mulberry holistic therapies

Learn to massage your baby

Baby massage is a wonderful way to augment the important early bonding of parents and their infants and is very helpful in relieving colic and other symptoms of infant stress.

The techniques that Zina teaches are based on the work of Vimala McClure, author of "Infant Massage, a Handbook for Loving Parents" and the founder of the organisation IAIM (International Association of Infant Massage).

The IAIM was founded by Vimala McClure in America in 1976 and had her first book published in 1978. During a work placement in India she worked in an orphanage and saw on a daily basis how the local people massaged their children and the enormous benefits this seemed to have. On having her own children she began practicing on them and in doing so created the course taught today by hundreds of Certified Infant Massage Instructors. Vimala put together different strokes and methods noting the results and researching the effects of increased bonding on the infants in her classes. The IAIM has grown into a world-wide organisation since its inception in 1976.

The treatment incorporates strokes taken from Indian and Swedish massage, reflexology and yoga.

Potential benefits of massage:

• increase bonding with your baby
• increase confidence in handling your baby
• promote earlier interaction for fathers with their baby
• aid the digestive system
• help with weight gain
• relax both the parent and baby
• have a positive effect on the immune system
• stimulate circulation
• decrease stress in the baby and parent
• promote a healthy attitude to touch
• help the baby take control of its own body
• help the child be less aggressive
• assist mothers with post-natal depression
• release hormones which boosts milk supply
• aid relaxation in mother
• aid sleep - which helps everyone!

Course Details

The course is for babies aged between 0 - 12 months / before baby is actively crawling. It consists of 5 sessions where parents and care-givers are shown a series of techniques for massaging their babies, (the instructor uses a life-size doll during practical class demonstrations), the theory behind the best times to massage and the benefits to both parent and baby. A separate routine is taught also during the course, which has been found to be extremely beneficial at alleviating wind/colic.

Each session lasts approximately 60 minutes and incorporates a group discussion, e.g. crying, massaging the older child, behavioural states to massage and ad-hoc topics to suit the group.

Classes are held in the comfort of a home setting with other new mothers, on a one to one basis or at a local venue near you and always in a comfortable, safe and welcoming environment. The classes are ALWAYS VERY MUCH BABY-LED, so crying, nappy changing, feeding or comforting your infant is always acceptable and no one is ever made to feel uncomfortable during any session. You will meet other parents and make new friends not only for yourself but for your baby too.

Next 5 week course starts in 2010 at 10.15am each week :

Week 1 : Friday 22nd January
Week 2 : Friday 29th January
Week 3 : Friday 5th February
Week 4 : Friday 19th February
HALF TERM BREAK
Week 5 : Friday 5h March

TIME: 10.15 - 11.30am approx.

VENUE : Highams Park, Chingford, London, E4
Parking for cars and buggies available.

Course price includes

• 50ml bottle of Organic Sunflower Oil
• Weekly handout notes on related topics
• Stroke review notes
• Tea & Coffee and milk warming facilities

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