If we hope to create

a non-violent world

where respect and kindness

replace fear and hatred

we must begin

with how we treat each other

at the beggining of life.

For that is where

our deepest patterns are set.

From these roots

grow fear, alienation

…or love and trust.

Suzanne Arms

You may recognize this scenario, you plan a holiday, look forward to it for months, jump on a plane at Bristol and on arrival come down with a cold or a flu type bug. What has happened is your parasympatheticympathetic nervous system has been activated and your body’s normal state of relaxation that allows repair to the body have been activated.

Your cold or flu were probably present in your body before you left but because you were in a state of stress with all the packing, forgotten to buy the Euro ect your body was in the sympathetic nervous system mode, a state otherwise known as fight or flight response , in this state our body is unbalanced, shutting down the functions of repair and relaxation.

This is an age-old reaction once extremely useful if you needed to get out of the way of a Wooly Mamouth in a hurry, but now it seems to relate all too often to the emotion stress.

We all have our own individual experience of what it feels like to be ‘stressed’, deadlines are a common cause.on cause.

And now the massage bit:- Massage, is reassuring, an experienced massage practitioners touch is deeply relaxing, inviting deep breath and a slowing of the heart rate, tension in the belly disperses and we feel ourselves again , if you like we are in our body again.

I always recommend to my clients to book some massage before they go away, once all the packing and rushing around is over, afterall why not arrive already chilled out and relaxed to your holiday, it enables you to make the most of your time.

So here is my invitation to relaxation, take some time out before you go, for a massage, sauna or long country walk, Bristol has alot to offer, whatever relaxes you and enjoy your holiday.

Now is the time to grab some massage oils to pack into your suitcase, although I ought to mention oils, babies and sand don’t mix, at an affordable £4:95 you can afford to treat yourself too.

Also in the oil range is a massage oil for Mum containg restorative rose, balancing geranium and relaxing lavender.

If you would like to buy some oil blends please call me and we can arrange a time for you to drop in.

POSTNATAL DEPRESSION MASSAGE CAN HELP

Dr Vivette Glover an expert in child stress at Queen Charlotte’s hospital in London has done extensive research into the causes and cures of POSTNATAL DEPRESSION, she has found that women can and do improve their symptoms and relationship with their baby by giving them regular gentle massage.

PND can harm the bonding between a mother and child and this upset can sometimes lead to the child having behavioural problems. she states ” Mothers who went to a regular baby massage class did much better than those that didn’t and they were enjoying their babies in no time.”

THE SCIENCE BIT

The feelings joy, love and bonding that women with PND feel that they are missing are all down to the hormone oxytocin ” the LOVE hormone”.

Recent studies have begun to investigate oxytocin’s role in various behaviours including social recognition, orgasm, anxiety, trust, love, pair-bonding and maternal behaviours, for this reason it is also known as the “cuddle hormone”

Women who breastfeed are also releasing the oxytocin hormone while doing so, we all love a hug and babies are no different, massage therefore can relieve the symptoms of POST NATAL DEPRESSION for mother and child and the benefits will last for a very long time.

Attended a net-working event at the Born shop on Sunday, it’s not untill we come together that we realise how strong we are and this feeds back into the various and wonderfully diverse roles we all play in the field of pregnancy and birth.

Coming together in the Baby Massage group is about so much more than  learning massage. In the past women met up more frequently at the wash-house or at the market and would, baby at their hip share tip’s and skills that would make being a mum easier. Nowadays these opportunities are less frequent so I set aside time at the beginning of each class for you to talk and hear what others have to say about all sort’s of topics from weaning to where to buy the most comfortable breast-feeding bra.

If you have any-thing to share please feel free to do so on my Mother and Baby massage facebook page, There are fans from all countries and walks of life and you all have somthing wonderful you can contribute.

Massage is beneficial at all times but as the season changes to spring a massage is an excellent way to ease away the aches and tension that  Winter inevitably leaves behind.

Massage can be both relaxing and invigorating depending on the persons needs.

Baby Massage classes running as usual, contact me for dates and times.