05/29/2024
Keep ‘em comin! Love these kids I get to see!!!
Kids and Massage Therapy.
I've been thinking a lot lately about the benefits of massage for kiddos. I have had the absolute pleasure of lately, working with a number of kids. Their awesome parents believe in the benefit of this peaceful time, realizing that kids, just as well as adults and seniors, need care, necessary quiet time and an hour to come back into themselves.
Self-care is critical to emotional, physical, physiological, and mental well-being. So often, I think it's easy to forget that our kids have just as busy lives as we do, and often, it's easy to think they are resilient and their youthfulness is enough. Never in my young years as a competitive gymnast, was I offered Massage, visualization, breathing techniques etc. to help me in my sport. Luckily, our kids have better resources, and a community that supports holistic health. How lucky am I to be a part of that!
If you have a child with anxiety or depression, massage therapy promotes serotonin synthesis- a natural antidepressant in the body. High levels of serotonin help children live healthy and cheerful lives. Massage for kids Increases body awareness and neurological development. It decreases levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) and blood glucose levels. Massage can improve quality of sleep, provide more energy and increase concentration.
With electronic devices being so prevalent today, many children suffer from neck strain known as “tech-neck”. Massage therapy can help to relax those strained muscles.
Children involved in athletics often experience injuries, muscle strains, and pains. Massage therapy can help to ease muscle aches, pains caused by injury or overuse, help to increase circulation, and increase flexibility and function of muscles and joints, reducing chronic pain.
It's an HONOR to work on kids...its one of my favorite things to watch as they slowly relax into the table, feel the warm towels on their skin, let go...It's magic to see their faces after receiving a treatment, eyes wide in amazement, or halfway closed due to deep relaxation.
My son, Nathan is 13. He is a hockey player. Does he get proper stretching before or after a work-out? Nah. Are his hamstrings, low back and gluts overworked and inflexible...yup. My child gets on my table and melts. His favorite parts of massage are the hot towels on his back and feet, and time spent on his jaw. Yes, his jaw! Loves it.
If you have thoughts, questions, concerns, call me! We can chat about your child and their needs. And if you kiddo is under the age of 18, you will sign a consent to treat a minor form, and will need to stay in the room during the treatment. We can still offer privacy for them, and keep them safe while you are close by, paying attention, answering emails, listening to a podcast or whatever you may need to get done for that hour from your computer or phone OR just sitting and taking in the scents, quiet and calm in the room.
Thank you for trusting me with them. It's SUCH a pleasure for me, and I think, for them too!
