In The Spirit Of Mother’s Day, Learn More About The Benefits Of A Prenatal Massage Therapy Certification

Spring is in the air and Mother’s Day is right around the corner. We love this holiday at ISM Spa because we believe wholeheartedly that mothers are indispensable. We will always embrace any reason to honor mothers, so that we can show our appreciation for all the care they provide to the world. In the spirit of celebrating mothers, today we’d like to explore the benefits of specializing in the art of nurturing new mothers via prenatal massage therapy.

What Is Prenatal Massage Therapy?

Pregnancy is one of life’s most amazing experiences for mothers-to-be, but it’s not without its share of physical and emotional stresses. From nervous tension to aches and pains, a number of ailments are common during pregnancy. One popular method for managing these maladies? Pregnancy massage.There’s nothing like a soothing prenatal massage to rub away all the pains and strains of growing new life, a technique involving deep bodywork designed to improve circulation, take some strain off muscles and joints, and generally re-energize expecting women. Prenatal massage offers many benefits aimed at alleviating pregnancy-related discomforts and helping women enjoy better overall wellness during this exciting, yet often overwhelming, time in life.

Benefits of Prenatal Massage

Prenatal massage can reduce stress hormones in the body and loosen sore muscles for pregnant women. Extra weight and changes in posture can stir up new aches and pains. Prenatal massage increases blood flow, eases trigger points, stimulates the feel-good hormone, serotonin, and keeps the lymphatic system working at peak efficiency. And it reconnects the mind with the body, a connection that’s crucial when undergoing so many body and lifestyle changes.

During pregnancy, consistent prenatal massage will not only help relax the body, but will also relieve:

• Stress and insomnia
• Fatigue
• Joint pain
• Neck and back pain
• Muscle cramping
• Sciatica
• Swelling in hands and feet
• Carpal tunnel pain
• Headaches and sinus congestion

But moms-to-be aren’t the only ones who benefit from pregnancy massage. By promoting the flow of both nutrient-rich oxygen and lymphatic fluid, this technique also supports the healthy growth of unborn babies, too.

Are you wondering whether studying pregnancy massage is right for you and your career as a massage therapist? The statistics say it all: there are currently 12 births per 1,000 people in the U.S. That’s a lot of potential pregnant clients! The world needs more massage therapists who specialize in this niche centered around helping women thrive during this significant time in their lives. Healthy pregnancies lead to healthy communities and what a joy to participate in the creation of a better, stronger world. Let’s take a closer look at the technique and why massage therapists should consider pursuing a prenatal practice.

The Prenatal Massage Technique

Now that you’ve decided to specialize in pregnancy massage, the first order of business is to make sure you are properly trained in the practice and establish your credentials as a certified professional. This means you have taken a live class with a qualified instructor, learned about the dynamic changes in anatomy and physiology during pregnancy and postpartum, practiced the appropriate modalities to support these changes, understand when not to treat, and have passed all the course requirements.

So what does the actual technique look like? Many different massage modalities are used during pregnancy massage, including everything from circulatory work to full body Swedish massage, but safety is always absolutely paramount. 

Coursework specifically in prenatal massage can help you learn massage techniques that factor in both biological and anatomical changes, so you can make each experience safe for both mother and child. We can’t stress enough the importance of specialized, appropriate training when it comes to working with expecting women and new mothers. Serious harm to mother and baby could result when a treatment is given by an untrained massage practitioner.

In particular, body mechanics are an important part of understanding safe prenatal massage. Proper training teaches correct adaptations for side-lying positions. As each client’s pregnancy grows, their body continues to transform. The right knowledge and education can ensure that your client will remain safe and comfortable during every stage of pregnancy. The goal is to develop a professional relationship with your pregnant client for return visits throughout her entire pregnancy journey. By offering pregnancy massage in your practice or specializing solely in this modality, you can help your clients enjoy their pregnancy and prepare their bodies for the hard work of delivery. By educating yourself through hands-on training and coursework, you’ll both reap the benefits.

How A Prenatal Specialization Will Benefit Your Massage Business

One message frequently given to massage therapists is to “find your niche.” For so many therapists, this can be one of the biggest challenges — defining their preferred target market. And often, massage therapists have a challenge building a successful business without defining their niche. Pregnancy massage-specific training is also an advantage from a business perspective. Why? Because even in cases where training is not legally required, it is highly recommended and preferred by most pregnant women. The right training certification can be an invaluable marketing tool in attracting new clients to your practice. As you develop your skills and understanding of prenatal clients, they will spread the word to others with similar pregnancy discomforts. Specialization can be a powerful marketing tool because word of mouth is built in when focusing on a specialty that speaks to clients. Learning pregnancy massage opens up many opportunities to massage therapists — both in terms of building their own practices and in the professional fulfillment that comes with helping women enjoy healthier, happier pregnancies. 

And don’t forget, Spa Space will spotlight your niche specialties to guests when booking through the app. As a Spa Space professional, your unique modalities are finally the star. It’s a powerful way to stand out in a network of talented massage therapists. Interested in learning more? Highlight your massage expertise and join the Spa Space community today. 

With all this talk about prenatal massage, now we’re really in the mood to celebrate women in all their maternal glory this Mother’s Day! What are we planning to gift our mothers in May? Isn’t it obvious — a luxurious spa day to pamper her well-being, of course!