The Peaceful Birth Project...
                                                            Peace on Earth Begins with Birth

"Your body is not a lemon!" Ina May's Guide to Childbirth
-Ina May Gaskin, beloved midwife, birth activist, author

CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY (CST)

How does it work?

CranioSacral Therapy is a gentle light-touch approach that releases tensions deep in the body to relieve pain and dysfunction and facilitate the body's potential for wellness and balance.   

The CranioSacral Therapy practitioner uses a light touch to assist the natural movement of fluid within the craniosacral system. Therapists generally use only five grams of pressure, roughly the weight of a nickel, to test for restrictions in various parts of the craniosacral system. 

Who can benefit?

CranioSacral Therapy is increasingly being used as a preventive health measure because of its effectiveness in the treatment of a wide range of conditions including and not limited to: 

• gentle release of birth trauma
• epidural trauma
• cesarean recovery
• migraine headaches
• chronic neck and back pain
• colic
• chronic fatigue
• stress and tension related problems
• fibromyalgia
• TMJ 

This gentle non-invasive therapy is effective for infants, children and adults of all ages.  

Pregnancy, Labor and Postpartum

CranioSacral Therapy supports pregnant, laboring and postpartum women by releasing restrictions in the body and the pelvis creating a sense of physical and emotional expansion and wellbeing. 

By balancing and unwinding the pelvis the therapist can help ease and prevent ligament pain, low back pain, hip pain, and posterior babies. CST provides great relief when applied during labor. 

In the postpartum period, CranioSacral therapy supports the woman's physical and emotional reintegration.

What can I expect from a session?

You will remain fully clothed lying down on a very comfortable massage table while the therapist uses very light pressure to asses restrictions in the body. It’s often possible for the evaluation alone to remove the restrictions and allow the body to correct itself.

Experiences during a CST session usually varies from session to session and client to client.  At times, a client may deeply relax or even fall asleep; at other times, he or she may talk a great deal, recalling memories or expressing emotions. Some will remain still during the entire session, hardly noticing the practitioner’s evaluation and treatment, while others will experience sensations within the body as this process is carried out.  Each experience is completely unique. 

CranioSacral Session 60-minutes  $70 

CranioSacral Package
5 sixty-minute sessions @ $60 each ($300)

Reduces stress and promotes relaxation
Reduces edema (swelling) and can lower blood pressure
Alleviates varicose veins
Reduces and alleviates neck, back, and joint pain caused by posture, muscle weakness, tension and extra weight
Relieves muscle spasms, cramps, sciatic pain and carpal tunnel
Helps maintain skin elasticity to ease stretch marks
Assists with the management of digestive complaints such as constipation,
gas and nausea
Encourages deeper, easier breathing
Develops the sensory awareness, flexibility and relaxation necessary to be an active participant in the birth process
Contributes to an easier labor and delivery
Provides the experience and model of loving, safe and nurturing touch that encourages the mother-to-be to touch her baby lovingly

Ask your doctor. Many insurance companies now cover massage therapy.

What is pregnancy massage?

Pregnancy massage is an integrated therapeutic bodywork that focuses on the special needs of the mother-to-be as her body goes through the dramatic changes of the childbearing experience. During pregnancy, labor and postpartum, specific techniques can reduce discomforts and enhance the physiological and emotional well-being of both mother and baby.

A study conducted by Dr. Tiffany Field at the University of Miami School of Medicine demonstrated that massage reduces stress hormones in the body. A pregnant woman's body is challenged, changed and stressed in many ways. Massage gives special attention to the mother-to-be, which in turn nurtures the new life that grows within her.

Why pregnancy massage?

Pregnancy is a time of many changes in a woman’s body, mind and spirit. Along with the excitement and joy, there can also be feelings of anxiety and stress. As your body transforms, you must adjust to the increasing weight, shifting posture, fluctuating hormone levels and many other dramatic changes of the childbearing experience.

Massage enhances pregnant, laboring and postpartum women’s comfort, health and enjoyment of their pregnancies.

How often should I receive massage during my pregnancy?

Once a month in the first trimester and twice a month in the second and third is usually a good suggestion. Some women prefer weekly sessions during the last month.

Because of the tremendous hormonal changes that occur during the first trimester, massage might be contraindicated for some women until the second and third trimesters.

It is important to seek care from a certified prenatal massage therapist. Certified therapists have received training beyond the national standards for massage therapists and know how to address specific pregnancy needs and sensitive areas of the body.

What about my baby?

Massage increases blood flow to the uterus, placenta & baby, also improving lymph flow, which helps flush out toxins. A better flow of nutrients and oxygen promotes healthy tissues for both mother and the baby. Dr. Fredrick Wirth, a neonatologist at Tufts University School of Medicine in Medford, MA, believes that maternal stress on the fetus changes the way the baby's brain is developed.

Studies show that expectant moms who actively work to decrease their stress have babies who are easily calmed and children who socialize well with others.

What is the best body position during prenatal massage?

Many professionals consider the best position for a pregnant woman during massage is side-lying. Tables that provide a hole in which the uterus can fit may not be reliable and can still apply pressure to the abdomen, or allow the abdomen to dangle, causing uncomfortable stretching of the uterine ligaments.

Consult your massage therapist before your first appointment to verify what position they place their clients in during the massage.

What can I expect?

Each session is designed to meet your specific needs on a particular day as well as your stage of pregnancy. You will rest on an extra padded massage table, fully supported with many pillows while on the side-lying position. This is the safest, most comfortable position for you and your baby.

You will be draped for comfort and privacy and only the body part being worked on will be exposed. The room will be quiet and comfortable. We can play music or enjoy silence. Please have something light to eat two hours prior to your massage session.

I am a Nationally Certified Licensed Massage Therapist with advanced certification in Pre- and Perinatal Massage through Body Therapy Associates under the direction of Carole Osborne-Sheets, a nationally recognized authority in pregnancy massage. This training offers the highest level of education in maternity massage therapy available in the U.S. The comprehensive hands-on training also focused on contraindications, safety guidelines and precautions.

Pregnancy Massage 60-minutes $70

Pregnancy Massage 90-minutes $95

"The best part of receiving regular massage was the chance to relax, focus my energy on the baby, and breathe deeply. I would come back home to the kids (6, 4, and 1) with no stress and feel totally revived. I could tell the baby loved it, too, kicking and rolling around!" - Tina

"Massage helped to relax my body and ease the discomforts of my 8^th pregnancy. This time I had no trouble with the sinus congestion, sciatic pain or leg cramps that I experienced in previous pregnancies. Massage seemed to greatly improve circulation, bringing relief to my painful varicose veins. Everyone who meets our new son says he’s the most content baby they’ve ever known. Could it be the massage?" - Karla

"The relaxation and breathing techniques from practicing yoga and receiving regular massage were a life saver. I feel so fortunate to have been exposed to those things during my pregnancy!" - Krista

"After my massage I always feel more calm, nurtured and centered… and my baby appreciates that!" - Myra

THE FOURTH TRIMESTER HEALING MASSAGE

The Fourth Trimester is the first three months a baby spends out of the womb.  This is a time for baby to peacefully transition from the warm, safe and cozy womb environment to the outside world.  To gently support this transition for baby, usually moms work to establish the breastfeeding relationship, co-sleep and practice baby wearing and other attachment parenting practices.

This time can be magical, yet it is also a time of guaranteed fatigue, anxiety and physical and sometimes emotional discomfort for moms.  While the first three months can be difficult for babies, this early postpartum period also brings hormonal changes, stress and sleep deprivation for mothers, resulting in their own version of the fourth trimester.

As your body recovers from pregnancy and labor and adjusts to its new demands like breastfeeding and lack of sleep you might experience: Swelling, Cramping, Vaginal Soreness, Constipation, Vaginal Bleeding, Thinning Hair, Swollen Breasts, Loss of Skin Pigmentation, Bladder Issues, and Postpartum Depression.

The Fourth Trimester Healing Massage is a time for mom to reconnect with her body and spirit in a safe and nurturing environment.  This head-to-toe treatment is designed to meet your needs including deep relaxation, range of motion, abdominal massage, hot stones, craniosacral, eye packs and more. 

60-minute session  Only $70

INTEGRATED MASSAGE   

Personalized massage tailored to meet your specific needs. Combining over a dozen time-honored therapeutic modalities including, but not limited to, deep tissue sculpting, Esalen, Swedish, stretches, castor oil packs, abdominal massage, hot stones and energy work to relax, refresh and renew you. 

Integrated Massage 60-minutes  $70 
           
Integrated Massage 90-minutes  $95

Integrated Massage Package
5 sixty-minute sessions @ $60 each ($300) 

Prices Subject to Change.