Meet Jess Arana | Certified Placenta Arts Specialist (APPAC)

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jess Arana and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jess, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I was a stay-at-home Mom and my children were now of school age. I had been looking for something I could do with a super flexible schedule since I still needed to be available for school pick-ups, sick days, etc. It was very important to me to start a business with a purpose. I wanted to make sure, somehow, some way I was spreading love in this universe. Fast forward a few weeks, and a friend of mine calls to ask me who encapsulated my placenta. I contacted the local lady that had done it for me and to my surprise she was no longer in business. That was the flashing light bulb above my head moment. I did some research and found an amazing online school, APPA (Association of Placenta Preparation Arts). It took some hesitation on my part and one year to get my certification and once I was certified I dove right in.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I think what sets me apart from other placenta encapsulation specialists is that I consider placenta encapsulation to be sacred. Not only do I answer any questions or concerns potential clients may have; I also invite them to contact other specialists to make sure they feel comfortable with me and my services. I meditate and sage my workspace before I take the placenta out to start the process. I also offer acrylic keepsake hearts made with placenta powder. I use one capsule from the placenta to create a custom acrylic heart so Mom can keep it to celebrate the baby, the placenta and herself. Each time I process a placenta I make sure there is full love, healing and positive energy for Mom which in turn goes to the baby. I have the luxury of limiting how many placentas I encapsulate a month. I take my time and treat each placenta as I would want mine treated. I’ve been encapsulating for 3 years now and I don’t think I’m going to stop any time soon. It’s my little way of spreading love. I want the world to know that it is possible to find your calling. It’s never too late, and once you find it, put all your heart into it. The universe will feel it and you will flourish in many ways.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Definitely start off the morning with a delicious breakfast at Le Pain Quotidien in Claremont, California. Head over to Rhino Records in Montclair to check out some new tunes and hopefully pick up some cool vintage vinyl in their used music section. By that time we’d probably be ready for a refresher and stop by at Tierra Mia coffee in Pomona to have some of their refreshing Iced Horchata Latte. Since we’d be close to the bowling alley we’d stop by for a few rounds @ Bowlium Lanes back in Montclair. Afterwards we’d stop for some Pho at SJ Restaurant in Pomona for their great fresh spring rolls. To end the night we’d head over to Upland to Bullwinkles for a round of miniature golf.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There is no way I could have started Vida Birthing Services without the support of my village. My husband, children, Mom, sisters, nieces and friends all kept on encouraging and supporting me. They all had so much faith in me. Sometimes even more than I had in myself. In addition, my heart would fill up with so much love and determination when my children would smile at me and tell me they were proud of me when they saw me studying.

I also owe much to Jules Gourley, from APPA. Initially I wasn’t sure if placenta encapsulation was for me, she answered any doubts I had and offered lots of encouragement along the way. I never felt like I was on my own. APPA has great mentors to lead others along the way. I love the comradery all APPA graduates have with one another.

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