Meet Mara

I believe that all birthing peoples and their whānau should have the opportunity to gain a deep understanding of matrescence, the birth process and how to best support their own mental and physical health during the perinatal period. I teach the courses I teach because they fill part of the gap left by society and publicly funded antenatal courses. I teach because I know that my courses make a massive difference to the experiences birthing people have when they are equipped with skills and knowledge that empowers them to advocate for what is right for them and their whānau. I teach my courses because they bring the necessary calm to the birthing space for all involved.

There is no greater joy, no greater magic then the birth of a new pēpi and the birth of new parents!

Your Specialised Perinatal Instructor

Mara Bell

I see myself as living in my 3rd part of life. My life as a parent to three boys. In my 2nd life I left my childhood behind and built a career around Ecology, Conservation and Research. I loved the remote and quiet life, which took me to amazing places like the Orkney Islands, Scotland Mainland, Gough Island, Tristan DaCunha and even to our very own Kāpiti Island, as well as South Westland and the Hen and Chick Islands in Northland.

However, once I was a parent everything changed. This change was more profound than I ever expected. My priorities changed and over several years I felt myself grow into a new ‘me’. It became very clear to me that this transformation fascinated me and I want to assist birthing people into this next chapter of their lives.

After a 5-year period in the UK we settled in Raumati South on the Kāpiti Coast in 2025. I currently teach two courses (The Wise Hippo Course & The Active Birth Workshop) in the stunning Wild Wellbeing Yoga Studio on Kāpiti Road, Paraparaumu Beach. I also teach The Wise Hippo Course as a live online course and teach a range of special-circumstances Wise Hippo Courses including a refresher at the client’s residence or online. I am a strong believer in teaching for the individual and believe that hypnobirthing together with understanding of the birth process is the optimal way to prepare for ones birth and journey into parenthood.

Teaching the Wise Hippo Birthing Programme is not by chance. In preparation for my three births, I have participated in four different hypnobirthing courses/methods before finding the Wise Hippo and loving it. This course is filled with tools, is easy to follow and has great resources, is open minded and able to cater for all birthing people, pregnancies and birth choices. It can be tailored to assist in special circumstances such as VBAC’s and Caesareans. Most of all, the Wise Hippo is effective and teaches skills for birth and life beyond.

I came across the Active Birth Workshop in 2023 and trained with Janet Balaskas and her team in 2024. Janet is an amazing pioneer and activist in returning birth rights and choices to the birthing person. She coined the term Active Birth and developed The Active Birth Movement and Workshop. It is an honour to have trained with her. I love teaching this workshop because it is all fact based, yet it is easy to follow and interactive so that anyone can gain a deep understanding of the birth process. I am a strong believer that knowledge gives power. And this workshop is all about empowerment through knowledge, adoration, love and trust in our own bodies ability to birth!

Follow me on Facebook or Instagram or get in touch with me via email: MaraBirthEducation@gmail.com

Mara's Qualifications

2024 - Active Birth Teacher training with Janet Balaskas, London, UK

2024 - The Wise Hippo Birthing Programme teacher training with Tamara Cianfini, Essex, UK

2026 - Completed the Seen, Held, Heard Workshop with Carla Sargent, Healing Birth, NZ

Ongoing training:

I am currently training with Christina Bond from Matrescence New Zealand to become a Matrescence practitioner

2026 - Attended Perinatal Mental Health webinars and self-guided courses through Whāraurau

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