Pregnancy Massage

Pamela Nadav has said, “There is such a special sweetness in being able to participate in creation.” Preganancy is a remarkable journey that invites a woman to completely new terrain, and to explore facets of herself that she may have never uncovered lest she embarked up this journey. It’s a time of introspection and inner nurturing, a time when she learns the intuitive capacity she has for being a vessel of life, of caring, and of love. Yet so often, the adventure to motherhood is fraught with physical discomfort and emotional ups and downs! Because a woman goes through so many changes during this time, having a support network in place in the form of community, breathing classes, massage, and yoga, can give a soon­to­be mom exactly what she needs.

Preganancy is a time that prepares a woman to connect with her own intuition and
wisdom. Especially for a woman, parenting begins with conception, as the tools she
develops while carrying her child will be important ones she uses once the child is born
and growing. It’s a time that is meant to allow the woman to rely more fully on her
instincts, as these instincts are what give her the ability to move gracefully through the
birthing process, no matter what the outcome, and to parent in a way that is connected to
her deep inner knowing.

A woman’s body inevitably experiences a multitude of changes during pregnancy, which
can at times disconnect her from her own inner voice. As her uterus expands with the
weight of the growing baby, there is more stress on her back, neck, shoulders and
abdominal muscles. An aching lower back is a common sensation for many pregnant
women, while others may experience aching legs, sore hips, swelling and/or insomnia.

To reconnect inwardly, find ease in her body and mind, and reconnect with her spirit,
prenatal massage therapy is a wonderful way to lessen her discomfort. A massage during
pregnancy brings about a sense of well­being through relaxation, giving an expecting
mother a once again clear channel to her own intuition, as well as a feeling of being
settled and grounded.

Benefits of Prenatal Massage

• Soothes tired and tense muscles

• Improves sleep

• Relieves muscle cramps, spasms and tension in the lower back, neck, hips and

legs

• Reduces the release of stress hormones

• Reduces heart rate and blood pressure

• Improves blood and lymph circulation, which can reduce swelling (edema)

• Can improve labour outcome and ease pain

Soma’s therapists seek to support their pregnant clients by helping them to reconnect
with themselves, to feel good in their bodies, and to feel prepared for the adventure of a
liftetime. Our therapists are professionally trained prenatal massage therapists in
Vancouver who understand the needs of a pregnant body, which techniques to use, and
how to safely massage it to alleviate some of the discomfort. We recognize the
importance of positioning the body during a pregnancy massage not only for comfort, but
also for a woman and her baby’s well­being.

As well as pregnancy massage, our prenatal massage therapists are happy to share their
expertise in other aspects of prenatal care, from abdominal exercises to sleeping
positions to postural correction. And when the time is right and a woman is ready, Soma’s
therapists are also trained in postnatal massage.
“The most important thing a woman would learn over the years was that there was no
way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one” (Jill Churchill). Let Soma
support you in your dynamic and exciting journey to motherhood, and feel the benefits
immediately!

By Lori Johnson, RMT & Owner of Soma Studio