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Lesha | Somatic practitioner, CST & OT

@lesha__nelson

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1039

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Perinatal + Infant Specialist
Advanced CST + Somatic Bodywork
Attachment + Birth Trauma Resolution
16 yrs experience
@perinatal.nurture.collective

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Hi! I’m Lesha. Space holder, baby whisperer, and someone who feels most at home when babies, dogs, my husband, nature, and nourishing food are nearby.

My work centers the nervous system, the body, and the early bonds that shape who we become. I support mothers and babies in finding comfort and safety in their bodies physically, emotionally, energetically, spiritually, and relationally.

For 23 years I’ve worked in healthcare ranging from pediatric Occupational therapy, inpatient neuro rehab, Speech therapy assistant and postpartum doula work, before stepping fully into private practice. Craniosacral therapy, pre and perinatal somatic trauma resolution, and attachment repair are now the heart of my work.

I’ve supported hundreds of families, and I still marvel at how secure attachment in the earliest days can ripple outward for a lifetime leading to less illness, less pain, and more ease in being human. This is where Attuned and Attached Beginnings starts.

I’m playful, politically engaged, and committed to anti-racism, immigrant justice, body liberation, and LGBTQ+ safety. I believe in transparency, uncomfortable conversations, and doing right vs. being right.

You’ll often find me cooking, giggling, tracking nervous system patterns like constellations, or podcasting over tea with someone brave enough to say the thing out loud. I might not post every day but that’s because I’m committed to showing up for my community spaces, clients, and myself first.

My passion lives in supporting birth, trauma resolution, and helping families integrate, land, and attach here on earth more gently with love and connection.

I’m so glad you’re here. by @lesha__nelson

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9 months ago

Welcome to the journey of Matrescence. This season of life can be so beautiful, but it can also feel overwhelming, exhausting, and full of unknowns. That’s where I come in—to help you feel supported, grounded, and empowered as you navigate this new chapter.

I specialize in trauma-informed care and somatic healing, with a focus on your unique needs as a mother and as a whole person. My approach blends science and intuition to help you feel more connected to your body, calm your nervous system, and build confidence in your ability to care for yourself and your baby.

Here’s what that might look like for you:

Gentle nervous system support through craniosacral therapy or somatic practices that release tension and promote relaxation.

Personalized postpartum care designed to honor your specific birth experience, whether it was joyful, difficult, or somewhere in between.

Trauma-informed guidance that helps you process emotions, regain your sense of balance, and release stress or overwhelm.

Practical tools for attachment and bonding, so you and your baby can thrive together.

Why is this important? Because motherhood can bring up so much—physically, emotionally, and even spiritually. Sometimes, birth leaves behind not just physical recovery but a deeper healing process. And with all the advice and pressure out there, it’s easy to feel disconnected from what you really need. My services provide you with a calm, safe space to reconnect with yourself and step into motherhood with clarity and ease.

When we work together, you’re not just getting “another service.” You’re receiving deeply personalized care that nurtures both your body and your inner well-being—so you can feel more like yourself and truly enjoy this special time.

I’d love to hear more about how you’re feeling and what you need right now. Let’s explore how I can help you feel supported and at peace as you embrace this journey.

Photo= @powerof.momentsmedia by @lesha__nelson

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a year ago

My heart goes out to every family who has lost a baby in their pregnancy journey. This is a life long heartbreak and no reel or story on instagram can convey the amount of emotions, processing and healing one must go through to endure this kind of loss. But we can at least stop asking inappropriate questions. by @lesha__nelson

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a day ago

So much of birth prep is separated: a class for the body, a program for the mind, someone online for the evidence, someone else for the spiritual side. And somehow you’re supposed to stitch it all together while very pregnant and very tired.

That’s what I loved about this month’s podcast conversation with Nadine Richardson of @shebirths , and about her new book, Sh Births: Your Practical Guide to a Beautiful Birth. Her book, philosphy and education doesn’t make you pick a side. Science and intuition, practical tools and spirit, the birth of the baby and the making of a mother, all in one place.

Nadine has been supporting families for more than twenty years. She built her program from what she saw at births long before the research caught up to it.

In this month’s episode we talk about her story, why she gives every tool away, why partners need the whole toolkit, matrescence, and why her number one piece of advice for pregnant women is simply to slow down.

Come read/listen if this one has you curious. And stay tuned for some exciting news about the book later this week....because we’re giving more away besides the excellent information in this podcast. by @lesha__nelson

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2 days ago

Join us for the Annual Fall Gathering up Millcreek Canyon. We will gather with potluck style breakfast (see more info below), socialize and create connection with other families.

💜Brunch Gatherings are for any mothers from preconception through postpartum who are looking to join with other mothers for some self care, connection, and nourishment.

❤️Parenthood is A LOT, with challenges and celebrations daily as you walk this right of passage. Coming together to share them, care for yourself, and meet other’s in your same place is the ritual we need fill our cups.

💜Moms, babies, toddlers, dads welcome. Basically just bring your family! Or come with just your baby, whatever works for you.

I will provide hot water and tea (please consider bringing a reusable cup), plates, napkins, and utensils. Bring something to share for the group but please know this is NOT necessary to come, only if you’d like to- keep it easy!

A small outdoor activity will be provided for toddlers.

*****A few things to note about Millcreek Canyon***** you will have to pay a $5 to get out of the canyon. You can definetly carpool with other moms. Once you are in the main canyon you will not have cell service and cannot call me if you are lost.

We will gather at one of the tables in the picnic area ACROSS THE STREET FROM DESOLATION TRAILHEAD PARKING LOT. That parking lot is for the trails Salt Lake City Overlook and Desolation trail just past Millcreek Inn. Driving up the canyon the tables are on the LEFT side and I will post balloons (last year they all popped but keep your eyes peeled). Google maps also calls this parking area “thyane canyon trailhead”.

Send me questions and message me to let me know you’re coming! If the weather is bad I’ll need to contact you to share our relocation spot.
xx Lesha by @lesha__nelson

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3 days ago

Just some Sunday afternoon thoughts. Please remember this app is made for people to sell items, programs, and offerings. Accounts thrive off your fear and worry. And unfortunately, much like the toxic health industry, there is a toxic mom-baby industry. More than likely nothing is wrong with your baby. So let’s stop trying to fix them. by @lesha__nelson

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5 days ago

There is so much about postpartum that we try to make manageable with more information, more advice, and more things for mothers to get right.

But sometimes what we actually need is somewhere to talk about what we’re experiencing, understand what’s happening in our bodies and our babies, and be with other mothers who are living through it too.

Nurture Circle begins this Monday, October 12.
I’m facilitating 12 gatherings for mothers + babies exploring the neuroscience of nurturing, nervous system health, attachment, infant development, and the very real experience of becoming a mother.

Seek Studio, Salt Lake City
9:30–11 AM | 12 sessions | $249
There’s still room to join us. Details and registration are in my bio.
I’d love to have you and your baby there. by @lesha__nelson

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8 days ago

It’s literal work to notice the beauty all around. I call it work because the brain is wired to remember the not so good. It’s called confirmation bias. And thousands of years ago it was really important and saved our life. Today it’s not needed the same way but our brains haven’t caught up.
I’m working on this daily practice myself and rewiring my brain pathways to lean towards more thoughts of beauty and things working out.
I wrote about this in my newsletter today. If you’d like to be added to my future monthly newsletter lmk and I’ll add you to the list. by @lesha__nelson

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10 days ago

Yes it’s another post about “how the hell do I show up on this platform.” Which is something I see often among many of us. Becuase let’s face it, this platform is kind of weird.

Listening to a podcast yesterday Seth Godin shared something that really pinged me. In order to have a lot of followers, niche down, and get lot of likes you aren’t actaully being authentic. You are posting for the likes and following a pre-determined way to show up. And that is just something I don’t want to do. Yes I desire a big following (but why really?) But at what cost. Definetly not at the cost to my authenticity.

My last post shared about how “social justice warior Lesha” is commited to speaking up on here about issues that need to be talked about. That’s risky. It puts my following at a potential cost. Becuase I am a baby whisper and bodyworker and my passion is to help mom and babies have attchment post birth so that is what I should talk about and only that according the rules on here. But I ask again at what cost? Becuase I would much rather talk about the things that matter and potentially have one less follower.

Seth also shared, “if it scares you to show up in a voice that you want to, post anomously for 100 days in a row and by the end of that 100 days, I bet you’ll want your name on it.” This also made me think. What if I just posted (maybe not 100 days in a row) as if no one knew me, or no one was watching? What would I share? What would I say if I felt like it really did not matter. I think I want to try that. I want to untangle my immeshment with social engagment. Becuase when I am on my death bed I am NOT going to be thinking about Instagram.

So yes I will often share on babies, postpartum and nervous systems. But I really want to be me in a way that is authentic. I don’t want to chase a number or show up the way this platform wants me to. We have enough of the with AI and mega influencers. So here is to the next 100 posts and photos! Let’s see where we go 🚀🦄 by @lesha__nelson

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11 days ago

Might delete later… just some thoughts circulating the last few days. And if you have been following me for a while you know I’m a social justice warrior as much as I can be. It’s risky business owning a business and sharing my deep social justice thoughts on here. But part of true allyship is not being afraid to speak up and I like to walk my walk. To all the sa survivors my heart is with you right now. by @lesha__nelson

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14 days ago

What happens inside of YOU when your baby is having a hard time?

Maybe your chest tightens when they start to cry. Your jaw clenches, your heart starts beating faster, you feel an urgency to figure out what they need, and when the thing you usually do doesn’t work, that urgency feels more urgent.
Maybe frustration comes up, followed immediately by guilt for feeling frustrated in the first place.

Maybe you start cycling through everything it could possibly be. Hungry? Tired? Gas? Overstimulated? Undertired? Teething? Something I ate?
Often times their distress very quickly becomes your distress.
Of course we want to respond to our babies.
Attunement asks us to notice their cues, wonder what they might be communicating, and respond to their needs.

But there is another nervous system involved in this interaction that deserves your attention too. YOURS.

Because your baby’s cry isn’t happening in a vacuum. It is landing in your body with its own history, sensitivities, exhaustion, needs, expectations, sensory systems and capacity in that particular moment.

And I think we spend a lot of time teaching mothers how to read their babies without teaching them how to notice what is happening inside themselves while they’re doing it.

What am I feeling right now?
Where do I feel it in my body?
What am I needing?
Can I stay curious about my baby while also noticing what their distress is bringing up in me?
That isn’t about becoming less responsive to our babies.

I actually think it can help us become more attuned, because we’re beginning to recognize what belongs to our baby, what is happening within us, and how both nervous systems are participating in the moment.

Sometimes your baby needs something and you can figure it out and provide it. Sometimes they need your presence while something is hard. And sometimes you realize that you need something too.

This is one of the things I love about the work we’re going to do in Nurture Circle. We aren’t only learning about babies. We’re paying attention to what happens inside of us as we nurture them.
Because there are always two nervous systems.

You know where to find details + registration. taken in Seek Studio SLC by @lesha__nelson

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18 days ago

I wrote a substack that took 8 months.
I read a quote recently that said something like “when a woman in her 40s starts a substack, no one asked her to write. She’s not chasing an audience, she’s finally finding her voice.”
This is me finding my voice, sharing deep vulnerabilities and hopefully provoking you to think about boundaries and relationships differently. Especially if you’ve experienced a relationship ending.
Thanks for reading (it’s 10 pages ☺️)

Also I don’t use that AI platform that sends you my writing if you want the article. If you’d like to read it (because silly you, you don’t already subscribe) let me know and I’ll get back to you at a human rate
❤️❤️ by @lesha__nelson

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21 days ago