Prenatal Thai Yoga Massage

Earlier this summer, I traveled to Montreal where I completed a training in Thai Yoga Massage for Pregnancy. As many of you know, I went to Thailand last year to get certified in Thai Massage. For those of you who have not yet tried Thai Yoga Massage, it's a different experience in which you are stretched and massaged along certain energy lines in the body. The founder of the school in Montreal describes this massage as "waking up from a yoga dream" - as the therapist gently pulls your body through a series of stretches that leave you feeling like yoga has been performed to you during a dream. You can read more about Thai Yoga Massage and last year's trip to Thailand on my website.

Thai Yoga Massage for Pregnancy is adapted for safety and the specific discomforts of the pregnant body - some of the more acrobatic stretches are avoided, and pillows and all sorts of props are integrated to support the mom-to-be's body during the massage. As I work with pregnant women on the massage table, I often incorporate stretches into the session, and usually recommend that most women seek out prenatal yoga, if they haven't already. Yoga not only helps alleviate the discomforts of pregnancy and prepare muscles for birth, but it teaches women to use their breathing. Thai Yoga Massage helps move a woman's body and get blood flowing to certain areas that have become restricted in movement through the pregnancy. The stretching and gentle movement can offer relief from joint pain and discomfort by mobilizing joints and massaging the supporting musculature. It can also help increase flexibility and promotes kinesthetic awareness.

One of the reasons I was originally drawn to Thai Yoga Massage is that it requires the receiver to "let go" more deeply than you need to on the massage table. In Thai Massage, your body is being stretched, limbs are lifted and bent - and you, as the receiver, need to not assist. Part of the massage is just letting somebody else move your body. Easier said than done for most of us - it's hard to just let go, trust and let the process happen. This is critical practice for women as they make their way through the final stages of pregnancy and prepare for birth.

Please contact me directly if you would like to learn more or try Prenatal Thai Yoga Massage.