Benefits of Prenatal Massage

A prenatal massage has many benefits for the mother-to-be.  The gentle massage can help ease the soreness and stiffness of tight muscles.  Long gliding strokes help the circulation of the blood and lymph flow to deliver nutrients throughout the body, reducing the cramping of the muscles, which can be terribly painful.  It also reduces the stress on the weight-bearing joints such as the ankles, back, and pelvis.  A pregnancy massage is relaxing and soothing, which helps ease an expectant mother’s stress and anxiety, calming her nervous system.

When she is more relaxed mentally and physically, she will be able to sleep better at night.  Sleeping is important to the health of both mother and baby.  Also, a massage will improve the elasticity of the skin, thereby reducing the appearance of stretch marks that are so common with pregnancy.  Not only will you feel better, but you’ll look better too!

Prenatal Massage – What to Look Out For

If you are thinking of getting a pregnancy massage, you should always consult your doctor first.  If you are a high risk pregnancy, have blood clotting disorders, etc. it may not be safe for you to get a massage.  Also, it is usually not recommended to get a massage in the first trimester of your pregnancy.

If your doctor gives you the green light to get a pregnancy massage, you will then need to find a massage therapist that specializes in prenatal massage.  A pregnant woman’s body is different from a normal person and requires that a therapist has knowledge of pregnancy.  A massage therapist trained in prenatal massage knows what is safe and what isn’t for the mother and the unborn child, including positioning, what parts of the body are safe to massage and what parts are not.

Some therapists use “Prego Pillow” or tables with holes for the belly so you can lie facing down.  However, these cause stress to your lower back, which makes going to get a massage counterproductive, as you are getting a massage to relieve stress to your lower back.  Side-lying or semi-reclined positions using ergonomic pillows are more comfortable and safer for a pregnant woman.

A prenatal massage is a wonderful stress reliever and a treat for expectant mothers.  If you are feeling achy, sore and uncomfortable, a pregnancy massage may just be what you need to help make you feel better and rest easier at night.

There are a large number of massage therapy schools in the country but not many of them provide a certificate or are accredited.  Make sure that the institute you enroll in provides you a certificate at the completion of the course and that the institute is recognized by a well established university or educational organization.

Going to an accredited school is important because it will make it easier for you to get massage therapy jobs if the school has a better reputation.  Also, if you go to an accredited school, you will be able to take out a federal loan if you don’t have the money to pay for the tuition up front, which can range anywhere from $3,000 – $8,000.

You also need to consider the school’s curriculum to see if it works with your schedule.  If you are currently working full-time during the day, you will need to look for a school that offers evening and weekend classes.  Some schools only offer classes during the day, which would conflict with your work schedule if you are planning on going to classes while still working.

Checking out the school’s curriculum will also let you know what you can expect to learn from the school.  If you are interested in a certain modality, you will want to know if the school teaches that particular massage technique.  A good massage therapy school should teach a variety of massage modalities, from Swedish massage therapy to Shiatsu and many other techniques in between.  The school should also offer courses in body mechanics as well as how apply for a job or how to run your own massage business.

Many schools will have a list of who their instructors are and you can research the school’s faculty to determine the quality of the massage school.  Some schools have teachers who are well known in their fields or have many years of experience.

You can get in touch with former students of the school to get their opinions about the massage school that you are interested in.  You can also gauge the reputation of the massage school by speaking to the local spas to see if they hire students from the particular massage school that you are interested in.  If they are enthusiastic about hiring graduates from a particular school, then you know that the massage therapy school you are looking at has a high quality curriculum and it will be easier to get a job when you become a massage therapist.

These are some of the things you should take into account when researching information on massage therapy schools.

There are six techniques used in Swedish massage.

1. Effleurage. Long gliding strokes using the palm, thumbs or fingertips to cover a large portion of the body.

2. Petrissage. Kneading and squeezing movement done by hands, thumbs, or fingers to soften up the muscles.

3. Friction. Small, circular strokes that are used to soothe deeper areas of the muscles that are tight.

4. Traction. Pulling of the muscles to help stretch tight muscles.

5. Tapotement (or percussion). Tapping the body using the sides of the hand or cupped hands with loose wrists. This technique is used to energize and wake up the body.

6. Vibration. Oscillatory movement that shakes up the body.

With Swedish massage, you would start out working with the superficial layers then work your way deeper. An effleurage is used to spread the oil on the body and to get the client used to the therapist touch. Then a petrissage would be used to loosen up the muscle to allow for deeper bodywork.

Swedish massage therapy reduces both physical and emotional stress. It is a very relaxing massage that increases oxygen in the blood stream as well as improve circulation of the blood, which helps muscle recovery. Swedish massage relaxes the muscles and helps relieve muscle pain. It soothes the nerves and can help you sleep better.

Getting a Swedish massage regularly will make you feel better and keep you healthier.