Kavisa Cyprian Wood, LEC
My name is Kavisa. I'm a Lactation Education Counselor, Prenatal & Vinyasa Yoga teacher, and business owner of Nourishing Justly. I have 446 clinical training hours and 165 lecture hours from my externship at UC Davis Medical Hospital and UC San Diego's IBCLC Pathway 2 and counselor programs. I also serve as Secretary for the Sacramento Breastfeeding Coalition. I received my Prenatal Yoga Teacher certification from Jane Austin's Mama Tree Yoga School and Yoga Teacher Training from Laughing Lotus in NYC.
I'm a math and data nerd hence my bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from Northwestern University and previous career in Data Management Consulting. I'm a native New Yorker now living in Sacramento, CA. My favorite things are reading, running, yoga, boxing, coffee and Children's books. My work is centered around justice, health equity and nourishing community well-being.
I met my husband in Tanzania while we were both teaching high school Physics and Math as Peace Corps Volunteers. Hence both my husband and I speak Swahili. Our family was created via a blend of foster care adoption and biological birth. We have 2 daughters and 2 sons.
Lactation
Lactation Clinical Intern
UC Davis Medical Hospital, 2022
Lactation Consultant: Pathway 2 Program
446 clinical hours + 120 lecture hours
UC San Diego, 2022
Lactation Education Counselor
45 lecture hours
UC San Diego, 2020
IBCLC exam candidate March 2023
Breastfeeding her oldest son for over 2 years and then her younger son was a source of bonding, joy, nourishment and pride for Kavisa. There were some harder moments when she experienced milk blebs and plugged ducts, however she was able to ameliorate the situation and continue.
The more Kavisa learned about the health benefits for both the lactating parent and the child, the more she wanted to share with others. Kavisa became a lactivist - breastfeeding in public if her son was hungry, reading legislations, signing petitions for better breastfeeding support and work policies and talking about lactation whenever she got the chance. As Kavisa heard numerous stories from parents who received limited support and education from other healthcare professionals, read the low rates of breastfeeding in the United States and racism demonstrated in healthcare, she was inspired to help others on their lactation journey.
Kavisa received her Lactation Education Counselor education from UC San Diego in 2020. Then she graduated from UC San Diego's IBCLC Pathway 2 program in August 2022 with 446 clinical hours and 120 lecture hours.
Yoga
85-hour Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training
Mama Tree Yoga School, 2021
13-hour iRest Meditation Immersion
iRest Institute, 2019
200-hour Yoga Teacher Training
Laughing Lotus Yoga, 2014
Kavisa started practicing yoga in 2003 during university to complement her marathon training. She enjoyed awakening muscle groups and joints that otherwise would be neglected or stressed by miles of running.
Yoga took on a new level of meaning while Kavisa was serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Tanzania. She began to explore the philosophy of yoga. The movement of poses cleared her mind and fed her spirit. The practice helped her manage stress and unpack past traumas. She became more at home within her own body and mind – embracing new dimensions of herself where she could live life more fully.
Inspired to share how yoga can nourish physical and mental health Kavisa decided to become a certified yoga teacher. She received her 200-hour certification from Laughing Lotus in New York City in May 2014, training with Essence Wall (@sherocksyoga), Dana Trixie Flynn, Mary Dana Abbott and Emily Stone. In 2021 received her 85-hour Prenatal Yoga Teacher certification, training at Mama Tree Yoga School with Jane Austin.