Workshop FAQ

Q: Can I bring my baby to the workshop?

ET: No, not into the workshop room.

You may bring her/him as long as this does not distract you or others during the training. A support person would be required and greatly appreciated. You may also want to consider sleeping accommodations away from others if they have trouble sleeping through the night. As this is an intense training, everyone will need their sleep.

Q: Elena, do you do private sessions or any phone/internet consultations?

ET:  No, sorry... I do an average of 20 events in 10 countries per year, so there is simply not enough time to work one-on-one. I also found that the group dynamic is an equal player in this work. The vortex of energy created by a circle of amazing beings, who are drawn to this work, propels each individual so much further then they would be able to get to on their own. We cover a lot of ground and it’s exactly because we have the critical mass to lift us off the ground and generate some magical outcome.

Film FAQ
 

Q: Tell me about your film, please!

ET:  It was made in 2006 and is already in 57 countries, without any marketing or advertising. It has been translated into 12 languages by local volunteers.  It is profoundly impacting hundreds of thousands of people who are self-organizing into grassroots movements of re-claiming the power of graceful delivery. The film beautifully illustrates what it really takes to prepare for conscious birth and deliver a baby gracefully, minimizing trauma for all involved. 

Q: One of the DVDs I’ve ordered plays very well - “Birth As We Know It (educational); but the other two do not play and come up with blank DVD message. Have you sent the correct European format out?

ET: We had this happen before and every time it was resolved by adjusting settings on the DVD player. It’s not working only on very old or otherwise special players. Please, try playing the DVDs on your computer with VLC player (or any other DVD program). If it is, indeed a defective DVD, please send it back to us and we will immediately send you a replacement.

Apprenticeship Training FAQ
 

Q: Will I need the annual re-certification after attending?

ET: No. The certificate that I hand out at the end of the 10 day course states that it entitles the bearer to use my techniques in the workshops of their own format and design. I don’t believe in one-size-fits-all, strictly structured approach in matters concerning the birthing field. I teach and encourage a very creative, spontaneous approach that brings out each person’s specific strength and passion, so my work can seamlessly blend into their existing practice, and utilise their previous education and experience.

With my certificate I am giving a full license to try and experiment and find what works best for you. In other words, I am saying that after attending my course, I trust you. I trust you to know what is good and wholesome, that you have your own sense of what will work. I also believe that it’s not what we do for our clients that makes the real difference for them, but how we do it and who we are as people.

Other Topics FAQ

Q:  I am from Germany and I am studying midwifery. I have seen your dvd "Birth As We Know It" and I was deeply impressed! I was wondering if there are still existing birthcamps at the Black Sea and if it would be possible for me to pay a visit at such a camp to gain some experience?

If not, if you know other midwifes who assist in births at the sea and with dolphins?

ET: Unfortunately, these birth camps do not exist anymore. Natural birth was outlawed in Russia 4 yrs ago and is now illegal. We are trying to organize it elsewhere in the world, but have not find a place yet. Thank you for understanding this important issue!

In Hawaii the water is too cold and waves are too big and rough, and where it's not rough. It's a public beach, therefore there’s too many people, and waters are not clean enough.  Cleanliness is very important.  We were incredibly lucky in Russia at the time of our "birth camps" at the Black Sea because there was no problem with pollution or sharks. There are no big sharks there, only tiny ones.