At The Spa Room, we think that everyone should make massage a part of their regular health care routine. If there was a group of people who we would particularly urge to make a habit of regular body work, it would be expectant mothers.
It’s fairly common knowledge, even without science to back it up, that pregnant women should remain as relaxed as possible. Can you think of a better way to relax that laying down for a massage? The benefits during massage go much further that simple relaxation. For many years, women have been using massage to relieve common pregnancy complaints, but more recently, studies have been performed to back up their claims.
Massage can relieve swelling. Puffy hands and feet or a general feeling of heaviness are common during pregnancy. The circulatory effects of Swedish massage can help reduce the edema common in the third trimester.
Massage helps regulate hormones. During pregnancy, many women feel like their moods are entirely out of their control. Because of massage therapy’s effect on the nervous system, it can decrease levels of stress hormones such as cortisol, and increase feel-good hormones such as dopamine.
Massage relieves aches and pains. Pregnant women are advised to avoid most over the counter pain relievers, leaving many women to feel helpless against the discomfort they feet in their low back, hips and shoulders—or even to fight a simple headache. Massage can reduce muscle tension ad decrease the strain that pregnancy places on ligaments and joints.
Massage helps with proprioception. Proprioception, simply put, is the awareness of your body’s position as it relates to itself and other things in space. It’s what tells you where your shoulders are in relation to your ears, or how you can walk through your mostly dark bedroom in the middle of the night without losing your balance. During pregnancy, your body changes—sometimes almost overnight—and things don’t always seem to be where you left them. Massage can help orient yourself to your changing body and remind you where your feet are in relation to your hips, even after you’ve given up on tying your shoes.
Massage can improve sleep. The relaxing effects of massage don’t stop when you get off the table. Many women report sleeping better post-massage. (And when you’re preparing for a newborn, you want all the sleep you can get!)
At The Spa Room, we offer massage to expectant mothers in their second and third trimesters who are experiencing a normal, healthy pregnancy. Our prenatal massages are performed in the side-lying position, which is believed to be the optimal position during pregnancy. We know that many pregnant women long to lie on their stomach, but the “pregnancy tables” are often not ideally designed. They can actually place more strain on the ligaments that are causing discomfort in the first place. We find that being curled up amid a sea of pillows during a massage is very cozy, and many of our prenatal clients even fall asleep!
For the month of May (in honor of Mother’s Day!) we’re offering 50minute prenatal massages form 9am-1pm for just $75! Call, email or schedule online to reserve your session, and experience the benefits of prenatal massage for yourself!