Monica von Känel
I was born and raised in Switzerland and came to the United States in the mid-nineties, to do volunteer work at Gurumayi Chidvilasananda’s Meditation Ashram Upstate New York. I moved to Southampton, where I raised my three children. Once they were independent my passion turned to teaching Yoga and building a career as a Birth Doula. I found much satisfaction and gratification in this work, and I’ve been told that my presence during one of the most challenging life experiences has brought peace, joy and comfort to the families I’ve worked for. After a decade and a half of Birth work, as I approach my 60th birthday, my focus once again expands. I’ve been interested in the End of Life for years, and in many ways everything I’ve done in my life up until this point was in preparation for this work.
End of life training
I did my first End of Life Doula Training with Lisa Wolfson in the Spring of 2018. Four years later I completed the INELDA training (International End of Life Doula Association). In the fall of 2023, I did the Hospice Volunteer worker training and in the Spring of 2024 the Hospice Bereavement training. I’ve been doing volunteer work with Hospice since then, both in the home setting as well as at the Kanas Center in Westhampton. In the Spring of 2024, I became a Dream Walker® (a person who accompanies a departed one into the other realms) through Crimson Circle. For more information about Dream Walker Death click here.
Embolden your death transition,
add a touch of grace.
A steady, calm, & reassuring presence
When working with people who are going through major life transitions such as birth and death, one must have a steady, calm and reassuring presence. I’ve been cultivating that since the age of fourteen, when I took up hatha yoga (postural yoga) in my hometown in Switzerland. I was equally fascinated with meditation, and yoga philosophy who became pillars of strength and steadfastness that would serve me throughout my life. My extensive studies in the field of Archetypal Psychology in the school of Carolyn Myss, and with my mentor and guide M. Deborah Becker add richness, refinement and wisdom. As I followed my interests and my passion, I discovered that all the branches of my work, study and pursuit connect and are building the platform from which I get to serve today.
The skills acquired; a strong and luminous center, knowledge and understanding of the mind and what lies beyond, the nature of consciousness and energy, serve me well as I support people who are crossing the threshold from one reality into another.
I currently live in Southampton where I find fulfillment and purpose as a Yoga teacher, Birth and End-of-Life Doula, and hope to contribute to a peaceful and empowered, intelligent, enlivened and conscious community.