Infant Massage Tutorial
 

At Solunar Massage Clinic we believe in the importance of infant massage, because not only is the parent-infant interaction the most important foundation by which a child learns about self, trust and respect. Infant massage is a vital interaction between parent and infant that will form the foundation of relationship building for a lifetime.

Nurturing touch between a parent and infant enriches physiological, social-emotional, and mind/body/spirit connections for the infant being massaged, as well as for the parent.

Being touched and caressed, being massaged, is food for the infant, food as necessary as minerals, vitamins and proteins.

As your infant slowly begins to uncurl from their fetal position, massage will also help to stretch out their little muscles and joints and stimulate their circulatory system.

Massage techniques for infants are different from massage techniques for adults. It is not as much manipulative as it is communicative, i.e. infant massage can enhance parents’ abilities in listening, asking permission, communicating, interpreting and responding to their baby’s cues. The infant displays engagement/disengagement cues, furthers body awareness, self-esteem, listening and communication. Both infant and parent benefit from eye contact, relaxation, bonding, synchrony, love and trust.

Benefits to the infant receiving massage can include:
• Promotes bonding and attachment
• Promotes body-mind-spirit connection
• Increases self-esteem
• Increases sense of love, acceptance, respect and trust
• Enhances communication
• Improves body awareness
• Improves relaxation and release of accumulated stress
• Stimulates circulation
• Strengthens digestive, circulatory and gastrointestinal systems
• Reduces discomfort from congestion, gas, colic and emotional stress
• Improves muscle tone coordination
• Increases elimination, circulation and respiration
• Improves sleep patterns

Benefits to the parent giving massage can include:
• Improves ability to read infant cues
• Improves synchrony between caregiver and infant
• Promotes bonding
• Increases confidence in parenting
• Increases communication-verbal and non-verbal
• Improves relaxation
• Provides time to share, and quality time
• Improves sense of well-being
• Reduces blood pressure
• Reduces stress
• Improves overall health

Michelle Boon is offering one-on-one infant massage tutorials for parents and caregivers. While the duration of an infant massage is purely determined by the infant’s cues and comfort levels - please allow up to an hour for your tutorial.

Payment for parent-infant massage tutorials is by way of ‘koha’ only, i.e. a donation.


To make a booking
 

Telephone: 489-9051 or 027-222-8074

Email: solunar@xtra.co.nz

Book online: http://www.ezybook.co.nz/pages/solunarmassageclinic

 

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