19/02/2020
A calm mind is the key to a relaxed pregnancy and happy baby.
Perhaps you are feeling a bit overwhelmed, or stressed, neglected or nervous? Do you notice moments of anger and irritability? All kinds of feelings get jumbled up – pain, elation, joy, fear. So, it’s not surprising that those feelings can get stored in the body and then translate into physical discomfort. In fact, we know that the body plays a big role in generating these emotions in the first place. Hormones (chemical messengers released by your glands) like Progesterone, Oxytocin and Relaxin, flood your system preparing your body for the baby’s arrival and whether you like it or not, they have a huge impact on your emotional reactions which may sometimes feel like a roller coaster ride!
This is where Thai massage becomes a powerful remedy working both the physical body where pain surfaces, and the emotions where the mind sometimes feels at the mercy of our hormones. The emotions are often unblocked and released, hidden tensions brought to the surface and expunged. That’s why sometimes people surprise themselves by crying or laughing during a massage. And feel better for it.
A client once described Thai massage as doing a yoga class, but having someone else release those spots you wouldn’t be able to access yourself. In a treatment, pressure is applied rhythmically in a rocking motion, stretches help to mobilise the joints creating space, muscles are softened, acupressure points applied and the body is encouraged to heal itself. All whilst you concentrate on deeper breathing, relaxing and releasing into the sensations – a great practice for the eventual birthing process.
I might just add that if you are new to Thai Pregnancy Massage – no work is done on the belly, no twists and no compression. Nearly all other areas of the body are easily accessed, the back, legs, shoulders, indeed even just a good foot, hand and face massage can be total bliss.
But, don’t underestimate the power of Thai massage – it’s no ‘frou-frou’ therapy – it’s deep, powerful and when sensitively applied can be one of the most nurturing experiences you will have. As your body is moved around, the energy within it moves around too. An increase in circulation, blood flow and oxygen uptake, allows feel-good endorphins to be released. As the months progress, you’re likely to feel squashed and compressed from all angles, and it is here where Thai Massage excels, by encouraging much needed spaciousness and softness back into your body.
But, let me give you just a couple more reasons why Thai massage is particularly suited to pregnancy.
It also helps that Thai massage is a fully clothed therapy. Pregnancy drastically changes our bodies and women often feel vulnerable about the way they look and how their body changes shape. Keeping your clothes on can help you to relax into the experience, connecting you with your body at a time when it is undergoing massive transformation.
When you’re pregnant your life certainly changes, even more than you imagined it would. Take the discomfort and doubts and joys alike and embrace them in all of their techni-color glory with Thai Massage alongside you for the ride. Your baby will thank you for it.
