We have some new people who have joined our team here at Equilibrio. Check out these fantastic ladies! These ladies bring a wealth of experience and varying massage styles that are helping to diversify our hours and the services we can offer to our moms and their families.

I used to get massages several times a month. And with good reason — I am a bodyworker and my work is really physical. I need to keep my body in shape and my mind “in check.” I need to be mentally present for my clients. I can’t deliver good bodywork if I am raging on unbridled stress hormones and my back is in pain from working on my clients’ bodies.

But — this is the confession part — when I became a mommy in 2010, my own massages went straight to the back burner. Ok, and for those first few months, they weren’t anywhere near the back burner. Somehow I still found time for some meditation and my yoga (a child’s gotta sleep eventually, right?) even if it is just stolen moments here and there for a quiet sun salutation. But my own massages became few and far between.

Recently, I came to my senses and “forced” myself to start getting regular massages again. And, yes, I learned this lesson again. Committing to regular massage changes everything. I feel the change in my body, my energy levels, my commitment to eating well and exercising, my clarity of mind, the increased giggling at bath time every night. And I’m pretty sure my family notices it too.

The reality is that no matter how much we think of massage as a luxury or a special, occasional, pampering activity, it is really a deeply therapeutic treatment. And the more frequently and regularly we get massage, the more the benefits are compounded. The more massage you get, the more it does.

Taking part in this form of regularly-scheduled self-care can play a huge part in how healthy and youthful we’ll remain with each passing year. Budgeting time and money for bodywork at consistent intervals is an investment in your health. Consider massage appointments a necessary piece of your health and wellness plan.

Moderate pressure is essential for health benefits.  A study published in 2010 in the International Journal of Neuroscience found that moderate pressure in massage is essential for achieving many of the physical and physiological benefits of massage — reduced stress, lowered blood pressure, and a strengthened immune system to name a few among dozens of benefits.

The pressure in the massage actually stimulates pressure receptors in the skin which elicit a physiological change — a parasympathetic nervous system response which lowers our blood pressure, slows our heart rate and breathing, relaxes our muscles and calms our minds. This response can actually be elicited within about 15 minutes of the start of the massage (though some of you claim it starts as soon as you feel your body on the massage table).

Going deeper. For most of our massages at Equilibrio, we blend this more moderate pressure with deeper touch. We don’t parse out deep tissue massage and sell it to you differently. The pressure we use in each massage is negotiated with you and your body. This deeper work is particularly helpful at releasing chronic muscle tension and affecting the deeper connective tissue holdings in the muscle.

But how deep is ok? Massage should not hurt. Intense is ok. But you should still be able to breathe comfortably through even deeper work.

As massage therapists, we are working with your tissue and need to work to the level of that person’s tissue’s resistance, meet that resistance and wait until it gives (and sometimes it never gives). I have learned that applying pressure harder and faster does not mean going deeper. To really go deep, we need to go slow and follow the lead of the muscle. Applying too heavy of pressure all at once will meet with even more resistance from the client’s muscle which is tightening up in reaction to invasive pressure. Counter productive!

Speak up! As experienced practitioners, we are pretty good at reading the resistance in your muscles and working at that depth. But every body’s tissues are different and can be affected by elements on different days such as how hydrated you are, how much caffeine you have consumed, local inflammation from working out, hormones, sleep, etc. It is critical that you speak up in a massage if you need more or less pressure. Below are some great nonverbal cues  (from deep tissue master tissue Art Riggs) you can use when you can’t seem to put it into words.

“Your therapist constantly monitors your body’s reaction to the massage. You can use these cues to your own advantage, so you can help the therapist without pulling yourself out of the massage experience.

• Allow your muscles to tighten if the work is too intense. Your therapist should immediately recognize this as a response to excessive pressure rather than normal muscle tension.
• Use your breath. Slow, deep breathing usually signifies the perfect pressure. Fast or labored breathing usually indicates nearing the threshold of pain.
• Use nonspecific sounds, such as a deep sigh, to let your therapist know the depth and speed of the work are perfect.

As in most relationships, it sometimes takes a bit of time to establish a common bond of communication, so experiment to find the best cues for your therapist.”

We posted much of this earlier this year, but we’ve been getting lots of phone calls for CranioSacral Therapy for pregnancy and postpartum. Marissa has been using this gentle, non-invasive therapy for quite some time to support moms, particularly so many who are going the Hynobirthing route. She can do a full session of CST or incorporate it into a regular massage session. Ask her for more details if you have questions!

What is CranioSacral Therapy

In order to understand CranioSacral Therapy, a brief overview of the craniosacral system must be given.  This system is the oldest, deepest and most primitive system in the body.  It consists of the bones of the head, spine, and sacrum, as well as the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) which protect and nourish the brain and central nervous system.

The craniosacral (CS) system has a unique rhythm, just as the heart has its own beat and our breath, its own rate.  This rhythm communicates with our fascia – the sheets of connective tissue that cover every internal aspect of the human body, its organs and tissues.  Therefore, when one part is stuck, or out of balance, it affects the whole.  The flow within the CS system can become restricted by trauma to the body.  This trauma may be emotional or physical in nature.

Think of the CS system like a garden hose.  If the hose becomes kinked due to an obstruction or something having fallen on it, then the water within that hose does not flow as freely.  The garden then doesn’t get nourished as optimally and certain plants may be poorly affected.  And so it is with the body.  If the CSF is unable to flow freely along the system, then the body is hindered in its ability to receive proper nutrients and messages.  This can then manifest as a variety of symptoms and ailments.

CranioSacral Therapy is a gentle, non-invasive form of bodywork.  The practitioner literally listens with her hands to the subtle rhythms of the body, detecting restrictions and imbalances held in various systems, especially the nerves, tissues and fluids.  By gently working with the CS system, the restrictions of nerve passages are eased, the movement of CSF can be optimized and misaligned bones can be restored to their proper positions.

CST does not attempt to “fix” anyone.  This approach recognizes that there is always health in the body and an innate capacity to reorganize toward health.  Thus space is held for the awakening of the natural healing potential of the system and facilitates the release of old resistant patterns.  Due to this inherent capacity for health, side effects do not arise.  However, as the body shifts from states of health there may be a period of adjustment in which things are a bit unsettled. This may last for a day or two.

What to Expect

• a safe, private room with soft music and a nest of pillows and cushions to support the pregnant or postpartum woman on the massage table.
• time for sharing about feelings, health concerns, birth intentions, postpartum challenges, other special needs and concerns, and areas needing extra bodywork.
• A session that meets the mother’s requirements for comfort and ease, physically, verbally and energetically.
• A CranioSacral session does not require disrobing. If doing in combination with a prenatal or postpartum massage, boundaries are respected and the “work” is performed with the sheets as a secure barrier.

Pre- and Peri-Natal CranioSacral Therapy Can Help

• Back pain and tension
• Tension and/or pain in feet
• Sciatic or other nerve pain/irritation
• Pelvic pain and/or cramping – ligament, groin
• Pelvic floor strength, stability and function
• Optimal fetal positioning for birth (including breeches)
• Recovery from caesarean, tears and/or stitches
• Birth trauma
• Body image issues

Prenatal CranioSacral Therapy

When a woman is supported in finding her own rhythm, she is able to give birth with power and dignity. Pregnancy and childbirth are natural, normal functions of the woman’s body, offering up the opportunity for spiritual and emotional transformation. Throughout this journey the woman experiences dramatic changes in her body and in her relationships, both physically and emotionally.

Pregnancy brings dramatic changes in weight distribution, posture and fluid balance. The deep releasing effects of CranioSacral Therapy (CST)) helps the woman adapt to these changes, especially during the later stages as the pelvis attempts to accommodate the descending baby. The weight of the growing baby can put strain on the spine. Prenatal CST assists the pregnant woman by releasing restrictions in the pelvis, back, ribs and hips, to facilitate a supportive vessel for the birthing experience. Through gentle touch, a CranioSacral therapist can help balance the pelvis and uterus in pregnancy to ease and prevent the aforementioned, as well as ligament strain and pain and suboptimal fetal positioning. Often the pelvis is poorly aligned and the sacrum is stuck. CST encourages symmetry and free movement in these areas, allowing more ease and less potential for trauma with delivery; benefiting both mother and baby.

Touch is a vital component of a woman’s psychological, physiological and spiritual wellbeing as she adapts to the experience and demands of pregnancy and motherhood. Prenatal CST can provide a safe forum where a woman can express her fears and concerns about the transitions of motherhood, without judgment. On an emotional and spiritual level, CranioSacral encourages and supports balance in the body, heart and spirit of the woman. It provides a woman with an opportunity to explore the relationship to her changing body and identity as she becomes a mother, so that she may feel “ready” for childbirth.

During labor and birth, women find profound benefit from CranioSacral Therapy through support in balancing and unwinding the pelvis, uterus and sacrum.

After birth the mother may also benefit from a short course of treatment to aid in recovery from the strains of giving birth naturally or by cesarean and helping to realign the body. Often mother and child will receive treatments together, which is beneficial as they are so closely connected and involved in attachment and bonding.

Postpartum CranioSacral Therapy

“Empowerment is a process.” – Gayle Petersen

When a child is born, a mother’s needs may be forgotten. Support to integrate her experience of the birth – through celebration or emotional support – becomes important at this time, as well as supporting her physically as her body begins to shift and change once again. Childbirth is a powerful event bringing about changes in all aspects of a woman’s life – body, mind and heart. The whole family will certainly benefit when the mother and her feelings have been acknowledged, supported, and encouraged.

A postpartum CS treatment focuses on structural re-alignment of the pelvis and spine to recover strength and balance in the body. Techniques are utilized and suggestions shared that support muscles often overworked or weakened during pregnancy. Healing is further stimulated through encouraging movement of body fluids and targeting particular systems stressed during the birth experience, especially for mothers who have had caesarean births.

Postpartum CST also addresses the “new” discomforts associated with the care of a newborn infant – carrying, nursing, lifting, etc. Suggestions for proper body mechanics while performing these new activities are offered.

Women who have had a more complicated birth may experience “trauma”, as there may be feelings of loss of the “birth experience” that she had planned for herself. Processing feelings becomes an integral part of the postpartum transition. Postpartum CST helps the new mother process and integrate her birth experience in a way that is physically and emotionally healthy.

CranioSacral Therapy for Infants

The birth process provides its own challenges for the arriving baby. CranioSacral work is essential following birth, even if the birth goes smoothly. The journey through the birth canal imposes its own stressors due to the intensity of the compressions for the baby coming through the birth canal. As it pushes its way into the world, the baby’s cranium is molded, and primitive reflexes in the body are triggered and supported. When the circumstances for completion are not ideal, or if baby has to be handled on its way out, strains can be introduced, especially in the temporal areas of the head, the base of the skull, in the hip joints and pelvis.

Early treatment can help colic, postural deviation, wry neck, hip problems, sucking and swallowing difficulties, ear infections, poor sleep, breathing concerns and certain learning dysfunctions.

Resolution of trauma allows both, baby and parents, to move forward strengthened by their experience, free to enjoy life more fully.  If interested in learning more about how this therapy works and benefits your baby, please contact Equilibrio Massage via email or phone.

Hello massage lovers! We recently posted some Yelp Deals on our Yelp page. Kinda like a Groupon, you buy these deals directly through Yelp and get a discount on our services (and then Yelp pays us). Rest assured that we chose to do a Yelp deal instead of a Groupon (which is fantastic, btw) because we wanted a lot more control — quantity sold, type of discount, etc. That means that we can just sell 5 or so and still have great availability for you.

We want to focus on QUALITY massages that are customized for you; we are not focussing on driving tons of people to our business in a way that would overwhelm us and prevent us from working with our clients. In fact, that would be sad. We love our clients. We love giving them massages. We love teaching their partners how to massage them. We love watching them become moms. We love supporting them and helping their stress melt away and aches fade away. We love them! And we want to do right by them. And you, if you are a new client.

All this to just say, that we are keeping our Yelp Deal small and reasonable, because our commitment to quality is unwavering.

Our infant massage class is a series of three one-hour classes spread over three weeks. Over this time, we will teach you a full body massage for your baby that you can use over-and-over or use as the template for your own baby-lovin’ rub downs.

We have three series coming up in the next few months — Tuesdays mornings and Saturday mornings. Please email Nicole if you would like to participate in one of the series. Space is limited, so we must ask that you reserve your space in advance.

Tuesdays, Nov 22, Nov 29 and Dec 6 at 10:30am.
Saturdays, Dec 3, 10 and 17 at 10:30am.
Tuesdays, Jan 17, 24 and 31 at 10:30am.

Price: $65 per family. This price covers instruction for the three classes. Additionally, each family is provided with massage oil, as well as handouts and detailed stroke sheets so you can practice at home.

Marissa has always worked CranioSacral Therapy (CST) into many of her prenatal massage sessions, depending on the client. As she works with more and more mom preparing for birth using HypnoBirthing, the CST is making more and more of a show in her treatment room as she supports these women. While CST comes off as a gentle, subtle therapy, it’s effects can be profound. Marissa wrote this up to share. If you are requesting a CST session, Marissa can either incorporate it into your massage or do a session more focused on the CST unwinding.

From Marissa:

When a woman is supported in finding her own rhythm, she is able to give birth with power and dignity. Pregnancy and childbirth are natural, normal functions of the woman’s body, offering up the opportunity for spiritual and emotional transformation. Throughout this journey the woman experiences dramatic changes in her body and in her relationships, both physically and emotionally.

Pregnancy brings dramatic changes in weight distribution, posture and fluid balance. The deep releasing effects of CranioSacral Therapy (CST)) helps the woman adapt to these changes, especially during the later stages as the pelvis attempts to accommodate the descending baby. The weight of the growing baby can put strain on the spine. Prenatal CST assists the pregnant woman by releasing restrictions in the pelvis, back, ribs and hips, to facilitate a supportive vessel for the birthing experience. Through gentle touch, a CranioSacral therapist can help balance the pelvis and uterus in pregnancy to ease and prevent the aforementioned, as well as ligament strain and pain and suboptimal fetal positioning. Often the pelvis is poorly aligned and the sacrum is stuck. CST encourages symmetry and free movement in these areas, allowing more ease and less potential for trauma with delivery; benefiting both mother and baby.

Touch is a vital component of a woman’s psychological, physiological and spiritual wellbeing as she adapts to the experience and demands of pregnancy and motherhood. Prenatal CST can provide a safe forum where a woman can express her fears and concerns about the transitions of motherhood, without judgment. On an emotional and spiritual level, CranioSacral encourages and supports balance in the body, heart and spirit of the woman. It provides a woman with an opportunity to explore the relationship to her changing body and identity as she becomes a mother, so that she may feel “ready” for childbirth. During labor and birth, women find profound benefit from CranioSacralTherapy through support in balancing and unwinding the pelvis, uterus and sacrum.

After birth the mother may also benefit from a short course of treatment to aid in recovery from the strains of giving birth naturally or by cesarean and helping to realign the body. Often mother and child will receive treatments together, which is beneficial as they are so closely connected and involved in attachment and bonding. My intention is to provide a safe, supportive and nurturing space for women to connect to their inner wisdom and create an empowered and fulfilled life.

We are so excited to be teaching infant massage to caregivers!

Our next class will be held on the dates listed below. The series of 3 classes costs $75. Each session runs approximately one hour. Please contact us if you would like to register. Saturday class coming soon for late August!

Tuesdays at 10:30am, August 16, 23 and 30

Mothers have been practicing the art of infant massage for centuries, and with good reason. Not only is it fun bonding time between parent and child, but it provides essential stimulation for the baby’s physical and emotional development. In these series of three classes, you will learn simple and effective techniques to perform a full body massage on your own baby that you can adapt throughout their childhood. You will be offering your baby all the benefits of loving touch, right from the start. There is a growing body of research demonstrating the massage:

• Provides a special time of communication that fosters love, compassion, and respect
• Improves overall functioning of the gastrointestinal tract
• Promotes relaxation and helps babies self-regulate calm, which reduces crying
• Helps to improve sensory and body awareness
• Helps baby/child to sleep deeper and more soundly
• Helps to improve pain management; can relieve discomfort from teething,
• Helps with congestion, gas, and colic
• Enhances release of hormones in the body.
• Reduces levels of cortisol, the stress hormone

We’ll be updating the class dates as they are scheduled so please check back!

Marissa has been working her magic here lately with her soon-to-be-birthing mamas. She has been interweaving the Rainbow Relaxation prompt from HypnoBirthing into her massages.

HypnoBirthing is about trusting that your body will be able to relax and allow birth to happen naturally in a way that you will be able to manage. When you add the prompts of the Rainbow Relaxation to specially designed prenatal massage techniques, you get even deeper relaxation and trust.

If you are looking for a local HypnoBirthing class, check out the listings on the San Diego Birth Resource Network provider section. Meanwhile, ask us about the Rainbow at your next massage!

Sleepless and pregnant?

Over the past 6 years we have worked with hundreds and hundreds of moms-to-be here in San Diego. We spend every day tucking pillows under pregnant bellies and propping up legs.

We have learned a lot with these moms about how to use pillows strategically to alleviate many of the discomforts of pregnancy.

We’ve compiled some of the most basic “pillow tips” in our new resource guide, “Sleeping While Pregnant.” We hope this takes you a little bit closer to the comfortable, restful sleep you deserve.

Sign up to get your free copy!