — and miss the human, emotional, and embodied dimensions of becoming a parent. My mission is to help you move through these seasons with greater:
- Self-awareness
- Nervous-system support
- Confidence
- Connection to your body
- Clarity about your choices
Supporting families this way isn’t just my profession — it’s a calling.
A Little About Me, Off the Mat
I believe that yoga, at its heart, is meant to transform the way we live and relate. That belief informs both my teaching and my life. Outside of work, I am a loving mother, a learner, and someone who shows up for community — not just as a practitioner, but as someone who’s lived the joys and challenges of parenthood firsthand.