Pregnancy Massage - Some Interesting Facts

Pregnancy Massage - Some Interesting Facts

As a massage therapist, I have always enjoyed working with women before, during, and after the birth of their babies and I am always interested in learning more and more about the many benefits and science behind perinatal massage.

Last week I attended a great talk by Leslie Stager, one of the foremost authorities on pregnancy massage. 

The talk was entitled "Myths and Realities" and here are a few of the tidbits that I took away:

* Massage in the first trimester is fine and wonderfully helpful!

* Because miscarriage rates in the first trimester are so common (22-24%), there had been a perception that there was an association between the two. The truth is that a healthy pregnancy is very difficult to dislodge. If it were otherwise, there wouldn't be demand for abortive technologies.

* Massage of the ankles during pregnancy is commonly thought to be something to be avoided because of acupuncture points associated with the uterus. Receiving massage of the ankles is NOT a concern if just a couple of specific acupressure points are avoided. Acupressure stimulates specific and intentional points that can help support labor labor if it has already begun or is ready to start.

* Reflexology also supports pregnancy and labor and not miscarriage.

* The biggest concern with massage during pregnancy is due to increased blood volume and the possibility of blood clots. During a pregnancy massage care is taken to not work deeply in the thigh and calf areas for this reason. Lighter, flowing massage strokes are safe and soothing.

 

* Massage during the perinatal period is overwhelmingly supportive to the well being of Mama and Baby!

Good Things Are Happening!

I am so pleased and proud to part of such a wonderful and growing wellness community! Our newest partner is Nathan Heide, Licensed Acupunturist. He comes to us full of energy and wisdom, ready to help our patients on their road to good health. Anjuna Medicine, Eugene Chiropractic Group, Goodness Me Goddess and Essence of Bliss Massage work in harmony as SpringWell Health Center to help you reach your goals for a healthy, pain free life. We are now also offering yoga classes, belly dancing and doula services from The Birth Cooperative. Lots to be grateful for and excited about!

Summer Fun

The Oregon Country Fair is right around the corner and I'm busily preparing! Come visit me out at the Fair at booth 33. If you haven't experienced a massage there, it is not something to miss. Take a break from the heat and just relax, letting the sights and sounds melt into to background!

Check out my Facebook page! :-)
https://www.facebook.com/sarananda?ref=hl

It looks like Summer is here in the beautiful Pacific Northwest! This unusually sunny Spring has my plants just popping out of the ground and growing like crazy -the weeds too. And with the gorgeous weather comes more physical activity and more need for self care. Remember to warm up before exercising and stretch after -and drink lots of water. It is important to stretch even after what we think of as less strenuous activities like gardening/yard work. Stretching allows our muscles to recover more quickly and gives us time to relax and breath deeply -thereby decreasing stress hormones and increasing the functionality of all our bodily systems. So get out there and enjoy the weather, whether you are running races, weeding, playing baseball with your kids or taking leisurely evening walks through the neighborhood. And if you do end up sore or with a strained muscle, I'll be here for you!  

Benefits of Gut Bacteria on Health and Weight Loss

http://m.motherjones.com/environment/2013/04/gut-microbiome-bacteria-weight-loss

I'm finally getting back to the blog/web page! I've finally updated my name to reflect my marriage of almost a year! And I changed my phone number to a Google Voice number so that no matter where I work, I will always have the same number. Thank you, Google! 

I've been really enjoying my work this Spring. I've found a renewed love and sense of connectedness, making my work feel even more meaningful. I am so grateful to my clients for showing me the importance of being in the moment and allowing healing to happen. I'm also grateful that my general practice and prenatal massage practice are growing. What fun!

On the home front, this Spring brought us a batch of baby chicks to add to our flock. We are getting about 8 eggs a day these days and they are so delicious, with yolks an almost unbelievable orange color. We've now got all the garden beds planted and protected from wayward chickens and our unseasonably warm weather is giving the little plants a grand start. And on Sunday my little girl helped me plant carrots and corn seeds AND helped me bake a loaf of bread. Again, what fun! :)