Spiral Birth & Bodywork

I’m delighted you’re here! I’m Twyla Malchow-Hay (she/they), a fluid and queer interdisciplinary artist, bodyworker, and birthworker.

I’ve been a student and lover of dance and movement for the past 25 years, gifting me a deep fascination and reverence for the power of the body. Over the years, I’ve navigated multiple injuries; some taking years to heal, some requiring surgery, some forcing me to take significant time off from what I love. While in college, I was struggling with multiple compounding injuries and being told I may never dance without pain. I was both heartbroken and determined to find a way. I crossed paths with a bodyworker named Holly Johnston who ultimately guided me into being an active participant in my own healing. Through a long process of injury recovery, sensation mapping, and resiliency building, my perspective and my body completely shifted. I began the journey terrified of any heightened sensation, tight and tense, and in constant pain. Over time, I began to feel more at ease and open, in less pain, curious and moved by the clarity of my body’s messaging. I didn’t have to sacrifice dancing and moving, but learned I could be in a responsive dialogue with my body. I became completely captivated by the mysterious, miraculous, and spiralic forms the healing journey can take. It was this process and the tools I learned along the way that ignited my desire to share them with others. I formally started training with Holly Johnston, under her practice Responsive Body from 2019-2022.

Alongside bodywork, I’ve worked with kids as a childcare provider over the past 15 years. Being around children fills my life with a sense of awe, invites me to move slower, and to take time to play. My joy of being around children lead me to be witness to numerous people in my life becoming parents. I often found myself in the position of intimately supporting loved ones and their households in the early days of their parenthood. Being close to the quiet magic of new life, a new love blossomed in me. I wanted to be closer to the mystery and power of birth. From 2022-2024, I took my time training to became a birth and postpartum doula with Cornerstone Doula Trainings. Additionally, I studied pregnancy prevention and release skills from Qiddist Ashé of The Holy Well to support my clients with a greater breadth of information to inform their choices.

In 2024, I decided to round out and deepen my bodywork training by attending the San Francisco School of Massage & Bodywork to become a Certified Massage Therapist. This winter, I will be pursuing additional training for prenatal and postpartum massage. Outside of working with bodies and families, I’m usually found hiking with my sweet dog named Honey, spending time by the ocean, dancing, learning Irish, reading, or adventuring with loved ones.

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