Hello!
My name is Morgan Jappe (sounds like 'happy') and I am the founder of Tourmaline Doula™.
I was born and raised in Colorado and I love all things outdoors. We grew up hiking, biking, skiing, camping and exploring life at altitude. We lived in Summit County (Breckenridge and Dillon) when I was born, and then headed west to Grand Junction where I spent most of my adolescence.
I moved to Minnesota after a stint on the east and west coasts. More on that below...
I studied opera in college, graduating from the University of Denver with a Bachelor’s of Music in Classical Vocal Performance. I have a deep appreciation for the arts. From performing on stage, to working with clients - I have a true passion for creating memorable experiences.
Alongside a post-grad stint in NYC persuing my childhood dreams of being on Broadway, my early career was in marketing. I worked as a producer on projects with really fun brands like Adidas, Reebok, and HealthPartners bringing to life various campaigns and product launches. As you can imagine, these projects helped me learn how to manage some high-stress situations! Big names = big budgets and lots of pressure to make it happen. Good news is I tend to thrive when the stakes are high.
Outside of the agency world - a friend and I started a small business organizing fun run events at local breweries (Brewery Running Series®).
Our idea quickly snowballed, and here we are 12+ years later, continuing to organize 40+ events per year in Minnesota, as well as manage a growing national business with events across the country. It's a ton of fun and very family-friendly! Open invite to anyone who’s looking for a casual excuse to be active and support local nonprofits.
I am happiest when making meals with friends, spending time in the garden, and exploring new destinations. I live for all 4 seasons and make time daily for walks with my dog, Rudi. I strive for balance in everything I do - though sometimes that's easier said than done. After a decade here in the land of 10,000 lakes - it's hard to beat a sunny day doing anything on, or around the water.
I aim to be a champion for families and a trusted, collaborative partner throughout the birthing experience.
My interest and passion for birthwork came when my sister gave birth to my eldest nephew with the support of a doula.
“Doula” was a brand new word to me at the time (2016), but after seeing how this person helped my sister through her first (and then second) birth - I knew it was something I wanted to do.
I got to see how a trusted advocate can help give confidence and support to the mother / birthing person and family - adding value to the experience and increasing the odds for postive birth outcomes (shorter labor, fewer interventions, and more). And this wasn't just my sister's experience - the results here are proven!
Doula support equals better birth outcomes (NIH) and I believe everyone should have access to this care.
Thanks for reading! Learn more about me on Instagram. I'll work to share valuable information for those preparing for any stage of pregnancy, birth and postpartum. I'll offer tips and techniques as well as research and facts backed by qualified sources. I'll also be sure to share some personal stories along the way!
Why Tourmaline?
In 2010 - my sister proposed a summer stint on the beach in sunny San Diego with one goal: learn how to surf. We lucked out and found a cozy studio within 50 feet from the Pacific, and two surfboards to call our own.
At our first surf lesson, we practiced on the sand - paddling, duck dives, turtle rolls and multiple rounds of pop ups (aka super fast burpees to get from laying on your board, to standing and surfing). Headed out for our first attempt on the water, I asked the instructor: “How will we know when to go?” He replied: “You’ll feel it.”
Learning to surf became a much deeper lesson in personal power, body attunement and connecting to nature.
Those crests hit different when you’re staring up from the bottom, and anything you can do to help get past shorebreak and out to ‘the lineup’ makes all the difference.
After trying and testing various locations up and down the coast - it was Tourmaline Beach that quickly became our favorite spot. The long shoreline and consistent wave sets gave us novice surfers the confidence we needed to achieve our goal.
Over a decade later, entering the world of birthwork as a doula in the midwest, my memories of learning to surf with my sister became that much more significant.
Tourmaline represents a powerful connection to life’s experience, waves that ebb and flow while you listen and trust your body, and a supportive community ready to ride along with you.
Tourmlaine rocks. And if you’re into that kind of thing - properties of this popular mineral are associated with the root chakra, offering protection, grounding, clearing negative energy and staying connected to the present moment.
