Spring momentum
movement memories - including the dorky teen disco moment
Kia ora!
One of the strongest childhood memories I have is of loving the sensation of movement in my body.
I was cuddling my youngest child to sleep recently and randomly thinking about how much I love the sensation of being outside and moving in nature and always have. Then I started considering (as you do when you’re waiting for a child to finally drop off to sleep) about how great it is to be a kid and moving.
A quietly funny collection of minutes unfolded in which I did a tour through some of my favourite body movement memories. Against my better judgement - I felt to share some of them here.
The one with the biggest cringe factor
I have a memory of dancing at a school social (little disco in a little town in Australia). I had never heard the motivational quote: dance like no one is watching, but it never occurred to me not to either. Bad music, ad hoc movement, such sweetness.
Little kid memories of the joy of moving
I was little and walking to the bus stop and remember thinking to myself that I should never forget the incredible, simple, joy of walking to the bus stop. Back when the footpath wasn’t cemented. Peak adventure!
Riding a Bike
The feeling of riding a bike, aside from dancing, is one of my top cellular moments of joy, from childhood until now, in my body. There’s other outdoor-ish pursuits I’ve enjoyed over the years, and still do, but the connection to riding feels so profound for me.
I think there were quite a few other pretty hysterical memories, and they were just as vivid in the moment. But in that time-out-of-time instance when I started to hear the sound of a small child’s gentle snoring, they were released back to where they belonged. For a moment there was just the rhythm of stillness.
What are your favourite graceful or cringey movement memories?
Enjoy the feel of this beautiful time of year, when all of life seems to let a gentle out-breath flow through, Kiersten x
I’ve jiggled the format of the newsletter this month and it keeps going for a bit below.
Places my attention has been lately…
Late Winter floundering in the awa | river on sunset at the very end of Winter. It’s a different way to fish for me and I can see why it’s more of a Summer/Autumn thing.
Nicole Morales’ Restorative Midwifery Series .
Aotearoa Midwife, Claire Eccleston rattling her bones at research .
Pondering some words from Carly Rae about abortion .
The awesome EBOP homebirth group which meets once a month in Whakatāne.
Political shenanigans with insurance and homebirth in Aussie
Sailing - my kids working out how quickly we can get me back to the shore if the need arises.
Breech Without Borders in Whakatāne May 6th 2025
For any local bodyworkers, movement teachers or birth nerds, although the idea of the hands-on aspect of the Breech Without Borders training might not be your cup of tea, the online training is well worth looking into.
Breech 2.0 is an amazing, detailed resource for any breech-curious person who finds their clients wanting to engage them in conversation about breech pregnancy and birth. Breech Without Borders are also offering lecture days about breech and twins birth this time (in the larger cities).
The more breech knowledge is grown in our community - the merrier.
I’m hoping to get together with local midwives who have done the Breech Without Borders training in the past or will be doing it in May (or who are already super knowledgeable) to do a monthly practice session together on an ongoing basis.
Bodywork - these are the 3 main types of sessions I’m offering at the moment
1) Spinning Babies Aware Practitioner (SpBAP) bodywork which promotes ease and comfort for late pregnancy and during birth. About - Art of the Spiral (substack.com)
2) Individual session of bodywork which includes Spinning Babies Aware Practitioner (SpBAP) bodywork releases and also blends other bodywork which I have learned from a French osteopath called Natalie Lejeune.
3) Internal Pelvic Release Work, which is gentle, focused touch inside the vagina to release the soft tissues and any scar tissue inside in preparation for birth/recovery. This can either be a partner teaching session or individual session. Internal Pelvic Release Work - by Kiersten Quinn (substack.com)
This bodywork emphasises creating space, ease, comfort and balance in the body.
Babies especially are super wise, intelligent little beings and will make their way to whatever place feels most spacious and easeful for them.
My full trust in the intelligence of bodies and the birth process dovetails with this work. My favourite way to work is teaching partner’s and support people how to offer touch which brings ease and comfort during pregnancy and the birth process.
Koha?
I offer several koha appointments per month. I usually prioritise koha appointments for:
Tangata Whenua
Breech baby presentation
Wāhine / women / people planning a birth after previously having a caesarean section (VBAC)
Takatāpui / Queer identifying folks
Whānau/families who are currently living in temporary, emergency accommodation/unwaged
If there’s someone you know that’s local to the Eastern Bay of Plenty or beyond and would appreciate a koha appointment - please send them the link to the newsletter, and they can feel free to make an appointment by emailing me (kiereq@yahoo.com) or contacting via text/phone call (02040839920).
Homebirth Midwifery
Here in Aotearoa the Find Your Midwife website is one of the ways that whānau can use to get a feel for potential midwives and their midwifery care. This is my offering on Find Your Midwife.
