pregnancy massage
“It is important to understand exactly what the client has been going through with their pregnancy, so you can ensure that they’re both safe and comfortable at all times.”
returns to its original shape, making it ideal as a general cushion for all clients.
An additional option for comfort is The Comfy Client Cushion. Designed by Holistic Health and Spa therapist Carol May, the system comprises of three interlinking cushions; a face saver, a main body bolster and an abdominal support/head rest. The cushions are fully flexible and adjustable to accommodate for your client’s bump and ensure they’re supported in all of the right areas.
As pregnancies develop, a lot of pressure is placed on the skeletal structure and internal organs, and so it is essential that a therapist can offer the client bespoke support to suit their preferences.
Giving your client a cushion or beanbag can help them to relax and feel comfortable.
Image ©
iStock.com/kzenon
Pregnant clients will not be able to lay face-down for their massage, as their breasts may be tender; this, along with their growing bump means that a lot of therapists opt to use a specially designed table with hollowed-out areas to accommodate for this.
Ensure you have a lot of pillows at hand and prompt your client to tell you if they’re feeling any strain. Carefully placed pillows can ensure your client doesn’t feel any discomfort throughout their massage.
Such companies as Majestic Towels offer a Memory Foam Knee and Ankle Pillow, which offers flexibility, and is targeted for pregnant clients who prefer to lay on their side.
The memory foam within the pillow reacts and responds to human body temperature, allowing it to align to the body perfectly. When moved, it quickly
There are, of course, alternative options to laying your clients on the massage bed. One of which is the pregnancy bean bag, which your client can rest on as it merges into every contour of the body. This allows room and support for both mother and bump.
The House of Elemis Spa in London’s Mayfair offers a collection of prenatal therapies, with their pregnancy beanbag being the resting area of choice. The Elemis Peaceful Pregnancy Massage aims to give the mother the ‘ultimate journey in touch’.
The soft flickering glow of the candles along with burning essential oils provides a relaxing and tranquil environment, whilst the mother-to-be rests on Elemis’ pregnancy beanbag.
The therapist then smooths warm Japanese Camellia oil and Rosewood Essential oil over the body, working from the soles of the feet, right up to the scalp; not one area of the body being neglected.
The use of oils is important in a pregnancy massage, however there may be some you cannot use in case of any contraindications. Plus, pregnancy can make for all kinds of changes in a woman’s skin, including dryness and stretch marks, so finding a product which is hydrating and good for circulation will be beneficial.
For example, ‘Tummy Love’ from Mama Baby Bliss is packed with enriching ingredients; all of which are proven to help the prevention and healing of stretch marks. These include Calendula oil, Starflower oil and Rosehip oil; all natural active ingredients that are rich in vitamins and completely safe for pregnant clients.
massage your way to happiness
Katie Hardy, Spa Operations Manager at the Titanic Spa in Yorkshire explains that, aside from soothing aches and pains, a pregnancy massage benefits the body in a completely different way: “The massages help circulation and help to increase the oxygen level in the blood, which is essential for the body to process food and for our metabolism to work well - for pregnant women it is of course even more essential that the their bodies are able to process energy from food effectively.
“After a massage treatment the body is stimulated in a new way, releasing endorphins into the nervous system, allowing expectant mothers to find a sense of relaxation which they may struggle to feel during their pregnancy.”
The Titanic Spa, which is based in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, offers a number of options for expectant mothers; their Decléor Sumptuous Mother-to-Be Treatment focuses on conditioning the skin and reducing the appearance of stretch marks, which they offer to clients in the second trimester onwards, as well as post-pregnancy.
it’s complicated
Although a pregnancy massage is a great service to offer mothers-to-be, it comes with a number of contraindications that will need to be considered before any massage takes place.
Ensure that your clients have spoken to their Midwife or GP prior to visiting for their treatment; if they are experiencing a
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