Holistic Therapy & Birth Services with Shelly Varelli
Midwife/Massage Therapist/Educator. Empowering soul-filled people through their childbearing years. Hey all! I was devasted and deeply impacted.
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Allow me to take a minute to offer an introduction for those I have yet to meet in person...
My name is Shelly Varelli. I am a Certified Professional Midwife, Licensed Massage Therapist, Placenta Encapsulator, Childbirth Educator, and Registered Sonographer. My services are available to people in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. "Within my practice, I provide inclusive pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care that is compassionate, respectful, and culturally appropriate for all clients, parents, babies, and families. I have a personal and professional passion to help people feel empowered, knowledgeable, and confident." My business focuses on coaching and supporting people in and through their childbearing years. I offer holistic approaches to pregnancy, labor, birth, postpartum, and parenting. I have been working in this realm since the year 2000 when I was first introduced to Reiki Healing. I have since become a Reiki Master, and also incorporate Crystalline Consciousness techniques into my healing work. I graduated from The Ann Arbor Institute of Massage in 2001. My studies have been heavily influenced by some of THE BEST practitioners, my work is intuitively guided so that all sessions are unique.
Holistic health is a theme that runs deep within all aspects and intersections of my life... I started on this journey after the loss of my first baby at 21 weeks of pregnancy. I also received the gift of spirit and love in ways I had not been open to before -a window was opened and soon many, many doors. I dove deep into energy work and alternative health practices to support my personal health and well-being. Now, I lovingly share all that I have learned will people that I interact with, be it family, friends, neighbors, and clients. If there is something I know --I will share it without hesitation. If there is something that I don't know ---I will research evidence-based practices to inform my beliefs and knowledge with hyperfocus until I am satisfied! I extend this commitment to you. I teach Childbirth education classes where I keep it real. . We talk about the holistic and clinical stages of labor, comfort measures, birth preferences, birth trends, informed decision making, postpartum health, lactation, newborn care, and preparing for the unexpected. Sessions are offered once a month .
~When not at work, you will find Shelly studying hanging out with family and friends in the Old West End (Toledo, Ohio). To learn more or access services visit www.shellyvarelli.com
01/24/2026
Why consider IUI (Intrauterine Insemination)?
1. Less invasive than IVF — no egg retrieval or heavy hormones
2. More affordable — typically $300–$400 per cycle
3. Supports many fertility needs (male factor, unexplained infertility, donor s***m)
4. Higher success when paired with fertility meds
5. Quick + simple — done in under an hour with minimal recovery
6. Works with your natural cycle for a more gentle approach
7. Fewer risks and side effects than IVF
8. Inclusive option for single parents & same-s*x couples
IUI may be a great first step for those wanting a less invasive, more accessible fertility option before moving to IVF.
📩 Contact to schedule a consultation.
01/14/2026
Independent Childbirth Education options for those struggling to find in-person classes that match availability.
✨Pre-recorded, Live Classes with real interactions are gonna scratch the itch and give you loads of information! Unlimited listens for only $40!
💫BONUS: Downloadable pdf includes links to tons of resources and handouts with your purchase.
✨Purchase the recording with access to an updated slide deck for additional $15.
Pre-Recorded, Live Class -1hr 23 min of content. Download for Unlimited Access. Do not copy, share, or redistribute -for your personal reference only- prerecorded with explicit permission to share with those in the CBE series.Disclaimer: Permissions granted from participants in this recorded class a...
01/14/2026
Check out the site for an incredible list of downloadable toolkits, an Amazon shopping list and other resources/recommendations to help you during pregnancy, birth and postpartum!
Visit shellyvarelli.com to check them out ✨
01/11/2026
Yoga for everyone!
Hope you are having a great start to the new year! Did you know that you can always begin again? A new year, a new day, a new breath. One moment at a time, we build our lives. Reach out with any questions!
01/11/2026
Had such a lovely visit this morning with this family at my office. I can’t even tell you the immense pleasure it brings —to have an opportunity to reflect, engage, and support people you’ve met such a long time ago. 💕💕💕
01/07/2026
Unable to make it to our live class coming up Saturday, January 10? You can purchase a pre-recorded live version of this class (unlimited listens) for only $40!
💫BONUS: Downloadable pdf includes links to tons of resources and handouts with your purchase.
✨Purchase the recording with access to “as-is” slide deck for additional $15.
✨Birth Educators: Purchase class recording, resources, handouts and access to “customizable” slide deck for $147.
New project… Amniotic Membrane Keepsake! Can’t wait to see how this turns out, and continue to explore variations for each individual customer 💕💕💕
01/06/2026
Sacred Release -is more than just a massage. Book your session today to experience intuitive massage and energy work -a blend that will create safety and support for your mind, body, and soul.
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Contact The Practice
Send a message to Holistic Therapy & Birth Services with Shelly Varelli:
People within the LGBTQIA spectrum find it difficult to find pregnancy and birth care that is inclusive and accepting. Many LGBTQIA people have experienced stigma and discrimination throughout their lives within the healthcare system and specifically around the ideologies of childbirth and parenting.
It is important for healthcare and birth providers to understand the various pathways to parenthood for all people, to honor the lived experience and needs of this community, and be more inclusive in their practice. Unfortunately, to date, most healthcare providers have only been taught to recognize the heteronormative mainstream definitions of s*x and gender and the direction that leads in regard to birth and parenting. There is a lack of cultural competency which fails to include LGBTQIA people with respect and dignity in the birth world. Identifiable obstacles are lack of access to unbiased, fair and equitable care, inadequate insurance/healthcare coverage, anti-LGBTQIA violence, and systemic discrimination to name a few.
The National Transgender Discrimination Survey of 2011 reports, “ In the US, 1 in 3 trans people is a parent”. A 2013 Pew Research national survey found that "51% of LGBT adults would like to have children in the future." As more and more LGBTQIA individuals and couples seek to have children, many will turn to their health care providers for resources and guidance on what to do. Are we getting any better as providers? I want to think so... There are many, many resources available for those willing to educate themselves.
What can I do within my own community? I am becoming a midwife. The Midwives Model of Care™ holds the position that midwives care for people of all genders who are pregnant and will give birth. I feel it is important to start conversations with other midwives and birth workers about what it means to support transgender, gender q***r and inters*x people. As a birth worker, I will continue to educate myself and others to better understand the difference between s*x and gender, communicate my knowledge and understanding of the needs, identities, and barriers to care that many LGBTQIA people experience so that this community receives the most equitable care possible. It is our duty to openly acknowledge the disproportionate effects of racial disparities and trans phobia on those with other marginalized identities (people of color, low-income, or disabled), and to politely address if or when oversights or mistakes are made by people who lack an understanding of how to interact with LGBTQIA people.. This can also look like bringing awareness to the visual representation of information and images presently displayed in public spaces and recommending a change that would affirm and communicate acceptance and equality.
Within my practice, we provide LGBTQIA inclusive pregnancy and birth care that is compassionate, respectful, culturally appropriate all clients, parents, babies, and families. We aim to educate ourselves by asking questions about our client’s individual needs, explain the intention is to provide safe, responsive, affirming care. Ask “what pronouns do you use?” and make note of their responses. We use language that is inclusive of all experiences and identities. For example, using the terms “expectant”, laboring”, “birthing”, or “gestational parent” to describe and name the person who is pregnant and giving birth. Use the inclusive term “partner” or “birth partner” to describe the person supporting the birthing parent through pregnancy and birth. Use neutral terms such as “lactation” or “baby feeding” rather than breastfeeding for those who don’t identify with the term breastfeeding. Always ask permission before touching their body, honoring body autonomy. Recognize and honor that many LGBTQIA people may have traumatic experiences of harassment, body shaming, and history of assault.
Offering several types of holistic therapies to help you find and maintain balance in your emotional, spiritual and physical body. View the website to learn more: https://www.kneadingtimeholistictherapy.com/
