Come Join us for a 10 day immersion to focus on integration and embodiment supporting both the practical and sacred aspects of Birth work.
WHO BETTER TO TRAIN WITH THEN SUMI?! If you don't know you better ask somebody:
"I have come to 3 different immersions and taken Sumi's online training twice. Why? Because it is so rich with wisdom and information. The immersions have literally changed the entire way that I approach birth work, but also how I mother, how I love myself, and how I see liberation and healing for our people. Sumi is a wise and skillful teacher and I am forever grateful that I have been gifted the opportunity to sit at this young elders feet" -- Mama D
We are the first training for PEOPLE OF COLOR ONLY in traditional birth work! š„³š„³š„³ We have trained thousands of students since 2015.
Come see what all the fuss is ALL about! Answer what is calling you, and has been for a while maybe! It's really up to you! We will be going to Accra which is the capital city of Ghana. Then we will head up the coast to Cape Coast and stay in a small fishing village on a beautiful beach front property. Come experience this RICH indigenous culture and breath taking landscapes! If there was a Disney World for birth workers, THIS TRAINING WOULD BE IT! We will be staying in the most luxurious and breath taking accommodations. You will not only be learning about sacred birth work practices but also waking up to the sound of the waves, enjoying traditional foods, swimming in the warm Atlantic ocean, going to traditional ceremonies led by indigenous elders, and over all being transformed in real time!
If you missed any of our world renowned immersions in the past you NOW have a chance to redeem yourself! Exchange the hustle and bustle of your day to day life for deep community connection, gorgeous beaches and the perfect tropical weather for 10 full days! Each cohort walks in as strangers and walks away as family!
Join our advanced skills immersion today in Ghana!!!
Your registration includes all of your meals, beautiful luxury accommodations, travel agent support, child care, ground transportation to and from the airport, materials and supplies, and all entry fees in one upfront price. You will only have to buy your plane ticket and any other transportation needs like a passport and visa.
Bring your entire family for a true immersive experience! We will have a children's camp and men's retreat running alongside us. My beloved partner will be leading the men and we have some of the most loving and warm care takers loving up on our children. We will have family activities but the men will have their own outings and excursions. The youth will be on site with us the entire time being cared for by care takers.
It's time for you to choose YOU and to do so amongst a beautiful landscape with beautiful people!
p.s. For those who do not wish to be vaccinated please inquire with us on your options. We also can support in expediting your visa without having to submit your physical passport to the embassy. For all inquiries email us at hello@sumistouch.com
Can't join us in 2026? secure your seat to make sure you don't miss us in 2027 here!
Our 10 day immersion is an advanced skills training that focuses on integration and embodiment for new and seasoned birth workers alike. We will cover many topics and skills regarding supporting both the practical and sacred aspects of birth work.
It took me almost a decade to birth this ātrainingā into existence. I say ātrainingā because truly it is so much more than that. This is a ceremony, an initiation into authentic traditional sovereign birth work. This is an advanced skills training that focuses on the most sacred aspects of this work. You will learn through your body not your brain. While you will have plenty of opportunity to take notes, this is about embodying the medicine and the skills. I will use my body to teach you all and you each will do the same. Everything we learn will be practiced on one another so come prepared to give and receive.
This immersion is intended for birth workers who are seeking to:
Deepen their understanding of holistic practices regarding holding space, body work, energy work, herbs, and nutrition
Practice the hands on tactile skills like massage and comfort measures with an expert
Build community and kinship in an intentionally intimate setting
Step into the birth worker that they know they are meant to be
Gain confidence in engaging with clients, conducting appointments, attending to clients, and uplifting their work in their community
Over the course of the 10 days you will walk in curious and walk away transformed! This is an initiation into the birth worker that you have dreamed of becoming. This is a sacred remembrance that will support you in activating what is lying dormant in your DNA ready to emerge!
We will cover 4 pillars:
The Art of Holding Space
Tactile Support
Ceremony
Herbs and Nutrition
Each day, we will focus on each pillar and move through how they relate to our own self care/community care, pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. This isn't a lecture based teaching experience. Instead, I will be incorporating story telling, role playing, demonstrations, and our bodies throughout our time together. I am extremely intentional about how I deliver this curriculum. This isn't a carbon copy, cut and paste outline. That's not how I learned to be a birth worker, therefore it's not how I teach. This is a peak behind the curtain of traditional midwifery and a bridge for those who wish to matriculate into midwifery.
If you have been feeling lost, lonely, burnt out, overwhelmed, or under appreciated, this is for YOU.
If you have built your practice but it's not sustainable, this is for YOU.
If you cant figure out your footing in the birth worker world and feel like you're shooting in the dark, this is for YOU!
If you can no longer remember your why....Then this is for YOU!
I look forward to holding space for the birth worker that I already know you are meant to be!
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out to us at hello@sumistouch.com .
Our learning environment is unlike anything youāve experienced in a typical training.
This immersion is slow, intentional, and deeply embodied.
We prioritize integration over information,
embodiment over memorization,
and wisdom over worksheets.
You wonāt be sitting in rows taking notes like a lecture.
You will be in a circle, in your body, in relationship with one another.
You will learn through practice, touch, presence, ceremony, and connecting the dots of our collective lived experiences.
There is spacious time throughout each day to digest what youāre learning, breathe, rest, and integrate the teachings so they settle into your bones.
The immersion is centered in having opportunities for hands-on practice, to both give and receive tactile support, guidance, and feedback. You will be practiced on. You will practice on others. And you will feel the work in your body, not just in your mind.
There will be dedicated space for questions, reflections, and personal check-ins with Sumi and other cohort participants so that you feel supported, grounded, and clear every step of the way.
This is how real traditional birth work is passed on not through memorizing, but through becoming.
Your flight, visa, vaccines/exemption forms, having your own emergency fund money, navigating currency exchange and cash, toiletries, transportation before and after designated pick up and drop off locations on 12/11 and 12/21.
You are responsible for your own actions and energy during our time together. We'll be in a group setting and it is your responsibility for you to take care of your own needs so you can be present and show up as your most authentic self. Please keep in mind that we will be covering topics that may be activating and stimulating and unlike within our online training we will be witnessed by strangers at that. This may bring up moments of feeling extremely vulnerable so please be mindful of your tools, your capacity and your resources. You are also responsible to respectfully communicate any needs that come up before or during the retreat. Please note that we are curating an experience for the collective, this means that we will be working together to ensure that everyone feels safe, heard and seen. It is our highest intention that we also move with integrity, compassion and understanding.
December is the busiest month of the year in Ghana so we move with a tighter weave. Please read the community agreements closely when you secure your spot and are invited to complete a few forms upon registering.
We as birth workers prepare for a multitude of possibilities in holding the container of birth, so please consider the following as you commit to this act of healing and expansion for yourself:
Passport: is it up to date and clear of expiration for minimum of 6 months BEFORE departure for you and loved ones traveling with you?
Visa, air travel & proof of vaccination: we have a travel agent for ease of consultation, but if you decide to book these on your own, please be mindful of what is required. You will be responsible to pay for your flight or travels round trip. You will also need to pay for your visa. We can support with getting you a visa upon arrival where you will not need to submit your passport physically nor provide additional paperwork. The yellow fever vaccine is required for entry into Ghana. However, if you wish to decline we can provide you with an exemption form. You are responsible to complete the form and have it notarized before your departure.
Once you pay your deposit we can make you a customized payment plan. For those who are fundraising and calling in community support, We encourage you to make a simple flier on canva, including ways folks can send you money and share your ask on social media and personal networks. If you choose a GoFundMe, Kickstarter, or some other platform, please calculate the fees associated with it and build that into your grand total ask.
This immersion is a family-centered experience rooted in the understanding that our children and our partners are an integral part of our work.
One of the distinctions of traditional birth work is that it is rooted in community and family. That doesn't mean only those who we serve, but our own. This is why I can't even fathom not having my own family present and inviting yours to come as well.
I am teaching you all while I am gestating my children, nursing my children, caring for my children. Taking pauses to settle them or tend to a "boo-boo". Ensuring we have enough time in the mornings so we can get them all settled for the day. Having extra time mid day to put them down for nap time. Ending the day at a reasonable hour so that we can do bed time routine with them.
Children are not simply allowed here; they are welcomed, honored, and intentionally included.. We will be practicing allo-parenting. This is a communal approach where the caretaking of children is shared amongst the adults. So not only will I ensure my children are fed but yours, too.
I have curated a loving, nature-centered children's curriculum where little ones can explore, learn, and be guided by skilled caretakers who understand the importance of co-regulation, gentleness, and play.
Each day, your child will engage with:
š± Nature-based activities
š Ghanaian culture, language, and history
šØ Creative and sensory play
š¤ Warm, grounded care that feels like family
The children will remain onsite with us so we can be close, connected, and at ease unless you choose to join any adult-only activities. There are two adult centered activities during our time together:
The last bath and slave dungeons (You can choose to have your children accompany you at your discretion)
Going out danciiinngggg (This will be for adults only and we will provide care takers for the evening while we are out)
This is a space where you can drop into your own transformation, knowing your child is held, and truly living their best life!!
And for the partnersā¦
Well, my beloved will be leading a Sacred Menās Retreat for them. He is an experienced facilitator and integration coach that focuses his work on mens healing and mental health. In addition to joining us, they will have some off-site experiences designed specifically for men to connect, explore, and expand. The men will travel on excursions throughout Ghana, discovering the land from their own vantage point, honoring the masculine journey of returning home to self, purpose, and ancestral land.
Our partners need to be in proximity and integrated into our work. Often, they too have work to do that is complimentary and adjacent to the space we hold. The immersion is intended to pour deeply into not just you but your entire family.
Your children and your partner will walk away changed, too. We aren't only called to this work but our families are, too! The medicine of traditional birth work is for the entire family, the whole community.
If your partner would like to learn more about the men's retreat please feel free to reach out to my partner, Guled, via gmuse3412@gmail.com
When you invest in yourself, you are investing in your healing and transformation.
Your investment sustains the Sumiās Touch Team (mothers of color, healers and creatives) and facilitates our ability to equitably and fairly contract local contractors and resources to accommodate us all. Please review our payment policy below to ensure you understand. Please note by submitting your deposit you have agreed to this policy to its full extent whether you have taken the time to read or not.
Deposits and Payments
All deposits paid to Sumi's Touch are non-refundable and non-transferable. Additional payments made to Sumi's Touch are also non-transferable.Once you pay your deposit we immediately begin to hold space for you and accommodate you. Your monetary commitment is a seed that is planted to support in us bringing forth the most beautiful experience for us all. When you cancel we are at a loss and inconvenience that is often unrepairable. Transferring funds from one student to another within the same cohort may be permitted under particular circumstances at the exclusive and full discretion of Sumi's Touch.
Refunds and Cancellations
All cancellation requests must be submitted in writing via email to qualify as officially received. You can email all request to hello@sumistouch.com
Immersion Trips:
Cancellation requests made 180 days or more before the trip are eligible for a transfer to a future cohort within 1 calendar year, minus a $250 cancellation fee per person and the deposit.
Cancellation requests made less than 180 days before the trip are not eligible for a transfer to a future cohort.
Late payments on scheduled immersion trip installments are subject to a $50 late fee on the outstanding balance. Please review and adhere to all due dates for your selected accommodations to avoid additional charges.
Missed Payments
Failure to make two consecutive scheduled payments may result in the cancellation of your reservation. All previous deposits and payments will be forfeited.
If for some reason you are not able to attend the Part 2 Immersion you have selected due to unforeseen circumstances or you are more than 7 days late on a payment, your reservation will be given the next person on the waitlist. You may be subject to a missed payment penalty to cover losses and inconveniences at the discretion of Sumi's Touch.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is mandatory for each participant, especially for international trips, to cover unforeseen circumstances such as inability to travel, illness, injury, or other emergencies. If you are bringing children then pease provide an emergency contact in the even that the parent/ guardian is not able to care for the child to their full ability.
Policy Changes
Sumi's Touch reserves the right to amend or change these policies at any time.
We as birth workers prepare for a multitude of possibilities in holding the container of birth, so please consider the following as you commit to this act of healing and expansion for yourself:
Passport: is it up to date and clear of expiration for 2025 for you and loved ones traveling with you?
Visa, air travel & proof of vaccination: we have a travel agent for ease of consultation, but if you decide to book these on your own, please be mindful of what is required.
Once you pay your deposit (50% of the total) we can adjust the payment plan to suit you. We encourage you to make a simple flier on Canva, including ways folks can send you money and share your ask on social media and personal networks. If you choose a GoFundMe, Kickstarter, or some other platform, please calculate the fees associated with it and build that into your grand total ask.
We will stay in a beautiful and spacious home in Accra for the first half of our time together and then travel to Cape Coast (a few hours up north on the coast) and stay in a quaint fishing village.
We will provide breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. We will also have snacks and other traditional beverages like sobolo ( an ancestral hibiscus based tea). If you have food needs please let us know!
You will receive a detailed packing list of what you'll need for yourself and what you'll need to best participate in the activities and workshop elements.
Round trip transportation to and from the airport on 12/10 and 12/20 within designated time frame will be provided.
We have a private travel agent that will assist you with booking your flight, securing travel insurance, and supporting you with any other additional travel needs like ranging early and extended stays
Before we gather, we will connect virtually. In addition to ensuring you have the support you need Sumi will lead 3 sessions exclusive to the cohort. We will make medicine together & review skills.
After such a powerful experience we have to have safe to integrate. Sumi will lead a powerful session to help you digest our time together.
As for many people this will be their first time in Ghana. The Sumi's Touch team is available to assist participants in accessing what they need Ex: best areas to stay, seamstress, hair braiders etc.
We highly recommend using our travel agent to assure you have the best rate and that your flight syncs up with others in the cohort.
We wil visit the local market where you can purchase things like drums, clothes, shea butter, etc. I suggest budgeting based upon how much you want to purchase. Maybe a $200 on average.
I recommend to use the atm to retrieve local currency. If you bring a foreign currency like use you wil have to use an exchange service. This is typically more expensive.
If you are a US passport holder you will need a visa. Some countries do not require a visa to enter Ghana. Our travel agent can let you know what you need. We ca assist in expediting your visa.
The yellow fever vaccine is required for entry into Ghana. If you want to decline we can support you with an exemption form.
While we will provide snacks each day, please keep in mind that we will not cover things like chips, etc. If you want additional snacks, alcohol, dessert, etc then you will have to cover these cost.
:: pick up from the airport or meeting spot for early arrivals
:: travel to retreat location
:: dinner
:: rest and unwind
:: Review itinerary for the week
:: welcoming ceremony/ introductions
:: altar building
:: The shadow of birth work/ Grief
:: itinerary overview
:: listening to our inner beings and intuition
:: boundaries and self-preservation
:: shame, vulnerability, and trust
:: grounding, smudging, cloaking
Local market to shop and explore!
Community dinner at Suya Republik restaurant
(We will have 3 meals a day which will include a break time for lunch. Dinner will be served by 7pm each evening. Our days will be about 9-6 pm. Some days will run later due to activities or the nature of the learning subject)
::Preconception and fertility support
::Early loss support
:: prenatal inquiries, consultations, and prenatal appointments
:: consent and trauma informed care
:: Fetal positioning/ belly mapping
:: Palpation
:: prenatal risk assessment and preventative screenings (traditional method)
:: herbal infused massage oil demo
:: prenatal massage
:: Honoring pregnancy
For those who want to we will be going out to enjoy the legendary night life in Accra!! Child care is provided.
(We will have 3 meals a day which will include a break time for lunch. Dinner will be served by 7pm each evening. Our days will be about 9-6 pm. Some days will run later due to activities or the nature of the learning subject)
:: Comfort measures
:: Herbs and kitchen apothecary for labor
:: Non-cervix centered care and space holding
:: Birth as a ceremony
:: Reading the energetics of labor
::Self sustainability practices
::Tactile support in labor
::The sacred stages of labor
::Early rising and breakfast
::travel to Cape Coast (small fishing village ocean front home)
:: rest and integration (Lunch)
:: Birth story debrief, story weaving/ integration
:: prepared postpartum
:: feeding fundamentals
:: the postpartum container
::Bonfire and bonding
::Dinner
(This location is very special to us, situated in a small fishing village. he owners are locals and converted their family home into a beautiful hotel. We will have the space to ourselves which includes full staff and a private beach. We will have 3 meals served to us daily with some snacks in between meals.)
:: feeding fundamentals
:: postpartum herbs and remedies
:: postpartum massage
::traditional postpartum space holding and care
::Belly binding and body aligning practices to optimize healing
::Calling in community
:: warming practices (postpartum)
:: abdominal wrapping
:: pelvic steam
:: postpartum bath
:: postpartum closing, healing and sealing
We will rise early in the morning to travel to "the last bath", which is where our ancestors were permitted to clean themselves for the last time before being brought to the slave dungeons in cape coast and Elmina.
We will then have lunch and go to the Cape Coast slave dungeon. We will have a phenomenal guide who will hold space for us as many experience the slave dungeons for the first time.
After we will travel back to our accommodations to have an integration session and ancestor ceremony.
Bonfire and dinner
::Travel back to Accra
:: After lunch we will do our first round of closing ceremonies.
After breakfast we will break up into groups each student gives and receives a closing ceremony. Typically a student will give 2-3 closings and receive one.
We will have one group go before lunch and then the other after lunch. We will learn how to work in collaboration. All of the material we learned up until this point will be integrated into the same holding that each student receives like massage, warming practices, pelvic steaming, abdominal massage, body aligning techniques, grounding practices, herbs, etc.
:: Early breakfast
::farewells
::Drop off to airport
::Drop off to designated location for those with extended stays
